Three weeks into the 2025 season, Dolphins fans are already running out of patience. A 0-3 start in the AFC East wasn’t in anyone’s script. The optimism of the offseason, which included a new addition, a healthier roster, and Mike McDaniel’s steady hand, has now quickly been replaced by frustration. Missed assignments, breakdowns in key moments, defensive soft spots, and an offense that struggles to maintain momentum leave fans reeling with what-if questions. Actually, the fans are haunted by comparisons to the best of Miami’s past.
There is a particular pain in seeing rivals rise while the Phins stumble. Every time the Bills steamroll opponents or New England capitalizes on turnovers, the contrast becomes starker, right? Importantly, the memory of seasons filled with hope makes losing harder to bear because fans know what’s possible, and what it used to look like when everything clicked.
Into that emotional vacuum steps Channing Crowder Jr., a former Miami Dolphins linebacker and longtime voice in football commentary. On The Pivot Podcast on Sept. 19, 2025, from [Watch at 30:30 timestamp], Crowder offered praise for greatness that cut like a subtle jab at the realities of 2025. He said, “Let me speak on this real fast. ’72 Dolphins undefeated. Stephen-Clay and the best record in NBA history. You know what I’m saying? Never losing means something.”
Crowder doubled down with another line, saying, “Not losing means something. The best record ever means something. And that’s what Floyd [Mayweather] was chasing. Was Floyd running from fights? Can you show me the fights Floyd was running from? Then I’ll say, ‘Okay, you’re right.’ But chasing greatness, chasing to be the best in the history of a sport, I don’t want to. I can’t badmouth anybody about that.”
Recalling the ’72 Miami Dolphins Matters
When we look back at the 1972 Miami Dolphins season, what stands out isn’t just the wins. It was the totality of dominance. Coached by Don Shula, the ’72 Dolphins finished the regular season 14-0. They then went through the playoffs and capped it off with a Super Bowl VII win to become the only team in NFL history to complete a truly perfect season: 17-0, no losses, no ties.
The 1972 team illuminated both sides of the ball. The offense, with Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris each rushing for over 1,000 yards. Paul Warfield led in receiving, and a strong line anchored the attack. The defense was also just as formidable. They allowed the fewest points in the league while stifling opponents in big moments. There is no doubt their legacy has become foundational: it’s what every Dolphins fan measures “great” against.
By contrast, the 2025 Dolphins have opened the year with a starkly different story.
Entering Week 4, Miami sits at 0-3 and already trails the rest of the AFC East. According to ESPN, that record has left them dead last in the division and staring uphill at rivals they were expected to compete with for playoff positioning. The defense has also been particularly problematic.
The Fox Sports team’s defensive rankings place Miami near the bottom of the league, sitting 25th overall while giving up an average of 370.3 yards per game. Such vulnerability has created a cycle in which opponents march down the field far too easily. It puts extra pressure on the Dolphins’ offense to play catch-up.
But there have been occasional positives also. StatMuse data highlighted that Miami’s offense converted 19 of its first 35 third-down attempts. It was a rate of 54.3 percent that would rank among the NFL’s best. But isolated efficiencies have not translated to wins, especially when paired with the defensive breakdowns.
Perhaps the most alarming statistic comes from CBS Sports, which noted that Miami’s defense opened the season by allowing scoring drives on each of its first 10 possessions. Counting back to last year, that streak stretched to 13 consecutive scoring possessions allowed. That sort of start doesn’t just put the defense in a bad light—it sets a tone of fragility that opponents have been quick to exploit.
Why Fans Feel Let Down and Why Bridging the Gap is Important?
When Crowder invokes the 1972 Dolphins, fans hear more than nostalgia. Actually, they hear a challenge. The 1972 team never trailed by arrogance or uncertainty; their standard was perfection, or as close to it as the league allowed. For the 2025 squad, the gap between current results and what fans believe this franchise can, or should, be is glaring.
Mike McDaniel’s team, with its talented pieces, Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and a mix of playmakers and defensive veterans, was supposed to battle through adversity. They are supposed to show toughness and keep Miami in every game. Instead, with defensive yards piling up, scoring drives allowed early, and the offense not consistently coming through in crunch time. There’s a sense that the potential is underdelivered.
Channing Crowder’s words cut deep. Right now, statistics show that the 2025 Dolphins are far from matching them: poor defensive rankings and struggles on offense.
Fans don’t just remember what was; they believe what could be. And while Crowder’s jab was indirect, it’s unmistakable: “Never losing means something” isn’t just about games. But it is also about upholding a legacy. If Miami wants to earn back faith, it’ll have to do more than show flashes. They’ll have to deliver consistency, prove resilience in every half, every possession, every third down.