The 1980 NFL season was the 61st regular season of the National Football League.
Prior to the season in March 1980, fellow NFL owners voted against the proposed move by the Raiders from Oakland, California to Los Angeles. Raiders team owner Al Davis along with the Los Angeles Coliseum sued the NFL charging that they had violated antitrust laws. A verdict in the trial would not be decided until before the 1982 NFL season and thus the 1980 and 1981 Raiders would continue to play in Oakland while awaiting a judgement.
Meanwhile, the season ended at Super Bowl XV played on January 25, 1981, in New Orleans, Louisiana, with these same Oakland Raiders defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 27–10, making them the first Wild Card team ever to win the Super Bowl.
Oakland Raiders relocation In 1979, Raiders owner Al Davis announced his intention to move the Raiders to Los Angeles. Negotiations between Davis and the Oakland Coliseum regarding potential improvements to the facility came to an end in February 1980. At the NFL's annual meeting on March 10, 1980, team owners voted 22–0 against allowing the move, with the Raiders not participating and five teams abstaining. Davis announced he would ignore the vote and move the team anyway.Raiders fans reliving the Los Angeles nightmare , The Press Democrat, Phil Barber, Dec. 14, 2015.
The Raiders played the entire 1980 season in Oakland. At a Monday Night Football game against the Denver Broncos on December 1, 1980, Raider fans protested by entering the Oakland Coliseum five minutes after the start of the game and holding up signs stating "Save Our Raiders" at each half's 2-minute warning. By some estimates, "almost two-thirds" of the Coliseum's seats had been empty at the game's kickoff.
The announced move was involved in four lawsuits: the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission sued the NFL charging antitrust violations, the NFL sued the Raiders charging breach of contract, Raider season ticket holders filed a class-action lawsuit, and the City of Oakland filed for eminent domain of the team.
In May 1982, a jury ruled that the NFL had violated antitrust law by attempting to prevent the move, clearing the way for Davis to move the Raiders for the 1982 season. In April 1983, after the team's first season in Los Angeles, a separate jury awarded the Raiders $35 million in damages.
Draft The 1980 NFL draft was held from April 29 to 30, 1980 at New York City's Sheraton Hotel. With the first pick, the Detroit Lions selected running back Billy Sims from the University of Oklahoma.
New referee The league added a 15th officiating crew, promoting Bob McElwee to referee. The league previously had 15 crews in 1976 (when the league expanded to 28 teams) and 1977. After referee Bernie Ulman retired after the 1977 season, the league used only 14 crews for the 1978 and 1979 seasons, requiring all 14 of them to be on hand for the weekly workload of 14 games.
Major rule changes A ten-second runoff will be implemented when a team commits the following actions to conserve time within the last minute of either half or overtime (with the half/game/regulation ending automatically if 10 or less seconds remain on the game clock; this was changed to after the two-minute warning in the 2017 NFL season): Fouls by either team that prevents the snap (e.g. false start, encroachment, etc.) Intentional grounding Illegal forward pass thrown from beyond the line of scrimmage Throwing a backward pass out of bounds Spiking or throwing the ball in the field of play after a down has ended, except after a touchdown Any other intentional foul that causes the clock to stop. Any excess time-out taken for injuries by either team. Teams can take a time-out (if available) to prevent the runoff. Players are prohibited from striking, swinging, or clubbing to the head, face, or neck. The personal foul could be called whether or not the initial contact was made below the neck. A "Guidelines for Captains" section was added to the rules.
Deaths September 15 – Jim Tyrer age 41. Offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Redskins. Starting tackle for the Chiefs in Super Bowl I and Super Bowl IV
Records The New Orleans Saints lost their first 14 games to start the season that matched a record set by the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Division races From 1978 to 1989, ten teams qualified for the playoffs: the winners of each of the divisions, and two wild-card teams in each conference. These are the leaders for each playoff slot, week by week. Teams listed in week 16 indicate playoff participants.
National Football Conference Week NFC East NFC Central NFC West Wild Card Wild Card 1 3 teams 1–0 4 teams 1–0 San Francisco 1–0 2 Philadelphia 2–0 Detroit, Tampa Bay 2–0 San Francisco 2–0 3 Philadelphia 3–0 Detroit 3–0 San Francisco 3–0 Dallas, Tampa Bay, Minnesota 2–1 4 Philadelphia, Dallas 3–1 Detroit 4–0 San Francisco 3–1 Philadelphia, Dallas 3–1 4 teams 2–2 5 Philadelphia, Dallas 4–1 Detroit 4–1 San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta 3–2 Philadelphia, Dallas 4–1 San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta 3–2 6 Philadelphia, Dallas 5–1 Detroit 5–1 Los Angeles 4–2 Philadelphia, Dallas 5–1 Minnesota, San Francisco, Atlanta 3–3 7 Philadelphia 6–1 Detroit 5–2 Los Angeles 5–2 Dallas 5–2 Atlanta 4–3 8 Philadelphia 7–1 Detroit 5–3 Los Angeles, Atlanta 5–3 Dallas 6–2 Los Angeles, Atlanta 5–3 9 Philadelphia 8–1 Detroit 6–3 Los Angeles, Atlanta 6–3 Dallas 7–2 Los Angeles, Atlanta 6–3 10 Philadelphia 9–1 Detroit 6–4 Atlanta 7–3 Dallas 7–3 Los Angeles 6–4 11 Philadelphia 10–1 Detroit, Minnesota 6–5 Atlanta 8–3 Dallas 8–3 Los Angeles 7–4 12 Philadelphia 11–1 Detroit 7–5 Atlanta 9–3 Dallas 9–3 Los Angeles 8–4 13 Philadelphia 11–2 Detroit, Minnesota 7–6 Atlanta 10–3 Dallas 10–3 Los Angeles 9–4 14 Philadelphia, Dallas 11–3 Minnesota 8–6 Atlanta 11–3 Philadelphia, Dallas 11–3 Los Angeles 9–5 15 Philadelphia 12–3 Minnesota 9–6 Atlanta 12–3 Dallas 11–4 Los Angeles 10–5 16Philadelphia 12–4Minnesota 9–7Atlanta 12–4Dallas 12–4Los Angeles 11–5
American Football Conference Week AFC East AFC Central AFC West Wild Card Wild Card 1 3 teams 1–0 Pittsburgh 1–0 San Diego, Oakland 1–0 2 Buffalo 2–0 Pittsburgh 2–0 San Diego 2–0 3 Buffalo 3–0 Pittsburgh, Houston 2–1 San Diego 3–0 Pittsburgh, Houston, Miami, New England, Oakland 2–1 4 Buffalo 4–0 Pittsburgh, Houston 3–1 San Diego 4–0 4 teams 3–1 Baltimore, Cleveland, Oakland, Seattle 2–2 5 Buffalo 5–0 Pittsburgh 4–1 San Diego 4–1 New England 4–1 Miami, Baltimore, Houston, Seattle 3–2 6 New England 5–1 Pittsburgh 4–2 San Diego 4–2 Buffalo 5–1 Baltimore 4–2 7 New England 6–1 Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Houston 4–3 San Diego 5–2 Buffalo 5–2 6 teams 4–3 8 Buffalo 6–2 Cleveland, Houston 5–3 San Diego, Oakland 5–3 New England 6–2 4 teams 5–3 9 New England 7–2 Cleveland, Houston 6–3 San Diego, Oakland 6–3 5 teams 6–3 5 teams 6–3 10 Buffalo 7–3 Houston 7–3 Oakland 7–3 Cleveland, New England 7–3 Cleveland, New England 7–3 11 Buffalo 8–3 Houston 8–3 Oakland 8–3 4 teams 7–4 Miami, Baltimore, Denver 6–5 12 Buffalo 9–3 Houston 8–4 San Diego, Oakland 8–4 4 teams 8–4 4 teams 8–4 13 Buffalo 9–4 Cleveland 9–4 San Diego, Oakland 9–4 San Diego, Oakland 9–4 New England, Pittsburgh, Houston 8–5 14 Buffalo 10–4 Cleveland 10–4 San Diego, Oakland 9–5 San Diego, Oakland, Houston 9–5 San Diego, Oakland, Houston 9–5 15 Buffalo 10–5 Cleveland, Houston 10–5 San Diego, Oakland 10–5 Cleveland, Houston, San Diego, Oakland 10–5 Cleveland, Houston, San Diego, Oakland 10–5 16Buffalo 11–5Cleveland 11–5San Diego 11–5Oakland 11–5Houston 11–5
Regular season Scheduling formula Inter-conference AFC East vs NFC West AFC Central vs NFC Central AFC West vs NFC East
Highlights of the 1980 season included: Thanksgiving: Two games were played on Thursday, November 27, featuring Chicago at Detroit and Seattle at Dallas. Chicago would prevail in overtime, while Dallas emerged victorious in a 51–7 rout.
Final standings
Tiebreakers Cleveland finished ahead of Houston in the AFC Central based on better conference record (8–4 to Oilers' 7–5). San Diego finished ahead of Oakland in the AFC West based on better net points in division games (plus 60 net points to Raiders' plus 37). San Diego was the top AFC playoff seed based on better conference record than Cleveland and Buffalo (9–3 to Browns' 8–4 and Bills' 8–4). Cleveland was the second AFC playoff seed based on better record against common opponents (5–2 to Bills' 5–3). Oakland was the first AFC Wild Card based on better conference record than Houston (9–3 to Oilers' 7–5). Kansas City finished ahead of Denver in the AFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2–0). Philadelphia finished ahead of Dallas in the NFC East based on better net points in division games (plus 84 net points to Cowboys' plus 50). Atlanta was the top NFC playoff seed based on head-to-head victory over Philadelphia (1–0). Minnesota finished ahead of Detroit in the NFC Central based on better conference record (8–4 to Lions' 9–5). Tampa Bay finished ahead of Green Bay in the NFC Central based on better head-to-head record (1–0–1 to Packers' 0–1–1).
Playoffs
Statistical leaders
Team Points scoredDallas Cowboys (454)Total yards gainedSan Diego Chargers (6,410)Yards rushingLos Angeles Rams (2,799)Yards passingSan Diego Chargers (4,531)Fewest points allowedPhiladelphia Eagles (222)Fewest total yards allowedBuffalo Bills (4,101)Fewest rushing yards allowedDetroit Lions (1,599)Fewest passing yards allowedWashington Redskins (2,171)
Awards Most Valuable PlayerBrian Sipe, quarterback, ClevelandCoach of the YearChuck Knox, BuffaloOffensive Player of the YearEarl Campbell, running back, Houston OilersDefensive Player of the YearLester Hayes, cornerback, OaklandOffensive Rookie of the YearBilly Sims, running back, DetroitDefensive Rookie of the YearBuddy Curry & Al Richardson, linebackers, AtlantaMan of the YearHarold Carmichael, wide receiver, PhiladelphiaComeback Player of the YearJim Plunkett, quarterback, OaklandSuper Bowl Most Valuable PlayerJim Plunkett, quarterback, Oakland
Coaching changes Offseason Baltimore Colts: Mike McCormack replaced the fired Ted Marchibroda. Cincinnati Bengals: Forrest Gregg replaced Homer Rice. St. Louis Cardinals: Jim Hanifan became the Cardinals' new head coach. Bud Wilkinson was fired after the team started the 1979 season at 3–10, and the team's personnel director Larry Wilson served as interim for the last three games.
In-season New Orleans Saints: Dick Nolan was fired after a 0–12 start, with the 12th loss coming on Monday Night Football vs. the division rival Los Angeles Rams. Offensive line coach Dick Stanfel took over as interim.
Stadium changes The Los Angeles Rams moved from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to Anaheim Stadium
Uniform changes The Cincinnati Bengals switched from gray to black face masks. The Bengals also added TV numbers to the sleeves of their jerseys, becoming the last NFL team to do so. The Denver Broncos discontinued wearing orange pants with their white jerseys. The Houston Oilers dropped the blue pants worn with their white jerseys for this season only. The Green Bay Packers switched from gray to forest green face masks. The Miami Dolphins switched from gray to aqua face masks. The Minnesota Vikings switched from gray to white face masks. The New York Giants went to a simpler three-stripe pattern on the sleeve cuffs and jersey collar, while also removing the white stripes on their helmets, leaving the red stripe in the center as the only stripe on the helmet. They also changed the shade of blue on their jerseys from navy to the more familiar royal blue. The Seattle Seahawks switched to white shoes.
Television This was the third year under the league's four-year broadcast contracts with ABC, CBS, and NBC to televise Monday Night Football, the NFC package, and the AFC package, respectively. Phyllis George returned to The NFL Today, replacing Jayne Kennedy (who had previously replaced George in 1978).