It is illegal for any player to put adhesive or slippery substances such as the product “stickum” on his body, equipment or uniform. This rule is known as both the “Lester Hayes Rule” and the “Fred Biletnikoff Rule” since both players were notorious for using sticky substances to make it easier for them to intercept/catch passes.
An offensive player who comes into the game wearing an illegal number for the position he takes must report to the referee before the start of the next play.
The penalty for an ineligible receiver who touches a forward pass is a loss of down.
The penalty for illegal use of hands, arms, or body (including holding) is reduced from 15 yards to 10 yards.
The penalty for intentional grounding is modified: loss of down and 10 yards penalty from the previous spot, or if the foul occurs more than 10 yards from the line of scrimmage, loss of down at the spot of the foul.
Officials began wearing numbers 21 through 25 within their position groups after going no higher than number 20 in 1979 and 1980.
Deaths
July 1, 1981: Linebacker Rusty Chambers, the Miami Dolphins leading tackler in 1978 and 1979, died in an automobile accident. [1]
The Cincinnati Bengals made significant modifications to their uniforms for the first time since the team's debut in 1968, discontinuing the design similar to the Cleveland Browns' jerseys. Orange and black tiger stripes were added to the jerseys and pants. Black tiger stripes were also added to the orange helmets.
The Dallas Cowboys adopted a new blue jersey which was darker than its predecessors and featured silver numbers. The Cowboys wore this blue jersey through 1994.
The Houston Oilers resumed wearing blue pants with their white jerseys.
This was the fourth and final year under the league's broadcast contracts with ABC, CBS, and NBC to televise Monday Night Football, the NFC package, and the AFC package, respectively. The league then negotiated to have all three networks renew their deals for another five years.[2]
John Madden became the lead color commentator for CBS, replacing Tom Brookshier who moved into a play-by-play role. However CBS Sports executives debated on whether Madden should be paired with incumbent lead play-by-play announcer Pat Summerall or should #2 announcer Vin Scully be promoted to the role. To resolve the situation, both Scully and Summerall were paired with Madden in four-week stretches. Scully was paired with Madden during the first four weeks of the season while Summerall was primarily covering the US Open Tennis Championships. Then Summerall called games with Madden while Scully covered the Major League Baseball playoffs for CBS Radio. After the eighth week of the NFL season, CBS Sports executives decided that Summerall had better chemistry with Madden than Scully did. Scully was later assigned as a consolation prize the NFC Championship Game. After the season, he would move to NBC to cover Major League Baseball and golf, but he decided to never call NFL games again.[3]
NFL History 1981–1990 October 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine (Last accessed December 4, 2005)
Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN0-06-270174-6)
May 12, 2023
1981, season, 62nd, regular, season, national, football, league, season, ended, with, super, bowl, when, francisco, 49ers, defeated, cincinnati, bengals, pontiac, silverdome, michigan, 1981, national, football, league, seasonregular, seasondurationseptember, d. The 1981 NFL season was the 62nd regular season of the National Football League The season ended with Super Bowl XVI when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 26 21 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan 1981 National Football League seasonRegular seasonDurationSeptember 6 December 21 1981PlayoffsStart dateDecember 27 1981AFC ChampionsCincinnati BengalsNFC ChampionsSan Francisco 49ersSuper Bowl XVIDateJanuary 24 1982SitePontiac Silverdome Pontiac MichiganChampionsSan Francisco 49ersPro BowlDateJanuary 31 1982SiteAloha Stadium 1980 NFL seasons 1982 ColtsPatriotsBillsDolphinsJetsBengalsBrownsOilersSteelersBroncosChiefsRaidersChargersSeahawksclass notpageimage AFC teams West Central East CowboysGiantsEaglesCardinalsRedskinsBearsLionsPackersVikingsBuccaneersFalconsRamsSaints49ersclass notpageimage NFC teams West Central East The 49ers playing against the Bengals in Super Bowl XVI Contents 1 Draft 2 New referee 3 Major rule changes 4 Deaths 5 Regular season 5 1 Scheduling formula 5 2 Final standings 5 3 Tiebreakers 6 Playoffs 7 Records milestones and notable statistics 7 1 Records Set 7 2 Records Tied 7 3 Baltimore Colts Defense 8 Statistical leaders 8 1 Team 9 Awards 10 Coaching changes 11 Stadium changes 12 Uniform changes 13 Television 13 1 Regular season game not broadcast by Network TV 14 ReferencesDraft EditThe 1981 NFL Draft was held from April 28 to 29 1981 at New York City s Sheraton Hotel With the first pick the New Orleans Saints selected running back George Rogers from the University of South Carolina New referee EditCal Lepore the line judge for Super Bowl III and referee for the Miracle at the Meadowlands retired prior to the 1980 season He would later become supervisor of officials in the United States Football League Tom Dooley who was assigned Super Bowl XV as line judge at the end of the 1981 season was promoted to referee to replace Lepore Major rule changes EditIt is illegal for any player to put adhesive or slippery substances such as the product stickum on his body equipment or uniform This rule is known as both the Lester Hayes Rule and the Fred Biletnikoff Rule since both players were notorious for using sticky substances to make it easier for them to intercept catch passes An offensive player who comes into the game wearing an illegal number for the position he takes must report to the referee before the start of the next play The penalty for an ineligible receiver who touches a forward pass is a loss of down The penalty for illegal use of hands arms or body including holding is reduced from 15 yards to 10 yards The penalty for intentional grounding is modified loss of down and 10 yards penalty from the previous spot or if the foul occurs more than 10 yards from the line of scrimmage loss of down at the spot of the foul Officials began wearing numbers 21 through 25 within their position groups after going no higher than number 20 in 1979 and 1980 Deaths EditJuly 1 1981 Linebacker Rusty Chambers the Miami Dolphins leading tackler in 1978 and 1979 died in an automobile accident 1 Regular season EditScheduling formula Edit Inter conferenceAFC East vs NFC EastAFC Central vs NFC WestAFC West vs NFC CentralFinal standings Edit AFC Eastviewtalkedit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STKMiami Dolphins 2 11 4 1 719 5 2 1 8 3 1 345 275 W4New York Jets 4 10 5 1 656 6 1 1 8 5 1 355 287 W2Buffalo Bills 5 10 6 0 625 6 2 9 3 311 276 L1Baltimore Colts 2 14 0 125 2 6 2 10 259 533 W1New England Patriots 2 14 0 125 0 8 2 10 322 370 L9AFC Centralviewtalkedit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STKCincinnati Bengals 1 12 4 0 750 4 2 10 2 421 304 W2Pittsburgh Steelers 8 8 0 500 3 3 5 7 356 297 L3Houston Oilers 7 9 0 438 4 2 6 6 281 355 W1Cleveland Browns 5 11 0 313 1 5 2 10 276 375 L5AFC Westviewtalkedit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STKSan Diego Chargers 3 10 6 0 625 6 2 8 4 478 390 W2Denver Broncos 10 6 0 625 5 3 7 5 321 289 L1Kansas City Chiefs 9 7 0 563 5 3 7 5 343 290 W1Oakland Raiders 7 9 0 438 2 6 5 7 273 343 L2Seattle Seahawks 6 10 0 375 2 6 6 8 322 388 W1 NFC Eastviewtalkedit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STKDallas Cowboys 2 12 4 0 750 6 2 8 4 367 277 L1Philadelphia Eagles 4 10 6 0 625 4 4 7 5 368 221 W1New York Giants 5 9 7 0 563 5 3 8 6 295 257 W3Washington Redskins 8 8 0 500 3 5 6 6 347 349 W3St Louis Cardinals 7 9 0 438 2 6 4 8 315 408 L2NFC Centralviewtalkedit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STKTampa Bay Buccaneers 3 9 7 0 563 6 2 9 3 315 268 W1Detroit Lions 8 8 0 500 4 4 6 6 397 322 L1Green Bay Packers 8 8 0 500 4 4 7 7 324 361 L1Minnesota Vikings 7 9 0 438 4 4 6 6 325 369 L5Chicago Bears 6 10 0 375 2 6 2 10 253 324 W3NFC Westviewtalkedit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STKSan Francisco 49ers 1 13 3 0 857 5 1 10 2 357 250 W5Atlanta Falcons 7 9 0 438 3 3 6 6 426 355 L3Los Angeles Rams 6 10 0 375 2 4 5 7 303 351 L1New Orleans Saints 4 12 0 250 2 4 2 10 207 378 L4 Tiebreakers Edit Baltimore finished ahead of New England in the AFC East based on head to head sweep 2 0 San Diego finished ahead of Denver in the AFC West based on better division record 6 2 to Broncos 5 3 Buffalo was the second AFC Wild Card based on head to head victory over Denver 1 0 Detroit finished ahead of Green Bay in the NFC Central based on better record against common opponents 4 4 to Packers 3 5 Playoffs EditMain article 1981 82 NFL playoffs Jan 2 Texas Stadium3 Tampa Bay 0Dec 27 Veterans Stadium Jan 10 Candlestick Park2 Dallas 38NFC5 NY Giants 27 2 Dallas 27Jan 3 Candlestick Park4 Philadelphia 21 1 San Francisco 28NFC Championship5 NY Giants 24Jan 24 Pontiac Silverdome1 San Francisco 38Divisional playoffsWild Card playoffs N1 San Francisco 26Jan 2 Miami Orange BowlA1 Cincinnati 21Super Bowl XVI3 San Diego 41 Dec 27 Shea Stadium Jan 10 Riverfront Stadium2 Miami 38AFC5 Buffalo 31 3 San Diego 7Jan 3 Riverfront Stadium4 NY Jets 27 1 Cincinnati 27AFC Championship5 Buffalo 211 Cincinnati 28 Indicates overtime victoryThis box viewtalkeditRecords milestones and notable statistics EditRecords Set Edit Most Passes Attempted Season 709Minnesota VikingsMost Punts Season 114Chicago BearsMost Yards Punt Returns Both Teams Game 282Los Angeles Rams 219 vs Atlanta Falcons 63 Oct 11 1981Records Tied Edit Most Touchdowns Passing Single Team Game 7San Diego Chargers vs Oakland Raiders Nov 22 1981Most Touchdowns Punt Returns Single Team Game 2Los Angeles Rams vs Atlanta Falcons Oct 11 1981Baltimore Colts Defense Edit The 1981 Baltimore Colts were one of the worst defenses in NFL history they set five dubious defensive records Most Points Allowed Season 533 Most Touchdowns Allowed Season 68 Most First Downs Allowed Season 406 Most Yards Allowed Season 6 793 Fewest Punt Returns Season 12Statistical leaders EditTeam Edit Points scored San Diego Chargers 478 Total yards gained San Diego Chargers 6 744 Yards rushing Detroit Lions 2 795 Yards passing San Diego Chargers 4 739 Fewest points allowed Philadelphia Eagles 221 Fewest total yards allowed Philadelphia Eagles 4 447 Fewest rushing yards allowed Detroit Lions 1 623 Fewest passing yards allowed Philadelphia Eagles 2 696 Awards EditMost Valuable Player Ken Anderson quarterback CincinnatiCoach of the Year Bill Walsh San FranciscoOffensive Player of the Year Ken Anderson quarterback CincinnatiDefensive Player of the Year Lawrence Taylor linebacker NY GiantsOffensive Rookie of the Year George Rogers running back New OrleansDefensive Rookie of the Year Lawrence Taylor linebacker NY GiantsMan of the Year Lynn Swann wide receiver PittsburghComeback Player of the Year Ken Anderson quarterback CincinnatiSuper Bowl Most Valuable Player Joe Montana quarterback San FranciscoCoaching changes EditDenver Broncos Dan Reeves replaced the fired Red Miller Houston Oilers Bum Phillips was fired and replaced by Ed Biles New Orleans Saints Bum Phillips joined the Saints after being fired by the Oilers Dick Nolan was fired after a 0 12 start in 1980 and Dick Stanfel took over as interim Washington Redskins Joe Gibbs replaced Jack Pardee Stadium changes EditThe home of the San Diego Chargers San Diego Stadium was renamed Jack Murphy Stadium in memory of local sportswriter Jack MurphyUniform changes EditThe Cincinnati Bengals made significant modifications to their uniforms for the first time since the team s debut in 1968 discontinuing the design similar to the Cleveland Browns jerseys Orange and black tiger stripes were added to the jerseys and pants Black tiger stripes were also added to the orange helmets The Dallas Cowboys adopted a new blue jersey which was darker than its predecessors and featured silver numbers The Cowboys wore this blue jersey through 1994 The Houston Oilers resumed wearing blue pants with their white jerseys The Los Angeles Rams switched from gray to blue face masksTelevision EditThis was the fourth and final year under the league s broadcast contracts with ABC CBS and NBC to televise Monday Night Football the NFC package and the AFC package respectively The league then negotiated to have all three networks renew their deals for another five years 2 John Madden became the lead color commentator for CBS replacing Tom Brookshier who moved into a play by play role However CBS Sports executives debated on whether Madden should be paired with incumbent lead play by play announcer Pat Summerall or should 2 announcer Vin Scully be promoted to the role To resolve the situation both Scully and Summerall were paired with Madden in four week stretches Scully was paired with Madden during the first four weeks of the season while Summerall was primarily covering the US Open Tennis Championships Then Summerall called games with Madden while Scully covered the Major League Baseball playoffs for CBS Radio After the eighth week of the NFL season CBS Sports executives decided that Summerall had better chemistry with Madden than Scully did Scully was later assigned as a consolation prize the NFC Championship Game After the season he would move to NBC to cover Major League Baseball and golf but he decided to never call NFL games again 3 Regular season game not broadcast by Network TV Edit Date Time Teams Local TV AnnouncersSeptember 5 1981 8 00 PM EDT Minnesota Tampa Bay KSTP TV Minnesota WTOG TV Tampa Bay References Edit 100 Things Dolphins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die Armando Salguero Triumph Books Chicago 2020 ISBN 978 1 62937 722 3 p 185 Brulia Tim A CHRONOLOGY OF PRO FOOTBALL ON TELEVISION Part 3 PDF Pro Football Researchers Weintraub Rob May 23 2016 The Day Vin Scully Didn t Land That N F L Broadcasting Job The New York Times NFL Record and Fact Book ISBN 1 932994 36 X NFL History 1981 1990 Archived October 6 2008 at the Wayback Machine Last accessed December 4 2005 Total Football The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League ISBN 0 06 270174 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1981 NFL season amp oldid 1152423811, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
