1978 NFL season
The 1978 NFL season marked the beginning of a new era for professional football. The league officially expanded its regular schedule from fourteen games to sixteen games. This change remained in place until 2021 when the number increased again to seventeen games. The playoff bracket also grew significantly during this year. Eight teams qualified for the postseason previously, but ten teams now entered the tournament. Two wild card spots were added to each conference to allow more teams into contention. These wild card teams played against each other immediately after the regular season ended. The winner advanced to join the three division champions in the round of eight. This structural shift created more high-stakes games and altered how franchises approached their seasons.
Major rule changes took effect to encourage higher scoring totals across the league. Teams averaged only 17.2 points per game in 1977, marking the lowest total since 1942. Officials implemented the Mel Blount Rule to open up the passing game. Defenders could make contact with receivers only within five yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Any contact occurring after that point was ruled pass interference. Previously, defenders could engage receivers anywhere on the field before the ball arrived. The offensive team gained permission to throw one forward pass per play if the ball did not cross the line and return behind it. Double touching a forward pass became legal, though batting the ball toward an opponent's end zone remained illegal. Pass blocking rules extended to permit players to use extended arms and open hands during blocks. Penalties for intentional grounding decreased from fifteen yards to ten yards from the previous spot. Hurdling was no longer considered a foul during gameplay. A seventh official known as the Side Judge joined every crew to help rule on downfield actions.
The 1978 NFL draft occurred over two days at New York City's Roosevelt Hotel between May 2 and May 3. The Houston Oilers selected running back Earl Campbell of Texas with the first overall pick. Campbell had previously won the Heisman Trophy while playing college football. Average player salaries rose significantly during this period to under $62,600. This figure represented a thirteen-point-two percent increase over the previous year. Fran Tarkenton earned the highest salary among quarterbacks at $360,000. Running back O.J. Simpson held the top position for all players at just under $733,400. These financial shifts reflected growing demand for talent in the expanding league. Future referees Tom Dooley, Dale Hamer, and Dick Hantak entered the league that season. They were among the first officials to wear triple-digit numbers alongside Bob Boylston and Gene Carrabine. Bernie Ulman retired prior to the start of play, leaving only fourteen crews available for the season.
New interconference scheduling formats began rotation every three years starting in 1978. A division from one conference played against a division from another conference annually. Teams also faced non-divisional opponents based on their standing from the previous season. Ten teams qualified for the playoffs including two wild card teams per conference. Tiebreaker rules relied heavily on head-to-head competition followed by division records. The New England Patriots finished ahead of Miami in the AFC East due to better division records. Buffalo secured its spot ahead of Baltimore through a head-to-head sweep with a score of 2, 0. Oakland, Seattle, and San Diego placed second, third, and fourth respectively in the AFC West. Minnesota edged out Green Bay in the NFC Central based on a 1, 0, 1 head-to-head record. Los Angeles claimed the top seed over Dallas thanks to a superior head-to-head result. Atlanta became the first NFC Wild Card team after posting a better record against common opponents than Philadelphia. Detroit finished ahead of Chicago with a 4, 4 division record compared to the Bears' 3, 5 mark.
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 35, 31 at the Orange Bowl in Miami. This game concluded the 1978 NFL season as Super Bowl XIII. Terry Bradshaw won the Most Valuable Player award for his performance as quarterback. The Dallas Cowboys scored 384 points during the regular season while allowing only 1,721 rushing yards. The New England Patriots gained 5,965 total yards and set an NFL record for rushing yards with 3,165. Frank Corral led all scorers with 118 points for the Los Angeles Rams. David Sims recorded fifteen touchdowns for the Seattle Seahawks. Earl Campbell rushed for 1,450 yards leading the league in that category. Fran Tarkenton completed 345 passes for 3,468 yards across the season. The fewest points allowed came from the Pittsburgh Steelers who surrendered just 195 points. The final standings showed Washington finishing 8, 4 in the NFC East before losing their tiebreaker to Dallas.
Offseason firings reshaped multiple franchises before the first kickoff of the year. Jim Ringo left the Buffalo Bills after being fired. Chuck Knox joined the team following his departure from the Los Angeles Rams. Jack Pardee resigned from the Chicago Bears to take a job with the Washington Redskins. Neill Armstrong became the new head coach for the Bears. Sam Rutigliano was hired as the Cleveland Browns' new head coach. Forrest Gregg had been fired before the last game of the 1977 season. Tommy Hudspeth was replaced by Monte Clark at Detroit Lions. Marv Levy took over the Kansas City Chiefs after Paul Wiggin was dismissed following an 0, 5 start. George Allen returned to the Rams but was fired after two exhibition games. Ray Malavasi stepped up as interim head coach during the transition. Hank Stram was let go by the New Orleans Saints and replaced by Dick Nolan. Bud Wilkinson became the new Cardinals head coach after Don Coryell departed. In-season changes included Bill Johnson being replaced by Homer Rice after Cincinnati started 0, 5. The Patriots suspended Chuck Fairbanks for the final regular season game due to contract breaches. Pete McCulley was fired by San Francisco after a 1, 8 start.
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Common questions
When did the 1978 NFL season begin and what major schedule change occurred?
The 1978 NFL season marked the beginning of a new era for professional football when the league officially expanded its regular schedule from fourteen games to sixteen games. This change remained in place until 2021 when the number increased again to seventeen games.
What specific rule changes were implemented during the 1978 NFL season to encourage higher scoring totals?
Officials implemented the Mel Blount Rule to open up the passing game by allowing defenders to make contact with receivers only within five yards beyond the line of scrimmage. The offensive team gained permission to throw one forward pass per play if the ball did not cross the line and return behind it, and penalties for intentional grounding decreased from fifteen yards to ten yards from the previous spot.
Who won the first overall pick in the 1978 NFL draft held at Roosevelt Hotel between May 2 and May 3?
The Houston Oilers selected running back Earl Campbell of Texas with the first overall pick during the 1978 NFL draft that occurred over two days at New York City's Roosevelt Hotel between May 2 and May 3. Campbell had previously won the Heisman Trophy while playing college football.
Which teams qualified for the playoffs in the 1978 NFL season and how many wild card spots were added?
Ten teams qualified for the postseason including eight division champions and two wild card teams added to each conference. These wild card teams played against each other immediately after the regular season ended before advancing to join the three division champions in the round of eight.
How much money did O.J. Simpson earn as the highest paid player during the 1978 NFL season?
Running back O.J. Simpson held the top position for all players at just under $733,400 during the 1978 NFL season when average player salaries rose significantly to under $62,600. This figure represented a thirteen-point-two percent increase over the previous year.