Kiick was selected by the AFL's Miami Dolphins in the fifth round (118th overall) of the 1968 Draft, the second year of pro football's common draft.
 Director of Player Personnel Joe Thomas said Kiick was drafted for his "quick feet."
 He signed a two-year, no-cut contract for $15,000 the first year, $17,000 the second year, plus a $7,000 bonus.
 He was the primary halfback for the next four years, and missed only one game in that period.
 Beginning with the 1972 season, he had to share halfback duties with other players, most notably Mercury Morris, as Shula decided a faster back would better complement Csonka.
 Kiick started only three of 14 regular season games in 1972 as he became primarily a short-yardage and goal-line specialist, although he did start Super Bowl VII at the end of the season.

Although not blessed with breakaway speed, the 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), 214 lb (97 kg) Kiick was a versatile player; in addition to being an effective inside power runner, he was also an excellent blocker and clutch pass receiver.
 He had over 1,000 yards combined rushing and receiving in each of his first four years.
 He was often compared to such well-known all-purpose backs as Paul Hornung, Tom Matte, and his boyhood idol, Frank Gifford.
 Teammate Jim Langer described him as "a very heady runner and receiver."
 He played hurt and rarely fumbled.
 Kiick once played with a broken toe, a broken finger, a hip pointer and a badly bruised elbow.
 He led the Dolphins in rushing in 1968 (621 yards) and 1969 (575 yards) and was selected for the AFL All-Star game both years.
 His nine rushing touchdowns in 1969 led the AFL, and his 1,155 total yards from scrimmage in 1970 led the AFC and ranked fifth in the NFL.
 In 1971, he had his best year as a runner, rushing for 738 yards and three touchdowns.
 He was the only player to rank in the top 15 in both receptions and rushing yardage in both 1970 and 1971.
 He led the Dolphins in receiving in 1970 and was second in 1968 and 1971.

Wrote teammate Nick Buoniconti,
"Jim Kiick...loved the game and loved clutch situations--where he was at his best.
When we needed a first down on third-and-4 or 5, he'd get it.
We might get the ball to him on a short option because there was no one better coming out of the backfield to catch a pass.
I've never seen anyone put moves on like him.
He'd get a linebacker to lean one way and then go the opposite way.
Even when they'd double team, he'd get open."

Kiick negotiated a one-year $32,000 contract during the 1970 training camp after initially being offered $20,000.
 Kiick and Csonka didn't report to training camp in 1971 during contract negotiations.
 The Dolphins were offering each player less than $40,000 a year.
 After two weeks of negotiations, they ended up signing three-year contracts for about $60,000 a year, which was commensurate with what the other stars on the team, such as Paul Warfield, Bob Griese and Nick Buoniconti, were being paid.
 (They were also fined $2,800 apiece.)

In the longest game in NFL history, the 27-24 double-overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1971 AFC playoffs, Kiick rushed 15 times for 56 yards and scored a touchdown.
 In the 1972 AFC playoff game against the Cleveland Browns, he rushed 14 times for 50 yards and scored the decisive touchdown.
 In the 1972 AFC championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he rushed only eight times for 15 yards, but those 15 yards produced two touchdowns, including the decisive one.

Kiick played in three consecutive Super Bowls with the Dolphins.
 In Super Bowl VI, he rushed 10 times for 40 yards, and caught three passes for 21 yards, but the Dolphins failed to score a touchdown and were trounced by the Dallas Cowboys, 24–3.
 In Super Bowl VII, he caught two passes for six yards, and rushed 12 times for 38 yards, scoring the decisive touchdown, a one-yard blast, as Miami defeated the Washington Redskins 14–7, completing their perfect 17-0 season.
 In Super Bowl VIII, he rushed seven times for ten yards and scored the second of Miami's three touchdowns, diving in headfirst from
Kiick was selected by the AFL's Miami Dolphins in the fifth round (118th overall) of the 1968 Draft, the second year of pro football's common draft.  Director of Player Personnel Joe Thomas said Kiick was drafted for his "quick feet."  He signed a two-year, no-cut contract for $15,000 the first year, $17,000 the second year, plus a $7,000 bonus.  He was the primary halfback for the next four years, and missed only one game in that period.  Beginning with the 1972 season, he had to share halfback duties with other players, most notably Mercury Morris, as Shula decided a faster back would better complement Csonka.  Kiick started only three of 14 regular season games in 1972 as he became primarily a short-yardage and goal-line specialist, although he did start Super Bowl VII at the end of the season.
Although not blessed with breakaway speed, the 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), 214 lb (97 kg) Kiick was a versatile player; in addition to being an effective inside power runner, he was also an excellent blocker and clutch pass receiver.  He had over 1,000 yards combined rushing and receiving in each of his first four years.  He was often compared to such well-known all-purpose backs as Paul Hornung, Tom Matte, and his boyhood idol, Frank Gifford.  Teammate Jim Langer described him as "a very heady runner and receiver."  He played hurt and rarely fumbled.  Kiick once played with a broken toe, a broken finger, a hip pointer and a badly bruised elbow.  He led the Dolphins in rushing in 1968 (621 yards) and 1969 (575 yards) and was selected for the AFL All-Star game both years.  His nine rushing touchdowns in 1969 led the AFL, and his 1,155 total yards from scrimmage in 1970 led the AFC and ranked fifth in the NFL.  In 1971, he had his best year as a runner, rushing for 738 yards and three touchdowns.  He was the only player to rank in the top 15 in both receptions and rushing yardage in both 1970 and 1971.  He led the Dolphins in receiving in 1970 and was second in 1968 and 1971.
Wrote teammate Nick Buoniconti,
"Jim Kiick...loved the game and loved clutch situations--where he was at his best. When we needed a first down on third-and-4 or 5, he'd get it. We might get the ball to him on a short option because there was no one better coming out of the backfield to catch a pass. I've never seen anyone put moves on like him. He'd get a linebacker to lean one way and then go the opposite way. Even when they'd double team, he'd get open."
Kiick negotiated a one-year $32,000 contract during the 1970 training camp after initially being offered $20,000.  Kiick and Csonka didn't report to training camp in 1971 during contract negotiations.  The Dolphins were offering each player less than $40,000 a year.  After two weeks of negotiations, they ended up signing three-year contracts for about $60,000 a year, which was commensurate with what the other stars on the team, such as Paul Warfield, Bob Griese and Nick Buoniconti, were being paid.  (They were also fined $2,800 apiece.)
In the longest game in NFL history, the 27-24 double-overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1971 AFC playoffs, Kiick rushed 15 times for 56 yards and scored a touchdown.  In the 1972 AFC playoff game against the Cleveland Browns, he rushed 14 times for 50 yards and scored the decisive touchdown.  In the 1972 AFC championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he rushed only eight times for 15 yards, but those 15 yards produced two touchdowns, including the decisive one.
Kiick played in three consecutive Super Bowls with the Dolphins.  In Super Bowl VI, he rushed 10 times for 40 yards, and caught three passes for 21 yards, but the Dolphins failed to score a touchdown and were trounced by the Dallas Cowboys, 24–3.  In Super Bowl VII, he caught two passes for six yards, and rushed 12 times for 38 yards, scoring the decisive touchdown, a one-yard blast, as Miami defeated the Washington Redskins 14–7, completing their perfect 17-0 season.  In Super Bowl VIII, he rushed seven times for ten yards and scored the second of Miami's three touchdowns, diving in headfirst from 
Jim Kiick