1991 NFL season

American football season November 2013 March 2026 1991 Washington Redskins September 1 – December 23, 1991 December 28, 1991 Buffalo Bills Washington Redskins XXVI January 26, 1992 Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota February 2, 1992 The 1991 NFL season was the 72nd regular season of the National Football League (NFL). It was the final season for coach Chuck Noll. The season ended with Super Bowl XXVI when the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills, 37–24, at the Metrodome in Minnesota. This was the second of four consecutive Super Bowl losses for Buffalo. Player movement Transactions March 26, 1991: Ronnie Lott signs with the Los Angeles Raiders as a Plan B Free Agent.Raiders sign Lott on Plan B Baltimore Sun 1991-03-26 https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/03/26/raiders-sign-lott-on-plan-b/ 2026-04-25 April 30, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260430110753/https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/03/26/raiders-sign-lott-on-plan-b/ live April 2, 1991: Roger Craig signs with the Los Angeles Raiders as a Plan B Free Agent.https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-04-02-9101300437-story.html ROGER CRAIG SIGNS WITH RAIDERS CHICAGO TRIBUNE 2020-11-30 en August 27: The Green Bay Packers sign punter Rick Tuten, who appeared in Super Bowl XXV with the Buffalo Bills. https://www.nfl.com/transactions/league/signings/1991/8 1991 NFL Transactions. Signings - August National Football League 2020-12-03 en May 7, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210507055035/https://www.nfl.com/transactions/league/signings/1991/8 live September 19: The Phoenix Cardinals sign quarterback Stan Gelbaugh, who led the London Monarchs to the World Bowl '91.https://www.nfl.com/transactions/league/signings/1991/9 1991 NFL Transactions. Trades - September National Football League 2020-12-03 en May 17, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210517093328/https://www.nfl.com/transactions/league/signings/1991/9 live September 19: The Philadelphia Eagles sign Wide Receiver Roy Green. September 21: The Pittsburgh Steelers sign quarterback Rick Strom. September 21: The San Diego Chargers sign Wide Receiver Yancey Thigpen. September 26 : The San Francisco 49ers sign Defensive End Jim Burt. Trades July 22: The Atlanta Falcons traded Defensive Tackle Tony Casillas to the Dallas Cowboys. https://www.nfl.com/transactions/league/trades/1991/7 1991 NFL Transactions. Trades - July National Football League 2020-12-03 en July 26, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200726005922/https://www.nfl.com/transactions/league/trades/1991/7 live August 14: The Los Angeles Raiders traded Vencie Glenn to the New Orleans Saints https://www.nfl.com/transactions/league/trades/1991/8 1991 NFL Transactions. Trades - August National Football League 2020-12-03 en August 29, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200829234627/https://www.nfl.com/transactions/league/trades/1991/8 live August 19: The New Orleans Saints traded Robert Massey to the Phoenix Cardinals August 21: The New Orleans Saints traded wide receiver Brett Perriman to the Detroit Lions August 27: The Green Bay Packers traded kicker Brad Daluiso to the Atlanta Falcons August 27: The Los Angeles Raiders traded quarterback Steve Beuerlein to the Dallas Cowboys August 28: The Chargers traded quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver to the Atlanta Falcons September 11: The Seattle Seahawks traded kicker Norm Johnson to the Atlanta Falcons. Retirements Four-time Super Bowl champion Mike Webster announced his retirement on March 11, 1991, after a 17-year career with a total of 245 games played at center.https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/12/sports/sports-people-pro-football-webster-retires.html Sports People: Pro Football; Webster Retires The New York Times March 12, 1991 2020-11-30 en December 1, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042830/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/12/sports/sports-people-pro-football-webster-retires.html live Draft 1991 NFL draft The 1991 NFL draft was held from April 21 to 22, 1991, at New York City's Marriott Marquis. With the first pick, the Dallas Cowboys selected defensive tackle Russell Maryland from the University of Miami. Officiating changes Art McNally resigned as the league's Director of Officiating during the offseason. He had held the position since 1968.https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2012/12/18/art-mcnally-recalls-immaculate-reception-40-years-later-denies-looking-at-the-replay/1778279/ Forty years later, NFL official denies 'Immaculate Reception' conspiracy USA TODAY 2018-09-01 en January 4, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230104174722/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2012/12/18/art-mcnally-recalls-immaculate-reception-40-years-later-denies-looking-at-the-replay/1778279/ live Longtime NFL referee Jerry Seeman, who worked the previous season's Super Bowl XXV, was named as McNally's replacement.http://www.startribune.com/local/north/233372821.html Former NFL referee, league supervisor of officials Jerry Seeman dies at age 77 November 25, 2013 Associated Press StarTribune.com https://web.archive.org/web/20131129075806/http://www.startribune.com/local/north/233372821.html November 29, 2013 Jim Tunney retired after 31 years as an NFL official. He remains the only referee to have worked consecutive Super Bowls (XI, and XII). Gene Barth died on October 11, 1991."Gene F. Barth Dies; Was NFL Official For 20 Years", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 13, 1991, Edition: L5, Page: 14F For the remainder of the 1991 season, NFL officials wore a black armband on their left sleeve with the white number 14 to honor him. Bernie Kukar, Larry Nemmers (the side judge for Super Bowl XXV), and Stan Kemp were promoted to referee to replace Barth, Seeman, and Tunney. Major rule changes Source: Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (0-06-270174-6). pp 1583–1592. The definition of a drop kick, field goal, and punt is modified: all three can only be attempted from behind the line of scrimmage. If a foul by a player causes an injury to an opponent, a team time out will not be charged to the penalized team anytime during the game instead of only during the last two minutes of a half/overtime. The game clock will not start until the next snap following any change of possession, even if the player went out of bounds. Officials will immediately blow the play dead when a defensive player is offsides before the snap and clearly rushes beyond the offensive line in such a way that he becomes an unabated threat to the quarterback. The "in the grasp" rule adopted in 1979 was modified to declare the play dead "as soon as the passer is clearly in the grasp and control of any tackler behind the line, and the passer’s safety is in jeopardy." This change was made due to the rise of more mobile quarterbacks such as Randall Cunningham. A touchback will be ruled when a player fumbles the ball in the field of play and it goes out of bounds in the opponent's end zone. A touchback, not a safety, will also be ruled when a player fumbles the ball in his own end zone and the opponent is the one that knocks the fumble out of bounds in the end zone. An offensive player cannot deliberately bat a backward pass forward. 1991 deaths Ollie Spencer Jimmy Strausbaugh Sid Youngelman Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Paul Brown: Brown died on August 5, 1991, at home of complications from pneumonia. A longtime coach of the Cleveland Browns and co-founder of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968, also serving as their first coach, Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. Red Grange: Grange developed Parkinson's disease and died on January 28, 1991, in Lake Wales, Florida. Joining the Chicago Bears in 1925, Grange, a charter member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, also became the first person other than the game referee to toss the coin at a Super Bowl. Preseason American Bowl A series of National Football League pre-season exhibition games that were held at sites outside the United States, a total of three games were contested. Date Winning team Score Losing team Score Stadium City July 28, 1991 Buffalo Bills 17 Philadelphia Eagles 13 Wembley Stadium GBR London August 3, 1991 San Francisco 49ers 21 Chicago Bears 7 Olympiastadion GER Berlin August 4, 1991 Miami Dolphins 19 Los Angeles Raiders 17 Tokyo Dome JPN Tokyo Regular season Scheduling formula     Inter-conference AFC East vs NFC Central AFC Central vs NFC East AFC West vs NFC West Highlights of the 1991 season included: Thanksgiving: Two games were played on Thursday, November 28, featuring Chicago at Detroit and Pittsburgh at Dallas, with Detroit and Dallas winning. Final standings Tiebreakers N.Y. Jets finished ahead of Miami in the AFC East based on head-to-head sweep (2–0). Chicago was the first NFC Wild Card based on better conference record than Dallas (9–3 to Cowboys' 8–4). Atlanta finished ahead of San Francisco in the NFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2–0), and was the third NFC Wild Card ahead of Philadelphia based on better conference record (7–5 to Eagles' 6–6). Playoffs 1991–92 NFL playoffs Records, milestones, and notable statistics Week 8 October 21: James Lofton became the oldest player to record 200 yards receiving as well as 200 yards from scrimmage in a game (35 years, 108 days), as the Buffalo Bills defeated the Cincinnati Bengals by a 35–16 final. Awards Most Valuable PlayerThurman Thomas, running back, BuffaloCoach of the YearWayne Fontes, DetroitOffensive Player of the YearThurman Thomas, running back, BuffaloDefensive Player of the YearPat Swilling, linebacker, New OrleansOffensive Rookie of the YearLeonard Russell, running back, New EnglandDefensive Rookie of the YearMike Croel, linebacker, DenverNFL Comeback Player of the YearJim McMahon, quarterback, PhiladelphiaNFL Man of the YearAnthony Muñoz, offensive tackle, CincinnatiSuper Bowl Most Valuable PlayerMark Rypien, quarterback, Washington Coaching changes Offseason Cleveland Browns: Bill Belichick was named the permanent replacement, after Bud Carson was fired after the first nine games of 1990, and Jim Shofner served as interim for the final seven games. New England Patriots: Dick MacPherson replaced the fired Rod Rust. New York Giants: Bill Parcells resigned following the team's Super Bowl XXV victory and was replaced by Ray Handley. Philadelphia Eagles: Rich Kotite was hired after the team opted to not renew Buddy Ryan's contract. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Richard Williamson became the permanent head coach, after serving as interim for the final three games of 1990 following the firing of Ray Perkins. In-season Indianapolis Colts: Ron Meyer was fired after five games, and Rick Venturi then served as interim for the final 11 games. Uniform changes The NFL shield was added to the yoke of the jerseys and the left thigh of the pants. The NFL shield was also added to the right breast of the officiating uniforms. The New England Patriots switched from white face masks to red. The Washington Redskins switched from big block numbers to skinnier font size numbers. The San Francisco 49ers removed the white stripes on its red socks, making them solid red. Just before the start of training camp, owner Eddie DeBartolo unveiled a new helmet logo with "49ers" in a modern font, replacing the interlocking "SF" which had been on the team's helmets since 1962. After severe fan backlash, DeBartolo reversed course two days later. Television This was the second year under the league's four-year broadcast contracts with ABC, CBS, NBC, TNT, and ESPN. ABC, CBS, and NBC continued to televise Monday Night Football, the NFC package, the AFC package, respectively. Sunday night games aired on TNT during the first half of the season, and ESPN during the second half of the season.https://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/26-06-1049.pdf A CHRONOLOGY OF PRO FOOTBALL ON TELEVISION: Part 4 Brulia Tim Pro Football Researchers December 16, 2025 September 6, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230906092408/https://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/26-06-1049.pdf live External links Football Outsiders: DVOA 1991 References NFL Record and Fact Book (1-932994-36-X) NFL History 1991–2000 https://web.archive.org/web/20060823021151/http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/1991-2000 August 23, 2006 Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (0-06-270174-6) 1991 NFL season at Pro Football Reference Category:NFL seasons National Football League