1985 USFL season

January 2025 November 2013 1985 USFL season File:Logo of the United States Football League.png February 23 – June 24, 1985 Eastern Conference champions (regular season) Birmingham Stallions Western Conference champions (regular season) Oakland Invaders July 14, 1985 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. Baltimore Stars 1984 1986 (cancelled) USA 360 USFL teams: 10px Western, 10px Eastern no USA Bandits bottom Green pog.svg 27.979 -82.504 USA Bulls right Green pog.svg 30.324 -81.638 USA Generals top Green pog.svg 40.812 -74.077 USA Renegades right Green pog.svg 28.539 -81.403 USA Stallions bottom Green pog.svg 33.511 -86.843 USA Showboats top Green pog.svg 35.121 -89.978 USA Stars bottom Green pog.svg 38.990 -76.947 USA Breakers top Blue pog.svg 45.521 -122.692 USA Express top Blue pog.svg 34.014 -118.288 USA Gamblers top Blue pog.svg 29.685 -95.408 USA Gold bottom Blue pog.svg 39.746 -105.022 USA Gunslingers bottom Blue pog.svg 29.463 -98.479 USA Invaders top Blue pog.svg 37.752 -122.201 USA Outlaws bottom Blue pog.svg 33.426 -111.933 The 1985 USFL season was the third and final season of the United States Football League (USFL), and the last by a league using that name until the 2022 USFL season. Rule changes Adopted instant replay for the 1985 season. Under the instant-replay rule, a team may have one appeal per half in three situations:https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-02-22-sp-718-story.html Archives Los Angeles Times A fumble or no-fumble situation. Whether a pass is complete, incomplete or intercepted. Whether the ball has penetrated the goal line. The team asking for the replay would lose a time out if they were wrong. The replay was available only in games televised by ABC.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-12-01-sp-5672-story.html Archives Los Angeles Times Franchise changes Pittsburgh Maulers fold. Chicago Blitz suspend operations. Michigan Panthers merge with the Oakland Invaders. Arizona Wranglers and the Oklahoma Outlaws merge and create the Arizona Outlaws. New Orleans Breakers relocate to Portland, Oregon as the Portland Breakers. Philadelphia Stars move games to College Park, Maryland, with plans to move to Baltimore in 1986, team is renamed the Baltimore Stars. Washington Federals are sold and relocate to Orlando, Florida, as the Orlando Renegades. General news August 22, 1984, the owners voted to move to a fall schedule starting in 1986. Harry Usher became the new commissioner of the USFL in January 1985. The USFL and the United States Football League Players Association (USFLPA) agreed on a four-year agreement in March 1985.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1697&dat=19850329&id=K0oqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VkcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3868,6075953 Park City Daily News - Google News Archive Search On April 29, 1985, the league's owners voted 13–2 to reaffirm their decision to begin playing a fall season in 1986.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4R5RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RmYDAAAAIBAJ&dq=john-bassett%20bandits&pg=3946%2C6765755 By its own hand, USFL will fall into oblivion St. Petersburg Times 30 April 1985 1 March 2014 Mizell, Hubert 1C Regular season W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against #ccffcc y darkgray = Division Champion, #ccffcc x darkgray = Wild Card Eastern ConferenceTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadium1985 CapacityAvg. Att.Avg. % FilledCoach y-Birmingham Stallions1350.722436299Legion Field77,00032,06542%Rollie Dotsch x-New Jersey Generals1170.611418378Giants Stadium76,89141,26854%Walt Michaels x-Memphis Showboats1170.611429337Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium50,18030,94862%Pepper Rodgers x-Baltimore Stars1071.583368260Byrd Stadium51,50014,27528%Jim Mora x-Tampa Bay Bandits1080.556405422Tampa Stadium72,81245,22062%Steve Spurrier Jacksonville Bulls990.500407402Gator Bowl Stadium80,10044,32555%Lindy Infante Orlando Renegades5130.278308481Orlando Stadium52,00024,13646%Lee Corso Western ConferenceTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadium1985 CapacityAvg. Att.Avg. % FilledCoach y-Oakland Invaders1341.750473359Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum54,61517,50932%Charlie Sumner x-Denver Gold1170.611433389Mile High Stadium75,12314,44619%Darrell "Mouse" Davis x-Houston Gamblers1080.556544388Houston Astrodome47,69519,12040%Jack Pardee Arizona Outlaws8100.444376405Sun Devil Stadium70,03017,88126%Frank Kush Portland Breakers6120.333275422Civic Stadium32,50019,91961%Dick Coury San Antonio Gunslingers5130.278296436Alamo Stadium32,00011,72137%Jim Bates/Gil Steinke Los Angeles Express3150.167266456Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum94,0008,4159%John Hadl New Jersey finished ahead of Memphis based on a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage (2–0). Playoffs Away team Score Home team Date Quarterfinals Houston Gamblers 20–22 Birmingham Stallions June 29, 1985 Denver Gold 7–48 Memphis Showboats June 29, 1985 Tampa Bay Bandits 27–30 Oakland Invaders June 30, 1985 Baltimore Stars 20–17 New Jersey Generals July 1, 1985 Semifinals Baltimore Stars 28–14 Birmingham Stallions July 6, 1985 Oakland Invaders 28–19 Memphis Showboats July 7, 1985 USFL Championship GameGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey Baltimore Stars 28–24 Oakland Invaders July 14, 1985 Quarterfinals Semifinals USFL Championship W3 Houston 20 E1 Birmingham 22 E4 Baltimore 20 E2 New Jersey 17 E5 Tampa Bay 27 W1 Oakland 30 W2 Denver 7 E3 Memphis 48 E1 Birmingham 14 E4 Baltimore 28 W1 Oakland 28 E3 Memphis 19 E4 Baltimore 28 W1 Oakland 24 This bracket: 1985 USFL playoffs Statistics 1985 regular season stat leaders 1985 Passing Stats (all)Name, TeamAttComp%yardsYDs/AttTDTD %INTINT %RatingWalter Lewis, MEM1849752.715938.66168.752.799.8Jim Kelly, HOU56736063.546238.15396.9193.497.9Fred Besana, OAK583458.64948.51610.346.992.2Brian Sipe, JACK895561.86857.9744.522.291.3Cliff Stoudt, BIRM44426659.933587.56347.7194.391.2Tim Riordan, BAL362158.32607.2212.800.090.0Bobby Hebert, OAK45624453.538118.36306.6194.286.1Chuck Fusina, BAL49630361.134967.05204.0142.884.0Mike Kelley, MEM26016563.521868.4193.5145.479.1Bob Lane, BIRM331854.52557.7313.013.077.2Doug Williams, ARZ50927153.236737.22214.1173.376.4Bob Gagliano, DENV35820557.326957.53133.6174.773.5John Reaves, TB56131456.041937.47254.5295.273.2Ed Luther, JACK40024060.027926.98153.8215.371.8Todd Dillon, HOU22512153.814956.6594.094.071.3Rick Neuheisel, SA42123956.830687.29184.3255.969.3Doug Flutie, NJ28113447.721097.51134.6145.067.8Rick Johnson, ARZ432148.83187.4037.037.067.8Reggie Collier, ORL42722953.625786.04133.0163.766.5Vince Evans, DENV32515748.322596.95123.7164.963.1Steve Young, LA25013754.817416.9762.4135.263.1Matt Robinson, POR31015650.321827.04154.8206.562.6Buck Belue, JACK683754.42994.4034.434.462.1Jerry Golsteyn, ORL1356548.16474.7943.075.250.4Jimmy Jordan, TB935458.16016.4633.21111.848.6Doug Woodward, POR1556240.08315.3631.963.948.1Frank Seurer, LA24212049.614796.1172.9187.447.5Fred Mortensen, SA572035.12043.5811.847.022.8 1985 Rushing leadersName, TeamAttYdsAve.TDsHerschel Walker, NJ43824115.521Mike Rozier, JACK32013614.312Bill Johnson, DENV21212615.915Kelvin Bryant, BAL23812075.112Gary Anderson, TB27612074.416Joe Cribbs, BIRM26710473.97Reggie Brown, AZ22910314.512Albert Bentley, OAK19110205.34John Williams, OAK1868574.69Buford Jordan, PORT1658175.05Tim Spencer, MEM1987894.03Curtis Bledsoe, ORL2077813.83Maurice Carthon, NJ1757264.16Reggie Collier, ORL926066.612Walter Lewis, MEM655919.14Greg Boone, TB1115595.03Allen Harvin, BAL1385494.04George Works, SA935425.81Mel Gray, LA1255264.21 1985 Receiving LeadersName, TeamRecYdsAve.TDsRichard Johnson, HOU103138413.414Leonard Harris, DENV101143214.28Jim Smith, BIRM87132215.220Clarence Verdin, HOU84100412.09Alton Alexis, JACK83111813.55Marc Lewis, DENV75120716.16Scott Fitzkee, BAL7388212.13Gary Anderson, TB726789.44Derrick Crawford, MEM70105715.19Anthony Carter, OAK70132318.914Larry Brodsky, TB69107115.57Gordon Banks, OAK62111518.05Perry Kemp, JACK5991515.54Marvin Harvey, TB5972312.33Gerald McNeil, HOU58101717.56Joey Walters, ORL5878413.55Greg Moser, MEM57114520.16Vincent White, DENV5566612.15Alphonso Williams, AZ55102018.58Mark Keel, JACK5358511.00Don Roberts, SA5365312.34Sam Harrell, HOU514919.62Greg Anderson, AZ5191517.95Mike Rozier, JACK503667.33JoJo Townsell, LA4777716.56Derek Holloway, OAK4782417.57Jerry Gordon, SA4469315.87Ken Dunek, BAL4450811.50Frank Lockett, PORT/SA4379418.53Joey Jones, BIRM4375117.57Jeff Smith, ORL4252112.41Dan Ross, PORT4152212.75 1985 USFL regular season sortable offensive team statistics TeamPts.Ave.RankTotalYardsAve.RankRush.YardsAve.RankPass.YardsAve.Rank Houston 544 30.2 1 7032 391 1 1192 66 14 5840 324 1 Oakland 473 26.3 2 6354 353 4 2362 131 5 3992 222 4 Birmingham 436 24.2 3 5852 325 8 2463 137 3 3389 188 9 Denver 433 24.1 4 6629 368 3 2079 116 7 4550 253 3 Memphis 429 23.8 5 6201 345 5 2775 154 2 3426 190 8 New Jersey 418 23.2 6 6149 342 6 3763 209 1 2386 133 14 Jacksonville 407 22.6 7 5752 320 10 1998 111 11 3754 209 6 Tampa Bay 405 22.5 8 6709 373 2 2070 115 8 4639 258 2 Arizona 376 20.9 9 5804 322 9 2019 112 10 3785 210 5 Baltimore 368 20.4 10 5926 329 7 2420 134 4 3506 195 7 Orlando 308 17.1 11 4611 256 13 1818 101 12 2793 155 12 San Antonio 296 16.4 12 4597 255 14 1777 99 13 2820 157 11 Portland 275 15.3 13 5029 279 11 2041 113 9 2988 166 10 Los Angeles 266 14.8 14 4707 262 12 2087 116 6 2620 146 13 1985 USFL regular season sortable defensive team statistics TeamPts.Ave.RankTotalYardsAve.RankRush.YardsAve.RankPass.YardsAve.Rank Baltimore 260 14.4 1 5291 294 2 2045 114 6 3246 180 3 Birmingham 299 16.6 2 4829 268 1 1807 100 1 3022 168 1 Memphis 337 18.7 3 5327 296 3 1897 105 3 3430 191 5 Oakland 359 19.9 4 5584 310 5 1832 102 2 3752 208 10 New Jersey 378 21.0 5 5685 316 7 1959 109 5 3726 207 9 Houston 388 21.6 6 6298 350 13 2168 120 8 4130 229 13 Denver 389 21.6 7 5924 329 8 2172 121 9 3752 208 11 Jacksonville 402 22.3 8 6121 340 10 2559 142 13 3562 198 7 Arizona 405 22.5 9 5518 307 4 2291 127 10 3227 179 2 Tampa Bay 422 23.4 10 5949 331 9 2390 133 12 3559 198 6 Portland 422 23.4 11 6177 343 11 2344 130 11 3833 213 12 San Antonio 436 24.2 12 5645 314 6 1949 108 4 3696 205 8 Los Angeles 456 25.3 13 6273 349 12 2132 118 7 4141 230 14 Orlando 481 26.7 14 6731 374 14 3319 184 14 3412 190 4 Awards 1985 USFL All-League Team WR Richard Johnson, HOU WR Jim Smith, BIRM TE Marvin Harvey, TB T Irv Eatman, BAL T Ray Pinney, OAKL G Buddy Aydelette, BIRM G Pat Saindon, BIRM C Kent Hull, NJ QB Jim Kelly, HOU HB Herschel Walker, NJ HB Gary Anderson, TB DE James Lockette, NJ DE Bruce Thornton, DENV DT Reggie White, MEM DT Dave Tipton, AZ LB Sam Mills, BAL LB Kiki DeAyala, HOU CB Kerry Justin, NJ CB David Martin, DENV/AZ S Chuck Clanton, BIRM S Mike Lush, BAL K Brian Franco, JACK KR Clarence Verdin, HOU P Stan Talley, OAKL PR Gerald McNeil, HOU MVP – HB Herschel Walker, NJ Coach of the year – Rollie Dotsch, BIRM Special Teams Player of the year – WR Clarence Verdin, HOU Second Team WR Anthony Carter, OAKL WR Leonard Harris, DENV TE Dan Ross, PORT T Pat Phenix, BIRM T Dan Fike, TB G Alvin Powell, AZ G Chuck Commusky, BAL C Jim Leonard, OAKL QB Cliff Stoudt, BIRM RB Bill Johnson, DENV RB Mike Rozier, JACK DE Keith Millard, JACK DE Pete Catan, HOU LB Bill Roe, BIRM LB Herb Spencer, BIRM LB Ray Bentley, OAKL CB Vito McKeever, OAKL CB Jonathan Sutton, BAL S Luther Bradley, HOU S Vic Minor, SA K Toni Fritsch, HOU P Greg Carter, ORL KR Jerry Parish, ORL PR Thad McFadden, BIRM 1985 The Sporting News USFL All-Star Team WR Richard Johnson, HOU WR Jim Smith, BIRM WR Anthony Carter, OAKL TE Gordon Hudson, LA T Irv Eatman, BAL T Gary Zimmerman, LA G Buddy Aydelette, BIRM G Pat Saindon, BIRM C Kent Hull, NJ QB Jim Kelly, HOU HB Herschel Walker, NJ HB Gary Anderson, TB DE Reggie White, MEM DE William Fuller, BAL DT Jearld Baylis, PORT DT Doug Smith, BIRM OLB Herb Spencer, BIRM OLB Andy Hawkins, HOU ILB Sam Mills, BAL ILB John Nevens, DENV ILB Howard Carson, LA CB Jerry Holmes, NJ CB David Martin, DENV/AZ S Barney Bussey, MEM S Chuck Clanton, BIRM K Tony Zendejas, LA KR Clarence Verdin, HOU P Stan Talley, OAKL PR Gerald McNeil, HOU Player of the year—HB Herschel Walker, NJ Coach of the year -- Rollie Dotsch, BIRM Executive of the year -- Jerry Sklar, BIRM References United States Football League 1985