1984 USFL season

Second season of the United States Football League January 2025 November 2013 1984 USFL season File:Logo of the United States Football League.png February 26 – June 25, 1984 Eastern Conference champions Philadelphia Stars Western Conference champions Arizona Wranglers July 15, 1984 Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida Philadelphia Stars 1983 1985 USA 360 USFL teams: 10px Pacific, 10px Central, 10px Southern, 10px Atlantic no USA Federals bottom Green pog.svg 38.89 -76.972 USA Generals top Green pog.svg 40.812 -74.077 USA Maulers top Green pog.svg 40.447 -80.013 USA Stars right Green pog.svg 39.907 -75.171 USA Bandits bottom DeepPink pog.svg 27.979 -82.504 USA Breakers bottom DeepPink pog.svg 29.951 -90.081 USA Stallions bottom DeepPink pog.svg 33.511 -86.843 USA Showboats right DeepPink pog.svg 35.121 -89.978 USA Bulls right DeepPink pog.svg 30.324 -81.638 USA Express top Blue pog.svg 34.014 -118.288 USA Gold bottom Blue pog.svg 39.746 -105.022 USA Invaders top Blue pog.svg 37.752 -122.201 USA Wranglers bottom Blue pog.svg 33.426 -111.933 USA Blitz left Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 41.862 -87.617 USA Gamblers top Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 29.685 -95.408 USA Gunslingers bottom Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 29.463 -98.479 USA Outlaws top Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 36.149 -95.944 USA Panthers top Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 42.646 -83.255 The 1984 USFL season was the second season of the United States Football League. Rule changes The USFL added the side judge to the game officials, making a seven-man crew. Teams played preseason games in 1984. There had been no preseason games in 1983. Franchise changes Boston Breakers are sold and relocate to New Orleans, Louisiana as the New Orleans Breakers on October 18, 1983. Six expansion teams: Houston Gamblers, Jacksonville Bulls, Memphis Showboats, Oklahoma Outlaws, Pittsburgh Maulers, and San Antonio Gunslingers Chicago Blitz's owner buys Arizona Wranglers and sells Blitz, all but two Blitz players are traded to Arizona, all but two Wranglers players are traded to Chicago. The Blitz coaches also go to Arizona, with Chicago acquiring a new coaching staff in 1984. The franchises also trade draft choices.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=892&dat=19831002&id=n5hOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vEwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6654,106932 The Courier - Google News Archive Search news.google.com General news On September 21, 1983, the New Jersey Generals were sold to Donald Trump. On October 19, 1983, the United States Football League awarded the 1984 USFL Champion Game to Tampa Stadium in Tampa, FL and the 1985 USFL Championship Game to the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, MI. On February 15, the USFL took control of the Chicago Blitz. The Denver Gold were sold during the 1984 season. In May 1984, the USFL announced a "new" Chicago franchise would be created for the 1985 season. Players vote to form a union, United States Football League Players Association, with former Buffalo Bills linebacker Doug Allen serving as executive director. Philadelphia and Tampa Bay played in a post season exhibition game billed as "The Jetsave Challenge Cup"https://www.sportspaper.info/football/usfl/seasons/1984/usfl-program-1984_type-e.html 1984 USFL Game Program (Jetsave Challenge Cup) | SportsPaper.info www.sportspaper.info in Wembley Stadium on July 21. Philadelphia won 24–21. On August 22, 1984, the owners voted to move to a fall schedule starting in 1986. On October 19, 1984, the owners reaffirmed the move to the fall. 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 Conference Atlantic DivisionTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadium1984 CapacityAvg. Att.Avg. % filledCoach y-Philadelphia Stars1620.889479225Veterans Stadium72,20428,66840%Jim Mora x-New Jersey Generals1440.778430312Giants Stadium76,89137,71649%Walt Michaels Pittsburgh Maulers3150.167259379Three Rivers Stadium59,00022,85839%Joe Pendry/Ellis Rainsberger Washington Federals3150.167270492RFK Stadium54,7947,69414%Ray Jauch/Dick Bielski Southern DivisionTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadium1984 CapacityAvg. Att.Avg. % filledCoach y-Birmingham Stallions1440.778539316Legion Field77,00036,85048%Rollie Dotsch x-Tampa Bay Bandits1440.778498347Tampa Stadium72,81246,15863%Steve Spurrier New Orleans Breakers8100.444349395Louisiana Superdome72,67530,55742%Dick Coury Memphis Showboats7110.389320455Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium50,18027,59955%Pepper Rodgers Jacksonville Bulls6120.333327455Gator Bowl Stadium80,10046,73058%Lindy Infante Western Conference Pacific DivisionTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadium1984 CapacityAvg. Att.Avg. % filledCoach y-Los Angeles Express1080.556338373Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum94,00015,36116%John Hadl x-Arizona Wranglers1080.556502284Sun Devil Stadium70,03025,56837%George Allen Denver Gold990.500356413Mile High Stadium75,12333,95345%Craig Morton Oakland Invaders7110.389242348Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum54,61523,64443%John Ralston/Chuck Hutchison Central DivisionTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadium1984 CapacityAvg. Att.Avg. % filledCoach y-Houston Gamblers1350.722618400Houston Astrodome47,69528,15259%Jack Pardee x-Michigan Panthers1080.556400382Pontiac Silverdome80,63832,45740%Jim Stanley San Antonio Gunslingers7110.389309325Alamo Stadium32,00015,44448%Gil Steinke Oklahoma Outlaws6120.333251459Skelly Stadium40,23521,03852%Woody Widenhofer Chicago Blitz5130.278340466Soldier Field65,7937,45511%Marv Levy Birmingham won the Southern Division championship over Tampa Bay based on a division record tiebreaker advantage (7–1-0 to 6–2). Birmingham and Tampa Bay tied in the first tiebreaking step, head-to-head (1–1). Tampa Bay won the tiebreaker over New Jersey for the 3rd seed based on winning the head-to-head game. Los Angeles won the Pacific Division championship over Arizona based on a conference record tiebreaker advantage (7–4 to 5–6). Los Angeles and Arizona tied in the first two tiebreaking steps, head-to-head (1–1) and best divisional record (3–3). Michigan won the tiebreaker over Arizona for the 3rd seed based on winning the head-to-head game. Pittsburgh finished ahead of Washington based on a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage (2–0). Playoffs Away team Score Home team Date Divisional playoffs New Jersey Generals 7–28 Philadelphia Stars June 30, 1984 Michigan Panthers 21–27 (3OT) Los Angeles Express June 30, 1984 Tampa Bay Bandits 17–36 Birmingham Stallions July 1, 1984 Arizona Wranglers 17–16 Houston Gamblers July 1, 1984 Conference Championships Arizona Wranglers 35–23 Los Angeles Express July 7, 1984 Birmingham Stallions 10–20 Philadelphia Stars July 8, 1984 USFL Championship GameTampa Stadium, Tampa Bay, Florida Philadelphia Stars 23–3 Arizona Wranglers July 15, 1984 Divisional playoffs A1 A2 S1 S2 P1 C2 P2 C1 Philadelphia New Jersey 28 7 Birmingham Tampa Bay 36 17 Los Angeles Michigan 27 (3OT) 21 Arizona Houston 17 16 Conference Championships A1 S1 P1 P2 Philadelphia Birmingham 20 10 Los Angeles Arizona 23 35 USFL Championship A1 P2 Philadelphia Arizona 23 3 This bracket: 1984 USFL playoffs USFL Championship Game 1984 USFL Championship Game Philadelphia Stars PHI Jim Mora 18-2 Arizona Wranglers ARI George Allen 12-8 13 0 0 10 0 3 0 0 July 15, 1984 Tampa Stadium Tampa, Florida Verle Sorgen Alabama Chamberlain Chiefettes, Just Kids, Mary May Dance Studio, Suncoast Girl Scout Council, Suncoast Twirlers, Good Time Cloggers, Berry Patch Cloggers, Sun Country Cloggers and May's Twirling Cadets 52,662 Chuck Fusina, quarterback ABC Keith Jackson and Lynn Swann 9.7 ABC Radio Networks Fred Manfra and Paul Hornung July 15 (at Tampa, Florida) Philadelphia 23, Arizona 3 Statistics 1984 regular season stat leaders 1984 Passing Leaders (over 100 pass attempts & 55+ QB rating)Name, TeamAttComp%yardsYDs/AttTDTD %INTINT %RatingChuck Fusina, PHIL46530264.938378.25316.791.9104.7Fred Mortensen, DENV1006464.09949.9444.022.0101.8Cliff Stoudt, BIRM36621257.931218.53267.171.9101.6Jim Kelly, HOU58737063.052198.89447.5264.498.2Mike Kelley, MEM1208268.310148.4586.765.095.6Greg Landry, AZ44928363.035347.87265.8153.392.8John Reaves, TB54431357.540927.52285.1162.986.3Brian Sipe, NJ32419259.325407.84175.2154.682.3Walter Lewis, MEM27616158.318626.75155.4103.681.8Steve Young, LA31017957.723617.62103.292.980.6Craig Penrose, DENV26215860.319847.57124.6145.376.9Bobby Hebert, MICH50027254.437587.52244.8224.476.4Fred Besana, OAK44625757.627926.26143.1122.775.4Robbie Mahfouz, JACK30918058.321747.04113.6134.274.3Mike Hohensee, WASH40123157.627666.90174.2205.072.2Johnnie Walton, NO51228054.735546.94173.3193.772.2Rick Neuheisel, SA38321155.125426.64143.7153.971.5Matt Robinson, JACK23512553.216877.1873.0125.165.0Glenn Carano, PITT35419053.723686.69133.7195.464.6Alan Risher, AZ1036361.27227.0132.976.863.7Ron Reeve, DENV1407251.48436.0221.442.962.9Tom Rozantz, PITT1306348.58786.7543.164.661.6Doug Williams, OKL52826149.430845.84152.8214.060.5Vince Evans, CHIC41120048.726246.38143.4225.458.3 1984 Rushing leadersName, TeamAttYdsAve.TDsJoe Cribbs, BIRM29714674.98Kelvin Bryant, PHIL29714064.713Herschel Walker, NJ29313394.616Buford Jordan, NO21412766.08Tim Spencer, AZ22712125.317Curtis Bledsoe, WASH24610804.47Maurice Carthon, NJ23810424.411Kevin Long, AZ22510104.515Greg Boone, TB19310095.28Gary Anderson, TB26710083.819Todd Fowler, HOU17010035.911John Williams, MICH1979845.08Harry Sydney, DENV2309614.210Larry Canada, CHIC1699155.47Kevin Nelson, LA2168283.87Mike Rozier, PITT2237923.63Leon Perry, BIRM1897744.113Eric Jordan, OAK1357445.56Alan Reid, MEM1917233.83Sam Harrell, HOU1206975.814Marcus Dupree, NO1456844.79Mel Gray, LA1336254.73Tom Newton, OAK1465713.95Walter Lewis, MEM605529.25Ken Lacy, MICH1345484.12Steve Young, LA795156.57Scott Stamper, SA1235004.13 1984 Receiving LeadersName, TeamRecYdsAve.TDsRichard Johnson, HOU115145512.715Ricky Sanders, HOU101137813.611Joey Walters, WASH98141014.413Trumaine Johnson, AZ90126814.113Jim Smith, BIRM89148116.68Eric Truvillion, TB70104414.99Marvin Harvey, TB7093813.49Gary Anderson, TB6668210.32Dan Ross, NO6583312.82Gordon Banks, OAK6493714.65Greg Anderson, PITT6399415.86Derek Holloway, MICH62121919.79Derrick Crawford, MEM6170311.512JoJo Townsell, LA5888915.37Gary Shirk, MEM5760410.62Willie Collier, PHIL5675713.57Frank Lockett, NO56119921.48Gary Clark, JACK5676013.62Scott Fitzkee, PHIL5589516.39Mike Cobb, MICH5457310.65Billy Taylor, WASH513877.61Jackie Flowers, CHIC/PITT5190417.78Ron Wheeler, OKL5165112.82Willie Gillespie, TB5080316.15Alphonso Williams, OKL50108721.77Marcus Anderson, CHIC5094018.85Kelvin Bryant, PHIL484539.41Paul Bergmann, JACK4864713.53Larry Canada, CHIC483587.52Lenny Willis, AZ4881417.07Steve Folsom, PHIL4648510.56Tim Spencer, AZ4658912.82Jerry Gordon, SA4564814.44Buford Jordan, NO454279.54Perry Kemp, JACK4473016.62 1984 USFL regular season sortable offensive team statistics TeamPts.Ave.RankTotalYardsAve.RankRush.YardsAve.RankPass.YardsAve.RankSacks AllowedAve.RankPens.Avg.Rank Houston 618 34.3 1 7684 427 1 2373 132 7 5311 295 1824.56181488.2217 Birmingham 539 29.9 2 6714 373 2 3313 184 1 3401 189 9301.6731005.564 Arizona 502 27.9 3 6709 373 3 2719 151 4 3990 222 3402.2271548.5618 Tampa Bay 498 27.7 4 6634 369 4 2341 130 8 4293 239 2301.6731065.896 Philadelphia 479 26.6 5 6426 357 5 2820 157 3 3606 200 8452.50111216.7212 New Jersey 430 23.9 6 5553 309 9 2848 158 2 2705 150 16201.112884.892 Michigan 400 22.2 7 6030 335 7 2194 122 11 3836 213 4442.4491126.227 Denver 356 19.8 8 5325 296 12 2056 114 14 3269 182 11522.89121216.7212 New Orleans 349 19.4 9 6400 356 6 2589 144 5 3811 212 5130.7211337.3915 Chicago 340 18.9 10 5361 298 11 2230 124 9 3131 174 13382.1151246.8914 Los Angeles 338 18.8 11 5671 315 8 2464 137 6 3207 178 12382.1151025.675 Jacksonville 327 18.2 12 5390 299 10 1731 96 17 3659 203 6623.4416744.111 Memphis 320 17.8 13 4895 272 16 2163 120 12 2732 152 15613.3915894.943 San Antonio 309 17.2 14 4808 267 17 2205 123 10 2603 145 17603.33141156.398 Washington 270 15.0 15 5324 296 13 2002 111 16 3322 185 10573.17131377.6116 Pittsburgh 259 14.4 16 4909 273 15 2011 112 15 2898 161 14442.4491186.569 Oklahoma 251 13.9 17 5152 286 14 1537 85 18 3615 201 7402.2271206.6711 Oakland 242 13.4 18 4592 255 18 2150 119 13 2442 136 18693.83171196.6110 1984 USFL regular season sortable defensive team statistics TeamPts.Ave.RankTotalYardsAve.RankRush.YardsAve.RankPass.YardsAve.RankSacksAve.RankPens.Ave.Rank Philadelphia 225 12.5 1 4863 270 2 1859 103 1 3004 167 2482.6771116.175 Arizona 284 15.8 2 4517 251 1 2061 115 6 2456 136 1734.0511387.6717 New Jersey 312 17.3 3 5341 297 4 1992 111 4 3349 186 8341.89161116.175 Birmingham 316 17.6 4 5541 308 6 1869 104 2 3672 204 14452.5091186.5611 San Antonio 325 18.1 5 5752 320 11 1910 106 3 3842 213 17492.726995.501 Tampa Bay 347 19.3 6 5583 310 8 2009 112 5 3574 199 10432.39111116.175 Oakland 348 19.3 7 5911 328 13 2590 144 13 3321 185 7532.9441226.7714 Pittsburgh 373 20.7 8 5742 319 10 2633 146 15 3109 173 4482.6771146.339 Los Angeles 379 21.1 9 5508 306 5 2207 123 8 3301 183 6543.0031146.339 Michigan 382 21.2 10 5299 294 3 2268 126 9 3031 168 3442.44101216.7213 New Orleans 395 21.9 11 5573 310 7 2277 127 10 3296 183 5402.2214995.501 Houston 400 22.2 12 5793 322 12 2136 119 7 3657 203 13633.5021206.6712 Denver 413 22.9 13 6196 344 15 2617 145 14 3579 199 11512.8351317.2716 Jacksonville 455 25.3 14 6328 352 16 2721 151 16 3607 200 12271.50181307.2215 Memphis 455 25.3 15 6116 340 14 2289 127 11 3827 213 15301.6717995.501 Oklahoma 459 25.5 16 5704 317 9 2296 128 12 3408 189 9432.39111116.175 Chicago 466 25.9 17 6877 382 17 3037 169 18 3840 213 16362.00151417.8318 Washington 492 27.3 18 6933 385 18 2975 165 17 3958 220 18432.39111106.114 Awards 1984 USFL All-League Team WR Trumaine Johnson, AZ WR Richard Johnson, HOU TE Dan Ross, NO T Irv Eatman, PHIL T Pat Phenix, BIRM G Buddy Aydelette, BIRM G Chuck Commiskey, PHIL C Bart Oates, PHIL QB Jim Kelly, HOU HB Joe Cribbs, BIRM HB Kelvin Bryant, PHIL DE Pete Catan, HOU DE John Lee, AZ DT Kit Lathrop, AZ NT Pete Kugler, PHIL LB Kiki DeAyala, HOU LB Jim LeClair, NJ LB Sam Mills, PHIL LB Ed Smith, AZ CB Peter Raeford, SA CB Garcia Lane, PHIL S Marcus Quinn, OAKL S Mike Lush, PHIL K Toni Fritsch, HOU KR Derrick Crawford, MEM P Stan Talley, OAKL PR David Martin, DENV MVP —QB Jim Kelly, HOU Coach of the year – Jim Mora, PHIL Defensive Player of the year —S Marcus Quinn, OAKL 1984 The Sporting News USFL All-Star Team WR Trumaine Johnson, AZ WR Joey Walters, WASH TE Dan Ross, NO T Irv Eatman, PHIL T Gary Zimmerman, LA G Buddy Aydelette, BIRM G Gerry Raymond, OAKL C Wayne Radloff, MICH QB Chuck Fusina, PHIL HB Joe Cribbs, BIRM HB Kelvin Bryant, PHIL DE Pete Catan, HOU DE Karl Lorch, AZ DT Kit Lathrop, AZ LB James Harrell, TB LB Jim LeClair, NJ LB John Corker, MICH LB Howard Carson, LA CB Jerry Holmes, PITT CB David Martin, DENV S Marcus Quinn, OAKL S Gary Barbaro, NJ K Tony Zendejas, LA KR Derrick Crawford, MEM P Sean Landeta, PHIL PR David Martin, DENV Rookie of the year — QB Jim Kelly, HOU Player of the year—QB Chuck Fusina, PHIL Coach of the year -- Jim Mora, PHIL Executive of the year -- Carl Peterson, PHIL See also 1984 NFL season References United States Football League 1984