The 2011 season was the Miami Dolphins' 42nd in the National Football League (NFL), their 46th overall, and their fourth and final season under head coach Tony Sparano. The Dolphins made their first-round selection with the 15th pick of the 2011 NFL draft on Florida center Mike Pouncey. The team lost each of their first seven games but went 6–3 in their final nine to finish with an overall 6–10 record. However, this result failed to improve on their record from 2010, and Sparano was fired on December 12. Assistant head coach and secondary coach Todd Bowles served as interim head coach for the final three games.
Offseason
2011 NFL draft
DraftKing.com, NFLMocks.com, and The Palm Beach Post predicted that the Dolphins would use their first round pick to choose Gabe Carimi, a left tackle for the Wisconsin Badgers who won the 2010 Outland Trophy as the nation's top collegiate interior lineman, and was a Consensus All-American. Charles Davis of NFL.com predicted they would draft Mark Ingram II from the University of Alabama.
Personnel changes Brian Daboll joined the team as offensive coordinator. Karl Dorrell moved to quarterbacks coach from wide receivers coach. Jeff Nixon wasadded as the running backs coach. Steve Bush moved to wide receivers coach from offensive quality control. Ike Hilliard was added as an assistant wide receivers coach. Dan Campbell moved to tight ends coach from intern. Bryan Cox was added as a defensive pass rush coach.
Roster changes
Re-signings March 4 — Re-signed guard Richie Incognito three years July 30 — Re-signed defensive end Tony McDaniel two years August 5 — Re-signed offensive tackle Nate Garner, running back Lex Hilliard, offensive tackle Lydon Murtha, running back Kory Sheets
Signings July 26 — Signed quarterback Pat Devlin July 29 — Signed linebacker Kevin Burnett July 30 — Signed linebacker Jason Trusnik, quarterback Matt Moore July 31 — Signed defensive end Ronald Fields August 1 — Signed offensive tackle Marc Colombo August 2 — Signed linebacker Jason Taylor August 5 — Signed quarterback Kevin O'Connell August 6 — Signed offensive tackle Ray Willis August 9 — Signed linebacker David Nixon, cornerback K.J. Gerard August 15 — Signed wide receiver John Matthews, linebacker Marvin Mitchell August 22 — Signed guard Tyler Donohue August 23 — Signed running back Larry Johnson August 29 — Signed safety Gerald Alexander September 4 — Signed tight end Will Yeatman September 5 — Signed tight end Dante Rosario and center/guard Ryan Cook September 8 — Signed running back Larry Johnson September 14 — Signed cornerback Will Allen September 20 — Signed defensive end Igor Olshansky and cornerback Nate Jones September 28 — Signed running back Steve Slaton October 6 — Signed quarterback Sage Rosenfels
Departures July 29 — UFA quarterback Tyler Thigpen, UFA quarterback Chad Pennington August 2 — UFA running back Ronnie Brown, Released linebacker Channing Crowder August 3 — Terminated the contract of linebacker Tim Dobbins August 8 — UFA running back Ricky Williams August 15 — Waived wide receiver Brooks Foster August 23 — Waived running back Kory Sheets August 26 — Waived corner back K.J. Gerard, defensive tackle Johnny Jones, corner back Jose Perez August 27 — Waived/Injured linebacker Mike Rivera August 30 — Waived tackle Tyler Donahue September 2 — Waived tight end Dedrick Epps and wide receiver John Matthews. Terminated contract of safety Gerald Alexander. September 3 — Waived quarterback Kevin O'Connell, safety Mark Restelli, cornerback Vincent Agnew, tight end Brett Brackett, wide receiver Patrick Carter, guard Garrett Chisolm, quarterback Pat Devlin, linebacker Jonathan Freeny, running back Nic Grigsby, tackle D.J. Jones, tackle Matt Kopa, wide receiver Phillip Livas, cornerback Nate Ness, linebacker David Nixon, wide receiver Julius Pruitt, linebacker Robert Rose, tight end Mickey Shuler, and linebacker Quinton Spears. Terminated contracts with corner back Will Allen, nose tackle Ronald Fields, running back Larry Johnson, full back Lousaka Polite, and tackle Ray Willis. September 4 — Waived defensive tackle Frank Kearse September 5 — Released linebacker A.J. Edds and terminated the contract of center Joe Berger September 8 — Waived guard Ray Feinga September 13 — Terminated the contract of corner back Benny Sapp September 20 — Terminated the contracts of running back Larry Johnson and tight end Dante Rosario September 28 — Cut defensive end Ryan Baker
Trades July 29 — Traded reserve safety Jonathon Amaya and an exchange of undisclosed draft picks for running back Reggie Bush
Team captains The team voted the following as their 2011 team captains.
Offense Chad Henne Jake Long
Defense Yeremiah Bell Karlos Dansby
Special teams
Head coach Tony Sparano decided that the special teams captain would be selected on week to week basis.
Staff Miami Dolphins 2011 staff Front office Chairman/managing general partner – Stephen Ross Vice chairman/partner – Jorge Perez Vice chairman – Don Shula CEO – Mike Dee General manager – Jeff Ireland Senior vice president of football operations – Dawn Aponte Director of player personnel – Brian Gaine Director of college scouting – Chris Grier Assistant director of pro scouting – Chris Shea
Head coaches Interim head coach/secondary – Todd Bowles
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Brian Daboll Quarterbacks – Karl Dorrell Running backs – Jeff Nixon Wide receivers – Steve Bush Assistant wide receivers – Ike Hilliard Tight ends – Dan Campbell Offensive line – Dave DeGuglielmo Offensive quality control – Tony Sparano, Jr. Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Mike Nolan Defensive line – Kacy Rodgers Pass rush – Bryan Cox Linebackers – Bill Sheridan Assistant linebackers – David Corrao Assistant secondary – Joe Danna
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Darren Rizzi Assistant special teams – Dave Fipp
Strength and conditioning Head strength and conditioning – Darren Krein Assistant strength and conditioning – David Puloka
Final roster
Schedule Preseason
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 at Atlanta Falcons W 28–23 1–0 Georgia Dome Recap 2 Carolina Panthers W 20–10 2–0 Sun Life Stadium Recap 3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 13–17 2–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 4 Dallas Cowboys W 17–3 3–1 Sun Life Stadium Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 New England Patriots L 24–38 0–1 Sun Life Stadium Recap 2 September 18 Houston Texans L 13–23 0–2 Sun Life Stadium Recap 3 September 25 at Cleveland Browns L 16–17 0–3 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 4 October 2 at San Diego Chargers L 16–26 0–4 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 5 Bye 6 at New York Jets L 6–24 0–5 MetLife Stadium Recap 7 October 23 Denver Broncos L 15–18 0–6 Sun Life Stadium Recap 8 October 30 at New York Giants L 17–20 0–7 MetLife Stadium Recap 9 November 6 at Kansas City Chiefs W 31–3 1–7 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 10 November 13 Washington Redskins W 20–9 2–7 Sun Life Stadium Recap 11 November 20 Buffalo Bills W 35–8 3–7 Sun Life Stadium Recap 12 November 24 at Dallas Cowboys L 19–20 3–8 Cowboys Stadium Recap 13 December 4 Oakland Raiders W 34–14 4–8 Sun Life Stadium Recap 14 December 11 Philadelphia Eagles L 10–26 4–9 Sun Life Stadium Recap 15 December 18 at Buffalo Bills W 30–23 5–9 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 16 at New England Patriots L 24–27 5–10 Gillette Stadium Recap 17 January 1 New York Jets W 19–17 6–10 Sun Life Stadium Recap
Game summaries Week 1: vs. New England Patriots
The Dolphins began their 2011 campaign at home, for a Week 1 AFC East duel with the New England Patriots in the first game of Monday Night Football's doubleheader. Miami delivered the game's opening splash with a 9-yard touchdown run from quarterback Chad Henne. The Patriots answered with running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis getting a 4-yard touchdown run. New England took the lead in the second quarter as quarterback Tom Brady completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski.
The Dolphins struck back in the third quarter as Henne found wide receiver Brian Hartline on a 10-yard touchdown pass, but New England came right back with Brady completing a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Wes Welker. Miami replied with a 20-yard field goal from kicker Dan Carpenter, but the Patriots came right back with Brady completing a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Aaron Hernandez. New England added onto their in the fourth quarter as kicker Stephen Gostkowski got a 20-yard field goal, followed by Brady completing a 99-yard touchdown pass to Welker. The Dolphins would close out the game with Henne finding running back Reggie Bush on a 2-yard touchdown pass.
With the loss, Miami began their season at 0–1.
Week 2: vs. Houston Texans
With the loss, the Dolphins dropped to 0–2.
Week 3: at Cleveland Browns
With the loss, the Dolphins fell to 0–3.
Week 4: at San Diego Chargers
With the loss, the Dolphins went into their bye week 0–4.
Week 6: at New York Jets
With the loss, the Dolphins fell to 0–5.
Week 7: vs. Denver Broncos
The Broncos overcame a 15–0 fourth-quarter deficit and won on a game-winning field goal in overtime. With the loss, the Dolphins fell to 0–6 and recorded their first home loss to the Broncos in eight meetings.
Week 8: at New York Giants
With the loss, the Dolphins fell to 0–7.
Week 9: at Kansas City Chiefs
With the win, the Dolphins improved to 1–7 and made the Colts the only winless team.
Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins
With the win, the Dolphins improved to 2–7.
Week 11: vs. Buffalo Bills
Coming off their win over the Redskins, the Dolphins stayed at home for a Week 11 AFC East showdown with the Buffalo Bills. Miami trailed early in the first quarter as Bills kicker Dave Rayner made a 30-yard field goal, yet the Dolphins immediately answered with quarterback Matt Moore finding tight end Anthony Fasano on a 1-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 5-yard touchdown run from running back Reggie Bush. Miami would add onto their lead in the second quarter with Moore connecting with fullback Charles Clay on a 12-yard touchdown pass, followed by wide receiver Davone Bess on a 4-yard touchdown pass. Buffalo would close out the half with Rayner booting a 56-yard field goal.
The Dolphins continued their dominating day in the third quarter with running back Lex Hilliard recovering a blocked punt in the endzone for a touchdown (the team's first TD off of a blocked punt since 1990). The Bills tried to rally as linebacker Kelvin Sheppard tackled rookie running back Daniel Thomas in the endzone for a safety, but Miami's lead proved to be too much to overcome.
With the win, the Dolphins improved to 3–7.
This game also marked the first time since 1990 that Miami allowed 10 points or fewer in three straight games. They became the third team in NFL history to win 3 straight after starting the season at least 0–7 (1978 Cardinals and 1986 Colts).
Week 12: at Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game
Coming off their win over the Bills, the Dolphins flew to Cowboys Stadium for a Week 12 interconference duel with the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Miami delivered the game's opening punch in the first quarter with a 26-yard field goal from kicker Shayne Graham, but the Cowboys answered in the second quarter with kicker Dan Bailey getting a 32-yard field goal, followed by quarterback Tony Romo completing a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Laurent Robinson. The Dolphins would close out the half with a 28-yard field goal from Graham.