1988 NFL season

American football season November 2013 March 2026 1988 San Francisco 49ers September 4 – December 19, 1988 December 24, 1988 Cincinnati Bengals San Francisco 49ers XXIII January 22, 1989 Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami January 29, 1989 thumb|310px|Quarterback Warren Moon (left) and running back Mike Rozier (right) of the Houston Oilers were among the league's top passers and rushers, respectively. The 1988 NFL season was the 69th regular season of the National Football League. The Cardinals relocated from St. Louis, Missouri, to the Phoenix, Arizona, area becoming the Phoenix Cardinals but remained in the NFC East division. The playoff races came down to the regular season's final week, with the Seattle Seahawks winning the AFC West by one game, and the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers winning their respective divisions in a five-way tie, with the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants losing the NFC Wild Card berth to the Los Angeles Rams on tiebreakers. 1988 marked the final seasons for legendary head coaches Tom Landry of Dallas and Bill Walsh of San Francisco as well as the final full year for commissioner Pete Rozelle. The season ended with Super Bowl XXIII when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 20–16 at the Joe Robbie Stadium in Florida. Transactions Retirements January 19, 1988: The Pittsburgh Steelers announce that Donnie Shell and John Stallworth have retired from professional football. https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/19/sports/sports-people-2-steelers-retire.html Sports People; 2 Steelers Retire New York Times January 19, 1988 2020-12-03 en March 22, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230322080107/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/19/sports/sports-people-2-steelers-retire.html live Draft The 1988 NFL draft was held from April 24 to 25, 1988, at New York City's Marriott Marquis. With the first pick, the Atlanta Falcons selected linebacker Aundray Bruce from Auburn University. Officiating changes Johnny Grier became the first African-American in NFL history to be promoted to referee.https://www.profootballhof.com/news/african-american-pioneers/ African-Americans in Pro Football Pro Football Hall of Fame March 28, 2019 March 28, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190328074846/https://www.profootballhof.com/news/african-american-pioneers/ live Grier replaced Bob Frederic, who retired in the offseason after 17 seasons as a referee. Grier was the field judge in the previous season's Super Bowl XXII, which was the same game that Doug Williams of the Washington Redskins became the first African-American quarterback to win the Super Bowl. Grier would be a referee until a career-ending injury during the 2004 season. Major rule changes A standard system of two time intervals between plays are established (and would be timed using the play clock): For normal plays, the offensive team has 45 seconds to snap the ball after the previous play is signaled dead. After time outs and other administrative stoppages, the time limit is 30 seconds beginning after the Referee signals that the ball is ready to resume play. If a fumble occurs during an extra point attempt, only the fumbling player can recover and/or advance the ball. This change closes a loophole in the "Stabler Fumble Rule" that was enacted during the 1979 NFL season in reaction to the Holy Roller Game. The penalty for running into the kicker was changed from five yards and an automatic first down to just five yards. 1988 deaths Alan Ameche: Having played for the Baltimore Colts in the 1950s, he died of a heart attack on August 8, 1988, at age 55 at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, a few days after undergoing another heart bypass surgery.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4yIiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=unQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4764%2C1446330 The Hour Norwalk, Connecticut Associated Press Alan Ameche dies August 9, 1988 38https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qbIxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vuQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6239%2C143959 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania news services Alan Ameche dies of heart problems August 9, 1988 13 March 11, 2022 November 30, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20220311051705/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qbIxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vuQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6239%2C143959 live Steve Chomyszak David Croudip: The Atlanta Falcons cornerback died on October 10 after a cocaine overdose.Falcon David Croudip Dies; Cocaine Cocktail Suspected October 10, 1988 Los Angeles Times https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15622942/falcon_david_croudip_dies_cocaine/ Newspapers.com July 4, 2018 November 30, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20180704212947/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15622942/falcon_david_croudip_dies_cocaine/ live Hall Haynes Clarke Hinkle Joe Don Looney Nick Pietrosante Art Rooney: The Pittsburgh Steelers founding owner died on August 25 following complications from a stroke.1988 NY Times obituary for Art Rooney Joey Sternaman Preseason American Bowl A series of National Football League pre-season exhibition games that were held at sites outside the United States, the only American Bowl game in 1988 was held at London's Wembley Stadium. Date Winning team Score Losing team Score Stadium City July 31, 1988 Miami Dolphins 27 San Francisco 49ers 21 Wembley Stadium GBR London Regular season Scheduling formula     Inter-conference AFC East vs NFC Central AFC Central vs NFC East AFC West vs NFC West Highlights of the 1988 season included: Thanksgiving: Two games were played on Thursday, November 24, featuring Minnesota at Detroit and Houston at Dallas, with Minnesota and Houston winning. This was the last time until 2000 both visiting teams won on Thanksgiving. Final standings Tiebreakers Cincinnati was the top AFC playoff seed ahead of Buffalo based on head-to-head victory (1–0). Indianapolis finished ahead of New England in the AFC East based on better record against common opponents (7–5 to Patriots' 6–6). Cleveland finished ahead of Houston in the AFC Central based on better division record (4–2 to Oilers' 3–3). San Francisco was the second NFC playoff seed ahead of Philadelphia on better record against common opponents (5–3 to Eagles' 5–4). Philadelphia finished first in the NFC East based on head-to-head sweep of the N.Y. Giants (2–0). Washington finished third in the NFC East based on better division record (4–4) than Phoenix (3–5). Detroit finished fourth in the NFC Central based on head-to-head sweep of Green Bay (2–0). San Francisco finished first in the NFC West based on better head-to-head record (3–1) against the L.A. Rams (2–2) and New Orleans (1–3). The L.A. Rams finished second in the NFC West based on better division record (4–2) than New Orleans (3–3). Rams earned the #2 NFC Wild Card based on better conference record (8–4, .667) than the N.Y. Giants (9–5, .642) and New Orleans (6–6, .500). Playoffs thumb|125px|A ticket for the AFC Championship Game between the Bengals and the Bills. 1988–89 NFL playoffs Statistical leaders Team Points scoredCincinnati Bengals (448)Total yards gainedCincinnati Bengals (6,057)Yards rushingCincinnati Bengals (2,710)Yards passingMiami Dolphins (4,516)Fewest points allowedChicago Bears (215)Fewest total yards allowedMinnesota Vikings (4,091)Fewest rushing yards allowedChicago Bears (1,326)Fewest passing yards allowedKansas City Chiefs (2,434) Awards Most Valuable PlayerBoomer Esiason, quarterback, CincinnatiAssociated Press Boomer Esiason Voted MVP After Leading Bengals' Turnaround Los Angeles Times 1988-12-29 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-12-29-mn-1610-story.html 2026-04-25 April 28, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260428051937/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-12-29-mn-1610-story.html live Coach of the YearMike Ditka, ChicagoOffensive Player of the YearRoger Craig, running back, San FranciscoDefensive Player of the YearMike Singletary, linebacker, ChicagoOffensive Rookie of the YearJohn Stephens, running back, New EnglandDefensive Rookie of the YearErik McMillan, safety, NY JetsNFL Comeback Player of the YearGreg Bell, running back, LA RamsNFL Man of the YearSteve Largent, wide receiver, SeattleSuper Bowl Most Valuable PlayerJerry Rice, wide receiver, San Francisco Coaching changes Offseason Green Bay Packers: Forrest Gregg left to join the SMU Mustangs. Lindy Infante was named as Gregg's replacement. Los Angeles Raiders: Tom Flores stepped down to move to the team's front office. Mike Shanahan was named as the team's new head coach. In-season Detroit Lions: Darryl Rogers was fired after 11 games and replaced by defensive coordinator Wayne Fontes. Stadium changes The relocated Phoenix Cardinals moved from Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Uniform changes Referees were outfitted with white hats while all other officials wore black hats, matching the standard practice in college and high school football. From 1979 through 1987, the reverse convention--the same as the Canadian Football League at the time--was used, with referees wearing black hats with all other officials wearing white hats. The Green Bay Packers removed the elliptical green circles with the player's number from the hip area of the pants, also removing the gold stripe in the middle, one of the additions made in 1984 by former coach Forrest Gregg; the team also added a small gold stripe on their socks. The Los Angeles Raiders switch to a darker silver pants. The New England Patriots dropped the red road pants they had worn since 1984; the red pants would return in 1990. The San Diego Chargers switched to a darker shade of blue on their jerseys, from gold to blue face masks, and from gold to white lightning bolts. The helmets remained unchanged until a complete redesign in 2007. Television This was the second year under the league's three-year broadcast contracts with ABC, CBS, NBC, and ESPN to televise Monday Night Football, the NFC package, the AFC package, and Sunday Night Football, respectively. Joe Theismann took over as lead color commentator in ESPN's booth, replacing Roy Firestone, while the weekly "guest color commentator" spot was discontinued. Meanwhile, Dick Butkus joined The NFL Today as analyst, alongside host Brent Musburger and Irv Cross.http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/26-05-1045.pdf A CHRONOLOGY OF PRO FOOTBALL ON TELEVISION: Part 3 Brulia Tim Pro Football Researchers August 30, 2022 September 8, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150908075929/http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/26-05-1045.pdf live A number of NBC's regular NFL commentators were temporarily replaced while they called the network's coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea from September 17 to October 2. Among them, Len Berman returned to the NFL on NBC pregame show to fill-in for host Bob Costas, while Curt Gowdy, Ray Scott, Chuck Thompson, Marty Glickman, Merle Harmon, and Al DeRogatis filled-in on the network's various broadcast crews. References NFL Record and Fact Book (1-932994-36-X) NFL History 1981–1990 (Last accessed December 4, 2005) Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (0-06-270174-6) 1988 National Football League