The 2013 season was the Miami Dolphins' 44th in the National Football league (NFL) and their 48th overall. The season concluded with the Dolphins finishing third in the AFC East division with an 8–8 record, and no postseason play for the fifth consecutive season. The Dolphins allowed a league-high 58 sacks.
The Dolphins entered the season under second-year head coach Joe Philbin.
Personnel changes
Logo change During the 2012 season, speculation about the Dolphins updating their current logo, which was introduced during the 1997 season, began during a conference call with season-ticket holders; as owner Stephen Ross and CEO Mike Dee eagerly agreed with a fan on the potential changing of the logo. On December 26, 2012, via Dolphins CEO Mike Dee's Twitter account, Dee unofficially announced that a logo change would take place, but the team was still considering different designs; and an official announcement would be provided sometime before the 2013 NFL draft.
On March 27, 2013, following an accidental leaking of the new Dolphins logo on NFL.com, Dee confirmed in a press conference that the leaked image, as seen on NFL.com, was in fact the new official logo. This announcement came almost a month premature to the scheduled release date of the logo on April 25.
Roster changes
Signings Pos. Player 2012 Team Contract WR Mike Wallace Pittsburgh Steelers 5 years, $60 million LB Dannell Ellerbe Baltimore Ravens 5 years, $35 million LB Philip Wheeler Oakland Raiders 5 years, $26 million WR Brandon Gibson St. Louis Rams 3 years, $9.7 million CB Brent Grimes Atlanta Falcons 1 year, $5.5 million TE Dustin Keller New York Jets 1 year, $4.2 million OT Tyson Clabo Atlanta Falcons 1 year, $3.5 million DE Nathan Williams Minnesota Vikings
Re-Signings Pos. Player Contract OT Nate Garner 3 years, $4.8 million FS Chris Clemons 1 year, $2.7 million WR Julius Pruitt 2 year, $1 million
Departures Pos. Player 2013 Team OT Jake Long St. Louis Rams CB Sean Smith Kansas City Chiefs RB Reggie Bush Detroit Lions LB Kevin Burnett Oakland Raiders LB Karlos Dansby Arizona Cardinals DE Randy Starks Cleveland Browns TE Anthony Fasano Kansas City Chiefs DE Tony McDaniel Seattle Seahawks K Nate Kaeding Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Miami Dolphins entered the 2013 off-season with an estimated $45 million in salary cap space, third most among other teams, to retain the contracts of impending unrestricted free agents: running back Reggie Bush, safety Chris Clemons, tight end Anthony Fasano, wide receiver Brian Hartline, offensive tackle Jake Long, quarterback Matt Moore, cornerback Sean Smith and defensive tackle Randy Starks. As well as any future free agent signings, and 2013 NFL draft picks.
On March 4, 2013, the Dolphins placed their franchise tag on defensive tackle Randy Starks, and Starks signed the franchise tender on March 20. The move kept Starks from becoming an unrestricted free agent and guaranteed him $8.45 million from the $3.72 million earned during the 2012 season.
On March 8, 2013, coming off his best career season, wide receiver Brian Hartline signed a new five-year contract for an estimated $31 million to remain with the Dolphins. Hartline's agent Drew Rosenhaus believed Hartline could have received more money in the open market, but decided to take a discount to remain a Dolphin. Shortly after, it was reported that quarterback Matt Moore signed a new two-year contract for an estimated $8 million, and should continue to play a backup role behind second year quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
When the NFL free agency period began at 4 p.m. EST on March 12, 2013, former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace, who was viewed as the top free agent prospect of the 2013 offseason by many analysts, signed a five-year contract for an estimated $60 million. The Dolphins signed former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Dannell Ellerbe to a five-year deal worth an estimated $35 million, and former Oakland Raiders linebacker Philip Wheeler to a five-year deal worth an estimated $26 million. Subsequently, Miami released veteran linebackers Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett. While safety Chris Clemons re-signed a one-year contract to remain a Dolphin, and unrestricted free agent Anthony Fasano, who had spent the last five seasons in Miami, signed a four-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.
On March 13, 2013, it was reported that Reggie Bush had signed a four-year $16 million contract to play for the Detroit Lions.
On March 15, 2013, cornerback Sean Smith decided to part ways from the Dolphins and signed a new three-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Former New York Jets tight end Dustin Keller signed a new one-year contract, worth an estimated $4.25 million, and former St. Louis Rams wide receiver Brandon Gibson signed a new three-year contract with the Dolphins.
Former Dolphins 2008 first round draft pick, offensive tackle Jake Long, after courting offers from various teams, signed a new four-year contract, worth an estimated $34 million, with the St. Louis Rams on March 18, 2013.
On March 30, 2013, cornerback Brent Grimes signed a one-year $5.5 million year with the Dolphins.
On October 22, 2013, the Dolphins acquired offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie from the Baltimore Ravens for a conditional late round pick.
2013 draft class
The 2013 National Football League Draft was held from April 25–27 in the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Round Selection Player Position College Ref Notes 1 3Dion Jordan Defensive end Oregon 2 54Jamar Taylor Cornerback Boise State 3 77 Dallas Thomas Guard Tennessee 93 Will Davis Cornerback Utah State 4 104 Jelani Jenkins Linebacker Florida 106 Dion Sims Tight end Michigan St. 5 164Mike Gillislee Running back Florida 166 Caleb Sturgis Placekicker Florida 7 250 Don Jones Strong safety Arkansas State Notes The Dolphins traded their first- (No. 12 overall) and original second- (No. 42 overall) round selections to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for the Raiders' first-round selection (No. 3 overall). The Dolphins acquired this second-round selection in a trade that sent cornerback Vontae Davis to the Indianapolis Colts. The Dolphins previously acquired an additional third-round selection — No. 82 overall — as part of a March 2012 trade that sent wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears. The Dolphins later traded the No. 82 selection to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for two fourth-round selections from the Saints — Nos. 106 and 109 overall. The No. 109 selection, along with the Dolphins' original fifth-round selection (No. 146 overall) and one of their seventh-round selections (No. 224 overall — previously acquired in a July 2012 trade that sent guard Ryan Cook to the Dallas Cowboys), were traded to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for one of the Packers' third-round selections (No. 93 overall). The Dolphins acquired these fourth- and fifth-round selections in a trade that sent wide receiver Davone Bess the team's original fourth- and seventh-round selections (Nos. 111 and 217 overall, respectively) to the Cleveland Browns. Compensatory selection. The Dolphins did not have a selection in the sixth round. The team traded their sixth-round selection (No. 180 overall) along with fourth- and sixth-round selections from the 2012 NFL draft to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for the 49ers' 2012 fourth-round selection.
Staff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap HOF August 4 Dallas Cowboys L 20–24 0–1 Fawcett Stadium Recap 1 August 9 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 27–3 1–1 EverBank Field Recap 2 August 17 at Houston Texans L 17–24 1–2 Reliant Stadium Recap 3 August 24 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 16–17 1–3 Sun Life Stadium Recap 4 August 29 New Orleans Saints W 24–21 2–3 Sun Life Stadium Recap
Regular season
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 8 at Cleveland Browns W 23–10 1–0 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 2 September 15 at Indianapolis Colts W 24–20 2–0 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 3 September 22 Atlanta Falcons W 27–23 3–0 Sun Life Stadium Recap 4 at New Orleans Saints L 17–38 3–1 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap 5 October 6 Baltimore Ravens L 23–26 3–2 Sun Life Stadium Recap 6 Bye 7 October 20 Buffalo Bills L 21–23 3–3 Sun Life Stadium Recap 8 October 27 at New England Patriots L 17–27 3–4 Gillette Stadium Recap 9 Cincinnati Bengals W 22–20 4–4 Sun Life Stadium Recap 10 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 19–22 4–5 Raymond James Stadium Recap 11 November 17 San Diego Chargers W 20–16 5–5 Sun Life Stadium Recap 12 November 24 Carolina Panthers L 16–20 5–6 Sun Life Stadium Recap 13 December 1 at New York Jets W 23–3 6–6 MetLife Stadium Recap 14 December 8 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 34–28 7–6 Heinz Field Recap 15 December 15 New England Patriots W 24–20 8–6 Sun Life Stadium Recap 16 December 22 at Buffalo Bills L 0–19 8–7 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 17 December 29 New York Jets L 7–20 8–8 Sun Life Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Cleveland Browns
The Dolphins started their 2013 season on the road against the Browns. They would score first in the 1st quarter as Caleb Sturgis kicked a 45-yard field goal for a 3–0 lead. They led 6–0 in the 2nd quarter after Sturgis kicked a 49-yard field goal. The Browns got on the board and took the lead before halftime as Brandon Weeden found Jordan Cameron on a 7-yard pass for a 7–6 score. After the break, the Dolphins went back to work and took the lead as Ryan Tannehill found Brian Hartline for a 34-yard pass and retook the lead 13–7. The Browns then came within 3 as Billy Cundiff kicked a 39-yard field goal shortening the lead to 13–10. In the 4th quarter it was all Dolphins and Daniel Thomas ran for a 1-yard TD making the score 20–10 while Sturgis kicked a 36-yard field goal for the final score of the game 23–10. It was the Dolphins' first road win over the Browns since 1993.
With the win, the Dolphins began their season 1–0.
Week 2: at Indianapolis Colts
The Dolphins traveled to take on the Colts. In the 1st quarter they got off to a fast start as Mike Wallace and Ryan Tannehill connected on an 18-yard TD pass for a 7–0 lead. The Colts got on the board as Adam Vinatieri nailed a 30-yard field goal for a 7–3 score. The Dolphins then increased their lead as Lamar Miller ran for a 10-yard TD making the score 14–3. The Colts would score in the 2nd quarter as Andrew Luck found Coby Fleener on a 3-yard TD pass shortening the lead to 4, 14–10. They eventually grabbed the lead as Ahmad Bradshaw ran for a 1-yard TD, 17–14. Caleb Sturgis of the Dolphins tied it up before halftime with a 54-yard field goal, 17–17. In the 3rd quarter, the Colts retook the lead as Vinatieri nailed a 38-yard field goal for a 20–17 game. The Dolphins then retook the lead as Charles Clay ran for a 1-yard TD for a 24–20 game. The Dolphins then held the Colts scoreless in the 4th quarter and vice versa which eventually gave the team the win as they improved to 2–0 on the season. This was also the Dolphins' first road win over the Colts since 2002.
Week 3: vs. Atlanta Falcons