If you’ve ever tried to doodle while watching a game at Hard Rock Stadium, you know the struggle. The current Miami Dolphins logo looks sleek and simple, but once your pencil hits the paper, things get weird fast. It’s not just a fish. It’s a very specific, aerodynamic mammal jumping in front of a sunburst that has exactly 27 points. Yes, someone actually counted them.
Most people mess up the "Leaping Dolphin" because they treat it like a cartoon. They draw a big, round head and a floppy tail. But if you look at the 2013 redesign—which replaced the beloved "helmet-wearing" dolphin—the lines are much more aggressive and refined. It’s built on curves that look like they belong on a supercar.
Whether you’re a die-hard member of the 72’ Perfect Season cult or a new fan just vibing with the Mike McDaniel era, learning how to draw the Miami Dolphins logo is a rite of passage. It requires a steady hand and a genuine understanding of "Aqua" and "Coral" color theory.
The Geometry of the Sunburst
Forget the dolphin for a second. Start with the sun. This is the foundation of the entire image. If the sun is lopsided, the dolphin looks like it’s jumping out of a broken window.
Grab a compass or a bowl. Lightly trace a circle. Now, here is where most amateur artists fail: the sunburst isn't just a bunch of random triangles. It is a series of 27 alternating rays. If you look closely at the official NFL style guide, these rays aren't perfectly symmetrical around the entire perimeter because they have to accommodate the dolphin’s body.
The "M" from the old 1966 logo is gone, and so is the helmet. Now, the sun represents the heat and energy of South Florida. When you’re sketching these rays, keep them sharp. They should look like shards of glass. If they look like flower petals, you’ve basically drawn a sunflower, and fans in South Beach will never let you hear the end of it.
Getting the Dolphin's Silhouette Right
The dolphin is the soul of the piece. In the modern version, the dolphin is "leaping" upward and to the right. This signifies progress.
Start with a long, sweeping "S" curve. This defines the spine. The top of the head needs to be smooth and integrated into the back. Unlike the 1974 or 1997 logos, there is no distinct "neck" line here. It’s one continuous, fluid motion.
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The "beak" or rostrum of the dolphin is subtle. Don't make it look like a bird’s beak. It’s a blunt, rounded extension. Then comes the eye. The modern eye is a simple, dark, streamlined slit. It looks focused. It looks like it’s looking for a touchdown.
The fins are where people usually lose the plot. You have the dorsal fin on top, which should be slightly curved back, and the pectoral fin on the side. The pectoral fin is crucial for creating depth. It should overlap the body slightly to give the drawing a 3D feel. Without that overlap, your dolphin looks like a flat sticker.
The Tail and the "V" Shape
Let's talk about the fluke. That’s the tail. In the Miami Dolphins logo, the tail is captured mid-flick. It should be wide and powerful.
The notch in the center of the tail should align roughly with the curve of the spine you drew earlier. If the tail is too small, the dolphin looks weak. If it's too big, it looks like a whale. You’re aiming for that "Formula 1 of the Sea" aesthetic.
Interestingly, when the team moved away from the "Toby" dolphin (the nickname for the old, friendlier-looking logo), they made the silhouette much thinner. This reflects modern sports branding trends—everything is faster, sharper, and more digital-friendly.
That Specific Shade of Aqua
You can't just use "green" or "blue." If you do, you’re drawing a generic fish. You need Miami Aqua.
In the world of professional design, this is often associated with Pantone 3155 C. It’s a deep, rich teal that captures the Atlantic Ocean on a clear day.
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- Aqua: This covers the main body of the dolphin.
- Marine Blue: Used for the subtle shadowing and the outline of the sunburst.
- Orange (Coral): Used for the sunburst itself.
- White: Used for the negative space and highlights.
When you're coloring, try to use a gradient. Even though the official logo is flat, adding a slight fade from a lighter aqua to a darker one near the belly makes the drawing pop on the page. Use the orange sparingly but boldly for those sun rays.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Honestly, the biggest mistake is overcomplicating the face. People want to give the dolphin a smile. Don't. The modern logo doesn't have a mouth line. The "smile" is implied by the tilt of the head and the overall energy of the jump.
Another big one? The placement. The dolphin should be centered over the sunburst, but its nose and tail should break the boundaries of the circle. This creates a sense of "breaking out" or "exploding" into action. If the dolphin is tucked entirely inside the circle, it looks like it’s trapped in a cage.
Also, watch the proportions. The sunburst should take up about 60% of the total visual weight, with the dolphin making up the rest. If the dolphin is too small, the logo feels empty.
Evolution: Why the Old Logo is Harder
If you decide to go "throwback" and draw the 1966-2012 version, you’re in for a headache. You have to draw a football helmet. On a dolphin.
That helmet has a tiny "M" on it. It has a face mask. It has stripes. It’s a nightmare for anyone who isn't a professional illustrator. The transition to the 2013 logo was partly driven by a desire for a "cleaner" look that was easier to reproduce on merchandise, but it also made it slightly more accessible for fans to draw by hand.
However, many fans still prefer the old "angry" dolphin. If you're drawing that version, remember that the dolphin's eye is much more expressive. It has a brow. It looks like it's actually playing the game.
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Refining the Lines
Once you have your rough sketch, go over it with a fine-liner or a dark marker. This is where you fix your wobbles.
In the modern logo, the lines are varying thicknesses. The outer edge of the dolphin’s back is a thicker line than the details on the fins. This "weighted line" technique is a classic comic book trick that helps the eye focus on the most important parts of the image first.
Clean up your sunburst points. They should be needle-sharp. Any rounding of the tips will make the logo look "soft" or "amateur." The Dolphins brand is built on the "Power of the Sun," so those rays need to look energetic.
Making it Your Own
Once you've mastered the official look, you can play with "Drip Art" or "Geometric" styles. A popular trend right now is drawing the logo using only straight, angular lines—sort of a low-poly version.
But for the purists, sticking to the official proportions is key. The Miami Dolphins logo is one of the most recognizable in global sports, not just the NFL. It carries the weight of the Don Shula era, the Dan Marino highlights, and the bright future of the current roster.
Next Steps for Your Artwork
Now that you've got the basic shape down, it’s time to move from pencil to ink. Get a set of alcohol-based markers—specifically a "Cyan" and a "Deep Orange"—to get that professional saturation. Sketch the sunburst first using a light pencil so you can erase the overlap where the dolphin sits. Focus on the "swoosh" of the body; if that curve feels fast, the whole drawing will feel right. Once finished, compare your 27 sun rays to the official team branding to ensure your symmetry is on point.