<P> The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football franchise based in the Miami metropolitan area . The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division . The Dolphins play their home games at Hard Rock Stadium in the northern suburb of Miami Gardens, Florida, and are headquartered in Davie, Florida . The Dolphins are Florida's oldest professional sports team . Of the four AFC East teams, they are the only team in the division that was not a charter member of the American Football League (AFL). </P> <P> The Dolphins team was founded by attorney - politician Joe Robbie and actor - comedian Danny Thomas . They began play in the AFL in 1966 . The region had not had a professional football team since the days of the Miami Seahawks, who played in the All - America Football Conference in 1946 before becoming the first incarnation of the Baltimore Colts . For the first few years the Dolphins' full - time training camp and practice facilities were at Saint Andrew's School, a private boys boarding prep school in Boca Raton . In 1970 the Dolphins joined the NFL when the AFL--NFL merger occurred . </P> <P> The team made its first Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl VI, but lost to the Dallas Cowboys, 24--3 . The following year, the Dolphins completed the NFL's only perfect season culminating in a Super Bowl win, winning all 14 of their regular - season games, both of their NFL playoff games, and also Super Bowl VII . The 1972 Dolphins were the third NFL team to accomplish a perfect regular season, and won Super Bowl VIII, becoming the first team to appear in three consecutive Super Bowls, and the second team (the first AFL / AFC team) to win back - to - back championships . Miami also appeared in Super Bowl XVII and Super Bowl XIX, losing both games . </P> <P> For most of their early history, the Dolphins were coached by Don Shula, the most successful head coach in professional football history in terms of total games won . Under Shula, the Dolphins posted losing records in only two of his 26 seasons as the head coach . During the period spanning 1983 to the end of 1999, quarterback Dan Marino became one of the most prolific passers in NFL history, breaking numerous league passing records . Marino led the Dolphins to five division titles, 10 playoff appearances, and Super Bowl XIX before retiring following the 1999 season . </P>

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