Revisiting the Dolphins’ Top 5 Moments of 2025

The 2025 season was hardly one to remember for the Miami Dolphins. In what served as the final season under head coach Mike McDaniel, Miami was haunted by a 1-6 start before limping to a 7-10 finish — its worst season since 2019.

While it’s easy to dwell on the bad, there was also some good for the Dolphins. Here is a look back on the top five moments from the year:

5. Waller Catches Two TDs in Dolphins Debut

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New York Jets 21, Miami Dolphins 27 — Sept. 29, 2025
The month of September didn’t have a lot of great moments for Miami, but one of them was the debut of tight end Darren Waller. In a Monday Night Football victory over the New York Jets to close the month, Waller shined in his first NFL action in two years.

Waller finished with three catches for 27 yards, but two went for scores on Tua Tagovailoa touchdown passes. The first was a 4-yard touchdown reception in which Waller made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone on 4th-and-goal to cap a 96-yard drive and put Miami up 10-0. On Miami’s opening drive of the second half, Waller was on the receiving end of a 9-yard scoring strike to extend the Dolphins’ lead to 17-3.

Waller was limited to just nine games in his first season with the Dolphins, but was productive. He finished the year with 24 catches for 283 yards and tied for the team lead with six touchdown receptions. At 33 years old, Waller’s best football is probably behind him, but if the price continues to be reasonable, he’s proved he could be a serviceable piece for 2026 for someone — if not Miami.

4. Jones’ OT Pick Sets Up Winning Kick in Spain

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Washington Commanders 13, Miami Dolphins 16 — Nov. 16, 2025 (Madrid, Spain – Overtime)
In the first NFL game played in Spain, the Miami Dolphins appeared to be on the verge of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. With the contest tied 13-13 late in the fourth quarter and Miami facing 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard-line, head coach Mike McDaniel elected to go for it, but Ollie Gordon was stuffed.

The Washington Commanders proceeded to march inside the Miami 40-yard-line, but with a chance to take the lead, Matt Gay’s 56-yard field goal sailed wide. The Dolphins had new life.

Washington won the coin toss in overtime, but Miami cornerback Jack Jones made the biggest defensive play of the game. On the first play of overtime, Jones stepped in front of a Marcus Mariota pass, giving the Dolphins the ball inside the Commanders’ 35-yard-line. After three De’Von Achane runs totaling 22 yards, kicker Riley Patterson put the contest away with a 29-yard field goal. The kick gave the Dolphins their third straight win after a 2-7 start. Achane finished with 120 yards rushing in the victory.

3. Fitzpatrick’s 2-Point Return Preserves Lead

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New Orleans Saints 17, Miami Dolphins 21 — Nov. 30, 2025
What had once been a 16-point lead for the Dolphins had been whittled down to two following a New Orleans Saints touchdown on the final Sunday in November. Needing a 2-point conversion to tie, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick preserved the lead with perhaps his biggest play of the year.

Nursing a 19-17 lead, Fitzpatrick stepped in front of New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough’s pass to Devaughn Vele. He returned it 98 yards for two points to give Miami a 21-17 lead. The pick with 1:17 left appeared to have preserved the win, but the return proved bigger than initially thought as the Saints recovered the ensuing onside kick.

New Orleans reached the Miami 36-yard-line before getting stuffed on fourth down. Without the Fitzpatrick return, the Saints would have been in position to try a go-ahead field goal. Fitzpatrick added a sack in the win. Achane powered the Dolphins offense with 134 rushing yards and their lone touchdown.

2. Ewers Finds Wease for Longest Offensive Play of Year

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17, Miami Dolphins 20 — Dec. 28, 2025
With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s struggles, the Miami Dolphins decided to give rookie Quinn Ewers a chance to show what he could do over the final three weeks of the season. In Miami’s final home game of the year, Ewers picked up his first win as an NFL starter. In the process, the Dolphins delivered a blow to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ playoff hopes.

Ewers finished the day 14-for-22 passing for 172 yards and two touchdowns. The contest also featured his first career touchdown pass.

With Miami trailing 7-0 in the first quarter, the seventh-round pick from Texas hit an open Theo Wease Jr. in stride for a 63-yard touchdown. Not only was the play the first touchdown pass for Ewers at the NFL level, but it also served as the first touchdown of Wease’s NFL career and the longest offensive play of the season for the Dolphins.

The scoring strike tied the game and Miami never trailed again. Ewers would add a second touchdown pass late in the first half — this one to Greg Dulcich. He helped cement the win late with a key rush for a first down.

Wease’s 63-yard catch was good enough to lead all receivers. For the Miami defense, Bradley Chubb had two sacks and a forced fumble. Ashtyn Davis and Jason Marshall Jr. each came down with interceptions.

1. Dolphins Blast Bills at Hard Rock

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Buffalo Bills 13, Miami Dolphins 30 — Nov. 9, 2025
Entering the Nov. 9 contest between the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills, the AFC East rivalry had been 1-sided of late. Buffalo had won 14 of the last 15 matchups and seven straight. That included a 31-21 victory earlier in the season in Orchard Park.

The Dolphins stood at just 2-7 while the Bills were 6-2. The day, however, would belong to Miami and in a big way. Although he was intercepted twice on the day, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa set the tone. He found Malik Washington for the game’s first touchdown to cap a 92-yard drive and then Jaylen Waddle on a 38-yard scoring strike.

As for the Miami defense, it forced three turnovers and took a shutout into the fourth quarter. Ifeatu Melifonwu had an interception of Buffalo’s Josh Allen while Jordyn Brooks recorded 12 tackles and two for loss.

The Bills were able to twice close to within 10 in the final period. Each time, running back De’Von Achane had an answer. Touchdown runs of 59 and 35 yards highlighted a 174-yard rushing day for Achane as the Dolphins beat the Bills for the first time in more than three years and by the widest margin since November 2011.