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NFL History 1970
- 1979
1970
Kansas
City defeated Minnesota 23-7 in Super Bowl
IV at New Orleans, January 11. The gross receipts
of approximately $3.8 million were the largest
ever for a one-day sports event.
Four-year
television contracts, under which CBS would televise
all NFC games and NBC all AFC games (except Monday night
games) and the two would divide televising the Super
Bowl and AFC-NFC Pro Bowl games, were announced, January
26.
Art
Modell resigned as president of the NFL, March 12. Milt
Woodard resigned as president of the AFL, March 13.
Lamar Hunt was elected president of the AFC and George
Halas was elected president of the NFC, March 19.
The
merged 26-team league adopted rules changes putting
names on the backs of players' jerseys, making a point
after touchdown worth only one point, and making the
scoreboard clock the official timing device of the game,
March 18.
The
Players Negotiating Committee and the NFL Players Association
announced a four-year agreement guaranteeing approximately
$4,535,000 annually to player pension and insurance
benefits, August 3. The owners also agreed to contribute
$250,000 annually to improve or implement items such
as disability payments, widows' benefits, maternity
benefits, and dental benefits. The agreement also provided
for increased preseason game and per diem payments,
averaging approximately $2.6 million annually.
The
Pittsburgh Steelers moved into Three Rivers Stadium.
The Cincinnati Bengals moved to Riverfront Stadium.
Lombardi
died of cancer at 57, September 3.
Tom
Dempsey of New Orleans kicked a game-winning NFL-record
63-yard field goal against Detroit, November 8.
1971
Baltimore defeated Dallas 16-13 on Jim O'Brien's
32-yard field goal with five seconds to go in Super
Bowl V at Miami, January 17. The NBC telecast was viewed
in an estimated 23,980,000 homes, the largest audience
ever for a one-day sports event.
The
NFC defeated the AFC 27-6 in the first AFC-NFC Pro Bowl
at Los Angeles, January 24.
The
Boston Patriots changed their name to the New England
Patriots, March 25. Their new stadium, Schaefer Stadium,
was dedicated in a 20-14 preseason victory over the
Giants.
The
Philadelphia Eagles left Franklin Field and played their
games at the new Veterans Stadium.
The
San Francisco 49ers left Kezar Stadium and moved their
games to Candlestick Park.
Daniel
F. Reeves, the president and general manager of the
Rams, died at 58, April 15.
The
Dallas Cowboys moved from the Cotton Bowl into their
new home, Texas Stadium, October 24.
Miami
defeated Kansas City 27-24 in sudden-death overtime
in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game, December 25. Garo
Yepremian kicked a 37-yard field goal for the Dolphins
after 22 minutes, 40 seconds of overtime, as the game
lasted 82 minutes, 40 seconds overall, making it the
longest game in history.
1972
Dallas defeated Miami 24-3 in Super Bowl VI at New
Orleans, January 16. The CBS telecast was viewed in
an estimated 27,450,000 homes, the top-rated one-day
telecast ever.
The
inbounds lines or hashmarks were moved nearer the center
of the field, 23 yards, 1 foot, 9 inches from the sidelines,
March 23. The method of determining won-lost percentage
in standings changed. Tie games, previously not counted
in the standings, were made equal to a half-game won
and a half-game lost, May 24.
Robert
Irsay purchased the Los Angeles Rams and transferred
ownership of the club to Carroll Rosenbloom in exchange
for the Baltimore Colts, July 13.
William
V. Bidwill purchased the stock of his brother Charles
(Stormy) Bidwill to become the sole owner of the St.
Louis Cardinals, September 2.
The
National District Attorneys Association endorsed the
position of professional leagues in opposing proposed
legalization of gambling on professional team sports,
September 28.
Franco
Harris's "Immaculate Reception" gave the Steelers their
first postseason win ever, 13-7 over the Raiders, December
23.
1973
Rozelle announced that all Super Bowl VII tickets
were sold and that the game would be telecast in Los
Angeles, the site of the game, on an experimental basis,
January 3.
Miami
defeated Washington 14-7 in Super Bowl VII at Los Angeles,
completing a 17-0 season, the first perfect-record regular-season
and postseason mark in NFL history, January 14. The
NBC telecast was viewed by approximately 75 million
people.
The
AFC defeated the NFC 33-28 in the Pro Bowl in Dallas,
the first time since 1942 that the game was played outside
Los Angeles, January 21.
A
jersey numbering system was adopted, April 5: 1-19 for
quarterbacks and specialists, 20-49 for running backs
and defensive backs, 50-59 for centers and linebackers,
60-79 for defensive linemen and interior offensive linemen
other than centers, and 80-89 for wide receivers and
tight ends. Players who had been in the NFL in 1972
could continue to use old numbers.
NFL
Charities, a nonprofit organi-zation, was created to
derive an income from monies generated from NFL Properties'
licensing of NFL trademarks and team names, June 26.
NFL Charities was set up to support education and charitable
activities and to supply economic support to persons
formerly associated with professional football who were
no longer able to support themselves.
Congress
adopted experimental legislation (for three years) requiring
any NFL game that had been declared a sellout 72 hours
prior to kickoff to be made available for local televising,
September 14. The legislation provided for an annual
review to be made by the Federal Communications Commission.
The
Buffalo Bills moved their home games from War Memorial
Stadium to Rich Stadium in nearby Orchard Park. The
Giants tied the Eagles 23-23 in the final game in Yankee
Stadium, September 23. The Giants played the rest of
their home games at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut.
A
rival league, the World Football League, was formed
and was reported in operation, October 2. It had plans
to start play in 1974.
O.J.
Simpson of Buffalo became the first player to rush for
more than 2,000 yards in a season, gaining 2,003.
1974
Miami defeated Minnesota 24-7 in Super Bowl VIII
at Houston, the second consecutive Super Bowl championship
for the Dolphins, January 13. The CBS telecast was viewed
by approximately 75 million people.
Rozelle
was given a 10-year contract effective January 1, 1973,
February 27.
Tampa
Bay was awarded a franchise to begin operation in 1976,
April 24.
Sweeping
rules changes were adopted to add action and tempo to
games: one sudden-death overtime period was added for
preseason and regular-season games; the goal posts were
moved from the goal line to the end lines; kickoffs
were moved from the 40- to the 35-yard line; after missed
field goals from beyond the 20, the ball was to be returned
to the line of scrimmage; restrictions were placed on
members of the punting team to open up return possibilities;
roll-blocking and cutting of wide receivers was eliminated;
the extent of downfield contact a defender could have
with an eligible receiver was restricted; the penalties
for offensive holding, illegal use of the hands, and
tripping were reduced from 15 to 10 yards; wide receivers
blocking back toward the ball within three yards of
the line of scrimmage were prevented from blocking below
the waist, April 25.
The
Toronto Northmen of the WFL signed Larry Csonka, Jim
Kiick, and Paul Warfield of Miami, March 31.
Seattle
was awarded an NFL franchise to begin play in 1976,
June 4. Lloyd W. Nordstrom, president of the Seattle
Seahawks, and Hugh Culverhouse, president of the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers, signed franchise agreements, December
5.
The
Birmingham Americans defeated the Florida Blazers 22-21
in the WFL World Bowl, winning the league championship,
December 5.
1975
Pittsburgh defeated Minnesota 16-6 in Super Bowl
IX at New Orleans, the Steelers' first championship
since entering the NFL in 1933. The NBC telecast was
viewed by approximately 78 million people.
The
divisional winners with the highest won-loss percentage
were made the home team for the divisional playoffs,
and the surviving winners with the highest percentage
made home teams for the championship games, June 26.
Referees
were equipped with wireless microphones for all preseason,
regular-season, and playoff games.
The
Lions moved to the new Pontiac Silverdome. The Giants
played their home games in Shea Stadium. The Saints
moved into the Louisiana Superdome.
The
World Football League folded, October 22.
1976
Pittsburgh defeated Dallas 21-17 in Super Bowl X
in Miami. The Steelers joined Green Bay and Miami as
the only teams to win two Super Bowls; the Cowboys became
the first wild-card team to play in the Super Bowl.
The CBS telecast was viewed by an estimated 80 million
people, the largest television audience in history.
Lloyd
Nordstrom, the president of the Seahawks, died at 66,
January 20. His brother Elmer succeeded him as majority
representative of the team.
The
owners awarded Super Bowl XII, to be played on January
15, 1978, to New Orleans. They also adopted the use
of two 30-second clocks for all games, visible to both
players and fans to note the official time between the
ready-for-play signal and snap of the ball, March 16.
A
veteran player allocation was held to stock the Seattle
and Tampa Bay franchises with 39 players each, March
30-31. In the college draft, Seattle and Tampa Bay each
received eight extra choices, April 8-9.
The
Giants moved into new Giants Stadium in East Rutherford,
New Jersey.
The
Steelers defeated the College All-Stars in a storm-shortened
Chicago College All-Star Game, the last of the series,
July 23. St. Louis defeated San Diego 20-10 in a preseason
game before 38,000 in Korakuen Stadium, Tokyo, in the
first NFL game outside of North America, August 16.
1977
Oakland defeated Minnesota 32-14 in Super Bowl XI
at Pasadena, January 9. The paid attendance was a pro
record 103,438. The NBC telecast was viewed by 81.9
million people, the largest ever to view a sports event.
The victory was the fifth consecutive for the AFC in
the Super Bowl.
The
NFL Players Association and the NFL Management Council
ratified a collective bargaining agreement extending
until 1982, covering five football seasons while continuing
the pension plan-including years 1974, 1975, and 1976-with
contributions totaling more than $55 million. The total
cost of the agreement was estimated at $107 million.
The agreement called for a college draft at least through
1986; contained a no-strike, no-suit clause; established
a 43-man active player limit; reduced pension vesting
to four years; provided for increases in minimum salaries
and preseason and postseason pay; improved insurance,
medical, and dental benefits; modified previous practices
in player movement and control; and reaffirmed the NFL
Commissioner's disciplinary authority. Additionally,
the agreement called for the NFL member clubs to make
payments totaling $16 million the next 10 years to settle
various legal disputes, February 25.
The
San Francisco 49ers were sold to Edward J. DeBartolo,
Jr., March 28.
A
16-game regular season, 4-game preseason was adopted
to begin in 1978, March 29. A second wild-card team
was adopted for the playoffs beginning in 1978, with
the wild-card teams to play each other and the winners
advancing to a round of eight postseason series.
The
Seahawks were permanently aligned in the AFC Western
Division and the Buccaneers in the NFC Central Division,
March 31.
The
owners awarded Super Bowl XIII, to be played on January
21, 1979, to Miami, to be played in the Orange Bowl;
Super Bowl XIV, to be played January 20, 1980, was awarded
to Pasadena, to be played in the Rose Bowl, June 14.
Rules
changes were adopted to open up the passing game and
to cut down on injuries. Defenders were permitted to
make contact with eligible receivers only once; the
head slap was outlawed; offensive linemen were prohibited
from thrusting their hands to an opponent's neck, face,
or head; and wide receivers were prohibited from clipping,
even in the legal clipping zone.
Rozelle
negotiated contracts with the three television networks
to televise all NFL regular-season and postseason games,
plus selected preseason games, for four years beginning
with the 1978 season. ABC was awarded yearly rights
to 16 Monday night games, four prime-time games, the
AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, and the Hall of Fame games. CBS received
the rights to all NFC regular-season and postseason
games (except those in the ABC package) and to Super
Bowls XIV and XVI. NBC received the rights to all AFC
regular-season and postseason games (except those in
the ABC package) and to Super Bowls XIII and XV. Industry
sources considered it the largest single television
package ever negotiated, October 12.
Chicago's
Walter Payton set a single-game rushing record with
275 yards
(40 carries) against Minnesota, November 20.
1978
Dallas defeated Denver 27-10 in Super Bowl XII,
held indoors for the first time, at the Louisiana Superdome
in New Orleans, January 15. The CBS telecast was viewed
by more than 102 million people, meaning the game was
watched by more viewers than any other show of any kind
in the history of television. Dallas's victory was the
first for the NFC in six years.
According
to a Louis Harris Sports Survey, 70 percent of the nation's
sports fans said they followed football, compared to
54 percent who followed baseball. Football increased
its lead as the country's favorite, 26 percent to 16
percent for baseball, January 19.
A
seventh official, the side judge, was added to the officiating
crew, March 14.
The
NFL continued a trend toward opening up the game. Rules
changes permitted a defender to maintain contact with
a receiver within five yards of the line of scrimmage,
but restricted contact beyond that point. The pass-blocking
rule was interpreted to permit the extending of arms
and open hands, March 17.
A
study on the use of instant replay as an officiating
aid was made during seven nationally televised preseason
games.
The
NFL played for the first time in Mexico City, with the
Saints defeating the Eagles 14-7 in a preseason game,
August 5.
Bolstered
by the expansion of the regular-season schedule from
14 to 16 weeks, NFL paid attendance exceeded 12 million
(12,771,800) for the first time. The per-game average
of 57,017 was the third-highest in league history and
the most since 1973.
1979
Pittsburgh defeated Dallas 35-31 in Super Bowl XIII
at Miami to become the first team ever to win three
Super Bowls, January 21. The NBC telecast was viewed
in 35,090,000 homes, by an estimated 96.6 million fans.
The
owners awarded three future Super Bowl sites: Super
Bowl XV to the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, to
be played on January 25, 1981; Super Bowl XVI to the
Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, to be played
on January 24, 1982; and Super Bowl XVII to Pasadena's
Rose Bowl, to be played on January 30, 1983, March 13.
NFL
rules changes emphasized additional player safety. The
changes prohibited players on the receiving team from
blocking below the waist during kickoffs, punts, and
field-goal attempts; prohibited the wearing of torn
or altered equipment and exposed pads that could be
hazardous; extended the zone in which there could be
no crackback blocks; and instructed officials to quickly
whistle a play dead when a quarterback was clearly in
the grasp of a tackler, March 16.
Rosenbloom,
the president of the Rams, drowned at 72, April 2. His
widow, Georgia, assumed control of the club.
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