The Miami Dolphins are on the doorstep of accomplishing something only two NFL teams have done
With just a handful of wins, the Miami Dolphins can join one of the most exclusive clubs in NFL history.
The past 20 years haven’t been the best stretch for the Miami Dolphins as an organization. Throughout the heart of the Don Shula era in South Florida and the 10 years or so after that followed? The Dolphins were among the NFL’s most consistent performers.
2026 is expected to be a challenging season for the Dolphins, too. But amid the start of a new regime’s turn at trying to bring the Miami Dolphins back to that former glory, there’s an opportunity for the team to log a historic mark. The Miami Dolphins can join one of the most exclusive clubs in football this season. All they need is just a handful of wins.
The Miami Dolphins can join the list of franchises with 500+ regular season wins since the 1970 merger in 2026
As things currently stand, there are just two NFL franchises with 500+ regular season wins since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger: the Pittsburgh Steelers (534) and the Dallas Cowboys (509). The Miami Dolphins are currently tied for 3rd on the list with 496 — meaning that with a four-win season in 2026, the Dolphins can climb into the 500+ win regular season club. That’s an impressive mark for the franchise, especially amid the struggles of recent years.
They’re not alone in pushing for that breakthrough in 2026.
The New England Patriots also have 496 regular season wins since the 1970 merger, boosted by a 20-year run of dominance with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick at the helm. The Minnesota Vikings possess 494 regular season wins and the Denver Broncos have 493. The regular season win projections for each of those other three teams have them clearing the mark in 2026 — all three feel like safe bets. Miami? Let’s hope they stack some wins and build momentum throughout this youth movement. If they do, they’ll have a nice historical feather in their cap to go with what would presumably be a very exciting foundation for which to build the next chapter of the franchise.
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