1996 Miami Dolphins season
31st season in franchise history
The 1996 season was the Miami Dolphins' 31st season overall, their 27th in the National Football League (NFL), their seventh under general manager Eddie Jones and their first under head coach Jimmy Johnson. The Dolphins failed to improve upon their previous season's output of 9–7, winning only eight games. The team failed to qualify for the postseason.
This was the Dolphins' first season since 1969 without long-time head coach Don Shula, as he retired from coaching during the offseason despite having a year left in his contract. Shula retired as the winningest coach in NFL history, with 347 career wins in his 32-year head coaching career, and as the only coach (as of 2024) to have led his team to a perfect season since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
The Dolphins' home field, previously known as Joe Robbie Stadium, was renamed on August 26 to Pro Player Park after naming rights were sold to Pro Player, an apparel brand by Fruit of the Loom.
However, in a rare move, the stadium was renamed again following the Dolphins’ opening contest at Pro Player Park. On September 10, before the Dolphins returned home in week 3, the stadium was renamed Pro Player Stadium, a name that would remain through the 2004 season.
This was the final season for 23 years that not a single Dolphin made the Pro Bowl. This was also the final season Gene Atkins would play in the NFL.
Offseason
Following the 1995 season head coach Don Shula announced his retirement from coaching, having spent 26 straight seasons with the Dolphins.
The public source identifies “1996 Miami Dolphins season” as 31st season in franchise history. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Miami, Dolphins and season.
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