The 25-year drought: A season of upheaval for the Miami Dolphins
In short: After a promising midseason surge, the Miami Dolphins' 2025 campaign ended in organizational collapse. From front-office departures to a quarterback benching and a historic playoff victory drought, the season marked the end of an era for several key figures in South Florida.
The 2025 season was a period of profound transition for the Miami Dolphins. The franchise, competing in its 56th NFL season, saw the departure of general manager Chris Grier on October 31, following a Week 9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Having joined the club in 2000 and acting as GM from 2016, Grier's period ended with five winning campaigns yet zero playoff wins. Shortly after the season concluded, head coach Mike McDaniel was also dismissed on January 8, 2026.
On the field, the team's performance was a study in extremes. The Dolphins endured an abysmal 2–7 start, including a Week 1 loss that was their first such blowout since 2020. However, a midseason turnaround saw the team win four consecutive games, briefly reviving playoff hopes. This momentum stalled in Week 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which officially eliminated Miami from contention for the second consecutive year and extended the team's playoff victory drought to 25 seasons—the longest active drought in the league.
The roster underwent significant instability as well. Starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who faced scrutiny after publicly criticizing teammates following a Week 6 loss to the Chargers, was benched ahead of Week 16 in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers. The season also saw the loss of star Tyreek Hill to a season-ending knee injury. By the time the season ended with a 7–10 record, the franchise was moving in a new direction, releasing Tagovailoa, who subsequently signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2025 Miami Dolphins season
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-2025-miami-dolphins-season.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
