Although Miami tied for the AFC Eastern division title at 10–4 with the
Baltimore Colts, the Colts won the divisional tiebreaker in
1975 with a sweep of both inter-division matchups, beating Miami 33–17 in week 10 and 10–7 in week 13. The sole wild card in the conference was
Cincinnati at 11–3, so the Dolphins missed the playoffs for the first time since the merger. The 1975 Dolphins were without running backs
Larry Csonka and
Jim Kiick and wide receiver
Paul Warfield, who each signed three-year contracts with the
Memphis Southmen in March 1974 to play in the
World Football League, beginning in
1975. The second-year league folded in the season's twelfth week, and the trio returned to the NFL in
1976 with other teams. ==Offseason==