1989 Miami Dolphins season

1989 Miami Dolphins season
Head coach	Don Shula
Results
Record	8–8
Division place	3rd AFC East
Playoff finish	did not qualify

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. 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.

Shortly after the season ended, Miami Dolphins founder Joe Robbie died on January 7, 1990 at the age of 73.

Personnel

Staff

1989 Miami Dolphins staff

Front office President – Joe Robbie Executive Vice President/General Manager – Mike Robbie Vice President – Don Shula Vice President of Administration and Finance – Eddie Jones Director of Pro Personnel – Charley Winner Director of College Scouting – Tom Heckert, Sr. Head coaches Head Coach – Don Shula Assistant Head Coach – John Sandusky Offensive coaches Quarterbacks/Pass Offense – Gary Stevens Offensive Backs – Carl Taseff Receivers – Larry Seiple Offensive Line – John Sandusky Assistant Offensive Line – Mike Westhoff Coaches' Assistant – Tony Nathan

Defensive coaches Defense – Tom Olivadotti Defensive Line – Dan Sekanovich Linebackers – George Hill Defensive Backs – Mel Phillips Special teams coaches Special Teams – Mike Westhoff Strength and conditioning Strength and Conditioning – Junior Wade

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 10, 1989	Buffalo Bills	L 27–24	54,541
2	September 17, 1989	at New England Patriots	W 24–10	57,043
3	September 24, 1989	New York Jets	L 40–33	65,908
4	October 1, 1989	at Houston Oilers	L 39–7	53,326
5	October 8, 1989	Cleveland Browns	W 13–10	58,444
6	October 15, 1989	at Cincinnati Bengals	W 20–13	58,184
7	October 22, 1989	Green Bay Packers	W 23–20	56,624
8	October 29, 1989	at Buffalo Bills	L 31–17	80,208
9	November 5, 1989	Indianapolis Colts	W 19–13	52,680
10	November 12, 1989	at New York Jets	W 31–23	65,923
11	November 19, 1989	at Dallas Cowboys	W 17–14	56,044
12	November 26, 1989	Pittsburgh Steelers	L 34–14	59,936
13	December 3, 1989	at Kansas City Chiefs	L 26–21	54,610
14	December 10, 1989	New England Patriots	W 31–10	55,918
15	December 17, 1989	at Indianapolis Colts	L 42–13	55,665
16	December 24, 1989	Kansas City Chiefs	L 27–24	43,612

Standings

AFC East
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Buffalo Bills(3)	9	7	0	.563	6–2	8–4	409	317	W1
Indianapolis Colts	8	8	0	.500	4–4	7–5	298	301	L1
Miami Dolphins	8	8	0	.500	4–4	6–8	331	379	L2
New England Patriots	5	11	0	.313	4–4	5–7	297	391	L3
New York Jets	4	12	0	.250	2–6	3–9	253	411	L3