The 1989 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 24th as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The Dolphins improved upon their previous season's 6–10 W-L record, winning eight games.1989 Miami Dolphins Despite this improvement they failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, tying the longest such record in franchise history when the Dolphins failed to make the playoffs from 1966 to 1969. This was also the longest such record for coach Don Shula in his NFL career. 1989 was summed up for Miami in its season premiere and season finale, both losses at home: Buffalo stunned the Dolphins when they scored a TD as time ran out to win in week 1, and Kansas City won in week 16 in a contest where the gametime temperature was 32 degrees, a record for the coldest home game the Dolphins had ever played up to that time.

Shortly after the season ended, Miami Dolphins founder Joe Robbie died on January 7, 1990, at the age of 73.Joe Robbie, Owner of Dolphins Of Pro Football, Is Dead at 73

This was the first of 15 consecutive non-losing seasons for the Dolphins.

Offseason Draft

Undrafted free agents + 1989 undrafted free agent of notePlayerPositionCollegeAndre BrownWide receiverMiami (FL)

Personnel

Staff

Roster

Regular season

Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 10 Buffalo Bills L 24–27 0–1 Joe Robbie Stadium 54,541 2 September 17 at New England Patriots W 24–10 1–1 Sullivan Stadium 57,043 3 September 24 New York Jets L 33–40 1–2 Joe Robbie Stadium 65,908 4 October 1 at Houston Oilers L 7–39 1–3 Astrodome 53,326 5 October 8 Cleveland Browns W 13–10 (OT) 2–3 Joe Robbie Stadium 58,444 6 October 15 at Cincinnati Bengals W 20–13 3–3 Riverfront Stadium 58,184 7 October 22 Green Bay Packers W 23–20 4–3 Joe Robbie Stadium 56,624 8 October 29 at Buffalo Bills L 17–31 4–4 Rich Stadium 80,208 9 November 5 Indianapolis Colts W 19–13 5–4 Joe Robbie Stadium 52,680 10 November 12 at New York Jets W 31–23 6–4 Giants Stadium 65,923 11 November 19 at Dallas Cowboys W 17–14 7–4 Texas Stadium 56,044 12 November 26 Pittsburgh Steelers L 14–34 7–5 Joe Robbie Stadium 59,936 13 December 3 at Kansas City Chiefs L 21–26 7–6 Arrowhead Stadium 54,610 14 December 10 New England Patriots W 31–10 8–6 Joe Robbie Stadium 55,918 15 December 17 at Indianapolis Colts L 13–42 8–7 Hoosier Dome 55,665 16 December 24 Kansas City Chiefs L 24–27 8–8 Joe Robbie Stadium 43,612 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

Season summary

Week 1

References