1984 USFL season
Second season of the United States Football League
Sports season
1984 USFL season Duration February 26 – June 25, 1984 Eastern Conference champions champions Philadelphia Stars Western Conference champions champions Arizona Wranglers Date July 15, 1984 Finals venue Tampa Stadium , Tampa, Florida Finals champions Philadelphia Stars
USFL teams: Pacific, Central, Southern, Atlantic
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.[ 1]
General news
On September 21, 1983, the New Jersey Generals were sold to real estate tycoon and future President of the United States 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"[ 2] 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
y = Division Champion, x = Wild Card
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Team
W
L
T
PCT
PF
PA
Stadium
1984 Capacity
Avg. Att.
Avg. % filled
Coach
y-Philadelphia Stars
16
2
0
.889
479
225
Veterans Stadium
72,204
28,668
40%
Jim Mora
x-New Jersey Generals
14
4
0
.778
430
312
Giants Stadium
76,891
37,716
49%
Walt Michaels
Pittsburgh Maulers
3
15
0
.167
259
379
Three Rivers Stadium
59,000
22,858
39%
Joe Pendry /Ellis Rainsberger
Washington Federals
3
15
0
.167
270
492
RFK Stadium
54,794
7,694
14%
Ray Jauch /Dick Bielski
Southern Division
Team
W
L
T
PCT
PF
PA
Stadium
1984 Capacity
Avg. Att.
Avg. % filled
Coach
y-Birmingham Stallions
14
4
0
.778
539
316
Legion Field
77,000
36,850
48%
Rollie Dotsch
x-Tampa Bay Bandits
14
4
0
.778
498
347
Tampa Stadium
72,812
46,158
63%
Steve Spurrier
New Orleans Breakers
8
10
0
.444
349
395
Louisiana Superdome
72,675
30,557
42%
Dick Coury
Memphis Showboats
7
11
0
.389
320
455
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
50,180
27,599
55%
Pepper Rodgers
Jacksonville Bulls
6
12
0
.333
327
455
Gator Bowl Stadium
80,100
46,730
58%
Lindy Infante
Western Conference
Pacific Division
Team
W
L
T
PCT
PF
PA
Stadium
1984 Capacity
Avg. Att.
Avg. % filled
Coach
y-Los Angeles Express
10
8
0
.556
338
373
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
94,000
15,361
16%
John Hadl
x-Arizona Wranglers
10
8
0
.556
502
284
Sun Devil Stadium
70,030
25,568
37%
George Allen
Denver Gold
9
9
0
.500
356
413
Mile High Stadium
75,123
33,953
45%
Craig Morton
Oakland Invaders
7
11
0
.389
242
348
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
54,615
23,644
43%
John Ralston /Chuck Hutchison
Central Division
Team
W
L
T
PCT
PF
PA
Stadium
1984 Capacity
Avg. Att.
Avg. % filled
Coach
y-Houston Gamblers
13
5
0
.722
618
400
Houston Astrodome
47,695
28,152
59%
Jack Pardee
x-Michigan Panthers
10
8
0
.556
400
382
Pontiac Silverdome
80,638
32,457
40%
Jim Stanley
San Antonio Gunslingers
7
11
0
.389
309
325
Alamo Stadium
32,000
15,444
48%
Gil Steinke
Oklahoma Outlaws
6
12
0
.333
251
459
Skelly Stadium
40,235
21,038
52%
Woody Widenhofer
Chicago Blitz
5
13
0
.278
340
466
Soldier Field
65,793
7,455
11%
Marv Levy
Birmingham won the Southern Division championship over Tampa Bay based on a division record tiebreaker advantage (7-1-0 to 6-2-0). Birmingham and Tampa Bay tied in the first tiebreaking step, head-to-head (1-1-0).
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 (7-4-0 to 5-6-0). Los Angeles and Arizona tied in the first two tiebreaking steps, head-to-head (1-1-0) and best divisional record (3-3-0).
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 (2-0-0).
Playoffs
USFL Championship Game
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, Team
Att
Comp
%
yards
YDs/Att
TD
TD %
INT
INT %
Rating
Chuck Fusina , PHIL
465
302
64.9
3837
8.25
31
6.7
9
1.9
104.7
Fred Mortensen , DENV
100
64
64.0
994
9.94
4
4.0
2
2.0
101.8
Cliff Stoudt , BIRM
366
212
57.9
3121
8.53
26
7.1
7
1.9
101.6
Jim Kelly , HOU
587
370
63.0
5219
8.89
44
7.5
26
4.4
98.2
Mike Kelley , MEM
120
82
68.3
1014
8.45
8
6.7
6
5.0
95.6
Greg Landry , AZ
449
283
63.0
3534
7.87
26
5.8
15
3.3
92.8
John Reaves , TB
544
313
57.5
4092
7.52
28
5.1
16
2.9
86.3
Brian Sipe , NJ
324
192
59.3
2540
7.84
17
5.2
15
4.6
82.3
Walter Lewis , MEM
276
161
58.3
1862
6.75
15
5.4
10
3.6
81.8
Steve Young , LA
310
179
57.7
2361
7.62
10
3.2
9
2.9
80.6
Craig Penrose , DENV
262
158
60.3
1984
7.57
12
4.6
14
5.3
76.9
Bobby Hebert , MICH
500
272
54.4
3758
7.52
24
4.8
22
4.4
76.4
Fred Besana , OAK
446
257
57.6
2792
6.26
14
3.1
12
2.7
75.4
Robbie Mahfouz , JACK
309
180
58.3
2174
7.04
11
3.6
13
4.2
74.3
Mike Hohensee , WASH
401
231
57.6
2766
6.90
17
4.2
20
5.0
72.2
Johnnie Walton , NO
512
280
54.7
3554
6.94
17
3.3
19
3.7
72.2
Rick Neuheisel , SA
383
211
55.1
2542
6.64
14
3.7
15
3.9
71.5
Matt Robinson , JACK
235
125
53.2
1687
7.18
7
3.0
12
5.1
65.0
Glenn Carano , PITT
354
190
53.7
2368
6.69
13
3.7
19
5.4
64.6
Alan Risher , AZ
103
63
61.2
722
7.01
3
2.9
7
6.8
63.7
Ron Reeve , DENV
140
72
51.4
843
6.02
2
1.4
4
2.9
62.9
Tom Rozantz , PITT
130
63
48.5
878
6.75
4
3.1
6
4.6
61.6
Doug Williams , OKL
528
261
49.4
3084
5.84
15
2.8
21
4.0
60.5
Vince Evans , CHIC
411
200
48.7
2624
6.38
14
3.4
22
5.4
58.3
1984 Rushing leaders
Name, Team
Att
Yds
Ave.
TDs
Joe Cribbs , BIRM
297
1467
4.9
8
Kelvin Bryant , PHIL
297
1406
4.7
13
Herschel Walker , NJ
293
1339
4.6
16
Buford Jordan , NO
214
1276
6.0
8
Tim Spencer , AZ
227
1212
5.3
17
Curtis Bledsoe , WASH
246
1080
4.4
7
Maurice Carthon , NJ
238
1042
4.4
11
Kevin Long , AZ
225
1010
4.5
15
Greg Boone , TB
193
1009
5.2
8
Gary Anderson , TB
267
1008
3.8
19
Todd Fowler , HOU
170
1003
5.9
11
John Williams , MICH
197
984
5.0
8
Harry Sydney , DENV
230
961
4.2
10
Larry Canada , CHIC
169
915
5.4
7
Kevin Nelson , LA
216
828
3.8
7
Mike Rozier , PITT
223
792
3.6
3
Leon Perry , BIRM
189
774
4.1
13
Eric Jordan , OAK
135
744
5.5
6
Alan Reid , MEM
191
723
3.8
3
Sam Harrell , HOU
120
697
5.8
14
Marcus Dupree , NO
145
684
4.7
9
Mel Gray , LA
133
625
4.7
3
Tom Newton , OAK
146
571
3.9
5
Walter Lewis , MEM
60
552
9.2
5
Ken Lacy , MICH
134
548
4.1
2
Steve Young , LA
79
515
6.5
7
Scott Stamper , SA
123
500
4.1
3
1984 Receiving Leaders
Name, Team
Rec
Yds
Ave.
TDs
Richard Johnson , HOU
115
1455
12.7
15
Ricky Sanders , HOU
101
1378
13.6
11
Joey Walters , WASH
98
1410
14.4
13
Trumaine Johnson , AZ
90
1268
14.1
13
Jim Smith , BIRM
89
1481
16.6
8
Eric Truvillion , TB
70
1044
14.9
9
Marvin Harvey , TB
70
938
13.4
9
Gary Anderson , TB
66
682
10.3
2
Dan Ross , NO
65
833
12.8
2
Gordon Banks , OAK
64
937
14.6
5
Greg Anderson , PITT
63
994
15.8
6
Derek Holloway , MICH
62
1219
19.7
9
Derrick Crawford , MEM
61
703
11.5
12
JoJo Townsell , LA
58
889
15.3
7
Gary Shirk , MEM
57
604
10.6
2
Willie Collier , PHIL
56
757
13.5
7
Frank Lockett , NO
56
1199
21.4
8
Gary Clark , JACK
56
760
13.6
2
Scott Fitzkee , PHIL
55
895
16.3
9
Mike Cobb , MICH
54
573
10.6
5
Billy Taylor , WASH
51
387
7.6
1
Jackie Flowers , CHIC /PITT
51
904
17.7
8
Ron Wheeler , OKL
51
651
12.8
2
Willie Gillespie , TB
50
803
16.1
5
Alphonso Williams , OKL
50
1087
21.7
7
Marcus Anderson , CHIC
50
940
18.8
5
Kelvin Bryant , PHIL
48
453
9.4
1
Paul Bergmann , JACK
48
647
13.5
3
Larry Canada , CHIC
48
358
7.5
2
Lenny Willis , AZ
48
814
17.0
7
Steve Folsom , PHIL
46
485
10.5
6
Tim Spencer , AZ
46
589
12.8
2
Jerry Gordon , SA
45
648
14.4
4
Buford Jordan , NO
45
427
9.5
4
Perry Kemp , JACK
44
730
16.6
2
1984 USFL regular season sortable offensive team statistics
Team
Pts.
Ave.
Rank
Total Yards
Ave.
Rank
Rush. Yards
Ave.
Rank
Pass. Yards
Ave.
Rank
Sacks
Allowed
Ave.
Rank
Pens.
Avg.
Rank
Houston
618
34.3
1
7684
427
1
2373
132
7
5311
295
1
82
4.56
18
148
8.22
17
Birmingham
539
29.9
2
6714
373
2
3313
184
1
3401
189
9
30
1.67
3
100
5.56
4
Arizona
502
27.9
3
6709
373
3
2719
151
4
3990
222
3
40
2.22
7
154
8.56
18
Tampa Bay
498
27.7
4
6634
369
4
2341
130
8
4293
239
2
30
1.67
3
106
5.89
6
Philadelphia
479
26.6
5
6426
357
5
2820
157
3
3606
200
8
45
2.50
11
121
6.72
12
New Jersey
430
23.9
6
5553
309
9
2848
158
2
2705
150
16
20
1.11
2
88
4.89
2
Michigan
400
22.2
7
6030
335
7
2194
122
11
3836
213
4
44
2.44
9
112
6.22
7
Denver
356
19.8
8
5325
296
12
2056
114
14
3269
182
11
52
2.89
12
121
6.72
12
New Orleans
349
19.4
9
6400
356
6
2589
144
5
3811
212
5
13
0.72
1
133
7.39
15
Chicago
340
18.9
10
5361
298
11
2230
124
9
3131
174
13
38
2.11
5
124
6.89
14
Los Angeles
338
18.8
11
5671
315
8
2464
137
6
3207
178
12
38
2.11
5
102
5.67
5
Jacksonville
327
18.2
12
5390
299
10
1731
96
17
3659
203
6
62
3.44
16
74
4.11
1
Memphis
320
17.8
13
4895
272
16
2163
120
12
2732
152
15
61
3.39
15
89
4.94
3
San Antonio
309
17.2
14
4808
267
17
2205
123
10
2603
145
17
60
3.33
14
115
6.39
8
Washington
270
15.0
15
5324
296
13
2002
111
16
3322
185
10
57
3.17
13
137
7.61
16
Pittsburgh
259
14.4
16
4909
273
15
2011
112
15
2898
161
14
44
2.44
9
118
6.56
9
Oklahoma
251
13.9
17
5152
286
14
1537
85
18
3615
201
7
40
2.22
7
120
6.67
11
Oakland
242
13.4
18
4592
255
18
2150
119
13
2442
136
18
69
3.83
17
119
6.61
10
1984 USFL regular season sortable defensive team statistics
Team
Pts.
Ave.
Rank
Total Yards
Ave.
Rank
Rush. Yards
Ave.
Rank
Pass. Yards
Ave.
Rank
Sacks
Ave.
Rank
Pens.
Ave.
Rank
Philadelphia
225
12.5
1
4863
270
2
1859
103
1
3004
167
2
48
2.67
7
111
6.17
5
Arizona
284
15.8
2
4517
251
1
2061
115
6
2456
136
1
73
4.05
1
138
7.67
17
New Jersey
312
17.3
3
5341
297
4
1992
111
4
3349
186
8
34
1.89
16
111
6.17
5
Birmingham
316
17.6
4
5541
308
6
1869
104
2
3672
204
14
45
2.50
9
118
6.56
11
San Antonio
325
18.1
5
5752
320
11
1910
106
3
3842
213
17
49
2.72
6
99
5.50
1
Tampa Bay
347
19.3
6
5583
310
8
2009
112
5
3574
199
10
43
2.39
11
111
6.17
5
Oakland
348
19.3
7
5911
328
13
2590
144
13
3321
185
7
53
2.94
4
122
6.77
14
Pittsburgh
373
20.7
8
5742
319
10
2633
146
15
3109
173
4
48
2.67
7
114
6.33
9
Los Angeles
379
21.1
9
5508
306
5
2207
123
8
3301
183
6
54
3.00
3
114
6.33
9
Michigan
382
21.2
10
5299
294
3
2268
126
9
3031
168
3
44
2.44
10
121
6.72
13
New Orleans
395
21.9
11
5573
310
7
2277
127
10
3296
183
5
40
2.22
14
99
5.50
1
Houston
400
22.2
12
5793
322
12
2136
119
7
3657
203
13
63
3.50
2
120
6.67
12
Denver
413
22.9
13
6196
344
15
2617
145
14
3579
199
11
51
2.83
5
131
7.27
16
Jacksonville
455
25.3
14
6328
352
16
2721
151
16
3607
200
12
27
1.50
18
130
7.22
15
Memphis
455
25.3
15
6116
340
14
2289
127
11
3827
213
15
30
1.67
17
99
5.50
1
Oklahoma
459
25.5
16
5704
317
9
2296
128
12
3408
189
9
43
2.39
11
111
6.17
5
Chicago
466
25.9
17
6877
382
17
3037
169
18
3840
213
16
36
2.00
15
141
7.83
18
Washington
492
27.3
18
6933
385
18
2975
165
17
3958
220
18
43
2.39
11
110
6.11
4
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
References
Teams Seasons Drafts Related