| Year: | 1978 |
| Nflchampion: | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Regular Season: | September 2 – December 18, 1978 |
| Playoffs Start: | December 24, 1978 |
| Afcchampion: | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Nfcchampion: | Dallas Cowboys |
| Sb Name: | XIII |
| Sb Date: | January 21, 1979 |
| Sb Site: | Orange Bowl, Miami |
| Pb Date: | January 29, 1979 |
| Pb Site: | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16 games, which it remained in place until 2021 when it was increased to 17 games. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference. The wild card teams played each other, with the winner advancing to the playoff round of eight teams.[1]
The season ended with Super Bowl XIII when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
The average salary for a player in 1978 was under $62,600, up 13.2 percent over the previous year. Fran Tarkenton was the highest-paid quarterback at $360,000 and running back O. J. Simpson was the highest paid player, at just under $733,400.[2]
The 1978 NFL draft was held from May 2 to 3 at New York City's Roosevelt Hotel. With the first pick, the Houston Oilers selected running back Earl Campbell of Texas, the Heisman Trophy winner.
Future referees Tom Dooley, Dale Hamer and Dick Hantak were among those entering the league. Bernie Ulman, the head linesman for Super Bowl I and referee for Super Bowl IX, retired prior to the season, which left the NFL with only 14 crews for the 1978 season. Dooley (103), Hamer (104) and Hantak (105) were among the first officials to wear triple-digit numbers, joined by Bob Boylston (101), Gene Carrabine (102), Al Jury (106), Jim Kearney (107), Bob McLaughlin (108), Sid Semon (109), and Jim Osborne (110).
The league passed major rule changes to encourage offensive scoring.[3] In 1977 – the last year of the so-called "Dead Ball Era" – teams scored an average of 17.2 points per game, the lowest total since 1942.[4]
The change to a 16-game season also marked the start of a new scheduling format that saw a division in one conference play a division in another conference, rotating every season and repeating the process every three years. A change was also made to non-divisional opponents in a team's own conference, which became based on divisional positions from the previous season.[1] [5] Previously, teams played rotating groups of opponents in the other conference and in other divisions of their own conference, although some opponents were cut in 1976 and 1977 to allow for games against the Seahawks and Buccaneers.[6] This format remains in effect, though it has been slightly modified over the years, most recently with the addition of two more divisions in 2002.
The interconference matchups for 1978 were as follows:
Starting in 1978, and continuing through 1989 (except 1982), ten teams qualified for the playoffs: the winners of each of the divisions, and two wild-card teams in each conference. The two wild cards would meet for the right to face whichever of the three division winners had the best overall record (or, if the winner of the wild-card playoff was from the same division as that team, the division winner with the second best overall record). The tiebreaker rules were based on head-to-head competition, followed by division records, common opponents' records, and conference play.
| Week | Eastern | Central | Western | WildCard | WildCard | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 teams | 1–0 | Chi,GB | 1–0 | 3 teams | 1–0 | |||||
| 2 | Dal,Was | 2–0 | Chi,GB | 2–0 | L.A. | 2–0 | |||||
| 3 | Washington | 3–0 | Chi. | 3–0 | L.A. | 3–0 | |||||
| 4 | Washington | 4–0 | G.B. | 3–1 | L.A. | 4–0 | Chi. | 3–1 | Dal. | 3–1 | |
| 5 | Washington | 5–0 | G.B. | 4–1 | L.A. | 5–0 | Chi. | 3–2 | 3 tms | 3–2 | |
| 6 | Washington | 6–0 | G.B. | 5–1 | L.A. | 6–0 | Dal. | 4–2 | Chi. | 3–3 | |
| 7 | Washington | 6–1 | G.B. | 6–1 | L.A. | 7–0 | Dal. | 5–2 | Phi. | 4–3 | |
| 8 | Washington | 6–2 | G.B. | 6–2 | L.A. | 7–1 | Dal. | 6–2 | NYG | 5–3 | |
| 9 | Washington | 7–2 | G.B. | 7–2 | L.A. | 7–2 | Dal. | 6–3 | Atl | 5–4 | |
| 10 | Washington | 7–3 | G.B. | 7–3 | L.A. | 8–2 | Atl. | 6–4 | Min. | 6–4 | |
| 11 | Washington | 8–3 | Min. | 7–4 | L.A. | 9–2 | Atl. | 7–4 | Dal. | 7–4 | |
| 12 | Washington | 8–4 | Min. | 7–5 | L.A. | 10–2 | Dal. | 8–4 | Atl. | 7–5 | |
| 13 | Dal. | 9–4 | Min. | 7–5–1 | L.A. | 10–3 | Atl. | 8–5 | Washington | 8–5 | |
| 14 | Dal. | 10–4 | Min. | 8–5–1 | L.A. | 11–3 | G.B. | 8–5–1 | Atl. | 8–6 | |
| 15 | Dal. | 11–4 | Min. | 8–6–1 | L.A. | 11–4 | Atl. | 9–6 | G.B. | 8–6–1 | |
| 16 | Dallas | 12–4 | Minnesota | 8–7–1 | Los Angeles | 12–4 | Atlanta | 9–7 | Philadelphia | 9–7 |
| Week | Eastern | Central | Western | WildCard | WildCard | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NYJ | 1–0 | Cle,Pit | 1–0 | 3 teams | 1–0 | |||||
| 2 | NYJ | 2–0 | Cle,Pit | 2–0 | 4 teams | 1–1 | |||||
| 3 | NYJ | 2–1 | Cle,Pit | 3–0 | Den. | 2–1 | Cle,Pit | 3–0 | Hou | 2–1 | |
| 4 | NYJ | 2–2 | Pitt | 4–0 | Den. | 3–1 | Cle. | 3–1 | Hou | 2–2 | |
| 5 | Mia. | 3–2 | Pitt | 5–0 | Den. | 4–1 | Hou. | 3–2 | N.E. | 3–2 | |
| 6 | Mia. | 4–2 | Pitt | 6–0 | Den. | 4–2 | N.E. | 4–2 | Oak. | 4–2 | |
| 7 | Mia. | 5–2 | Pitt | 7–0 | Den. | 5–2 | N.E. | 5–2 | Oak. | 5–2 | |
| 8 | N.E. | 6–2 | Pitt | 7–1 | Den. | 5–3 | Hou. | 5–3 | NYJ | 5–3 | |
| 9 | N.E. | 7–2 | Pitt | 8–1 | Den. | 6–3 | Mia. | 6–3 | Hou. | 5–4 | |
| 10 | N.E. | 8–2 | Pitt | 9–1 | Den. | 6–4 | Mia. | 7–3 | Hou. | 6–4 | |
| 11 | N.E. | 8–3 | Pitt | 9–2 | Den. | 7–4 | Mia. | 8–3 | Hou. | 7–4 | |
| 12 | N.E. | 9–3 | Pitt | 10–2 | Den. | 8–4 | Hou. | 8–4 | Mia. | 8–4 | |
| 13 | N.E. | 10–3 | Pitt | 11–2 | Den. | 8–5 | Hou. | 9–4 | Mia. | 8–5 | |
| 14 | N.E. | 10–4 | Pitt | 12–2 | Den. | 9–5 | Hou. | 9–5 | Mia. | 9–5 | |
| 15 | N.E. | 11–4 | Pitt | 13–2 | Den. | 10–5 | Hou. | 10–5 | Mia. | 10–5 | |
| 16 | New England | 11–5 | Pittsburgh | 14–2 | Denver | 10–6 | Miami | 11–5 | Houston | 10–6 |
See main article: article and 1978–79 NFL playoffs.
| Points scored | Dallas Cowboys (384) | |
| Total yards gained | New England Patriots (5,965) | |
| Yards rushing | New England Patriots (3,165) then NFL record | |
| Yards passing | San Diego Chargers (3,375) | |
| Fewest points allowed | Pittsburgh Steelers (195) | |
| Fewest total yards allowed | Los Angeles Rams (3,893) | |
| Fewest rushing yards allowed | Dallas Cowboys (1,721) | |
| Fewest passing yards allowed | Buffalo Bills (1,960) |
| Scoring | Frank Corral, Los Angeles Rams (118 points) | |
| Touchdowns | David Sims, Seattle Seahawks (15 TDs) | |
| Most field goals made | Frank Corral, Los Angeles Rams (29 FGs) | |
| Rushing attempts | Walter Payton, Chicago Bears (333) | |
| Rushing yards | Earl Campbell, Houston Oilers (1,450 yards) | |
| Rushing touchdowns | David Sims, Seattle Seahawks (14 TDs) | |
| Passes completed | Fran Tarkenton, Minnesota Vikings (345) | |
| Pass attempts | Fran Tarkenton, Minnesota Vikings (572) | |
| Passing yards | Fran Tarkenton, Minnesota Vikings (3,468 yards) | |
| Passer rating | Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys (84.9 rating) | |
| Passing touchdowns | Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers (28 TDs) | |
| Pass receiving | Rickey Young, Minnesota Vikings (88 catches) | |
| Pass receiving yards | Wesley Walker, New York Jets (1,169 yards) | |
| Receiving touchdowns | John Jefferson, San Diego Chargers (13 TDs) | |
| Punt returns | Rick Upchurch, Denver Broncos (13.7 average yards) | |
| Kickoff returns | Steve Odom, Green Bay Packers (27.1 average yards) | |
| Interceptions | Thom Darden, Cleveland Browns (10) | |
| Punting | Pat McInally, Cincinnati Bengals (43.1 average yards) |
| Most Valuable Player | Terry Bradshaw, quarterback, Pittsburgh | |
| Coach of the Year | Jack Patera, Seattle | |
| Offensive Player of the Year | Earl Campbell, running back, Houston Oilers | |
| Defensive Player of the Year | Randy Gradishar, linebacker, Denver | |
| Offensive Rookie of the Year | Earl Campbell, running back, Houston Oilers | |
| Defensive Rookie of the Year | Al Baker, defensive end, Detroit Lions | |
| Man of the Year | Roger Staubach, quarterback, Dallas | |
| Comeback Player of the Year | John Riggins, running back, Washington |
Jim Ringo was fired. Chuck Knox then joined the Bills after leaving the Los Angeles Rams.
Jack Pardee resigned to join the Washington Redskins. Neill Armstrong was named as the Bears' new head coach.
Sam Rutigliano was hired as the team's new head coach. Forrest Gregg was fired before the last game of the 1977 season. Defensive coordinator Dick Modzelewski served as interim during the team's final game in 1977.
Tommy Hudspeth was fired and replaced by Monte Clark.
Marv Levy was hired as head coach. After an 0–5 start in 1977, Paul Wiggin was fired and defensive backs coach Tom Bettis was named interim.
Chuck Knox left to join the Bills. George Allen, who previously coached the Rams from 1966 to 1970, was hired as Knox's replacement, but was fired after two exhibition games. Defensive coordinator Ray Malavasi was then promoted to head coach.
Hank Stram was fired and replaced by Dick Nolan.
Don Coryell left, and Bud Wilkinson was hired as the new Cardinals head coach.
Ken Meyer was fired and replaced by Pete McCulley.
George Allen was replaced by Jack Pardee.
Bill Johnson was replaced by Homer Rice after the Bengals started 0–5.
The team suspended Chuck Fairbanks for the last regular season game. Fairbanks had been in talks all season to join the University of Colorado Buffaloes, breaching his contract with the Patriots. Coordinators Hank Bullough and Ron Erhardt took over as co-interim head coaches for the Week 16 game. Fairbanks was reinstated as head coach for the playoffs, but left in the off-season to join Colorado.
Tommy Prothro was fired after a 1–3 start, including the "Holy Roller" loss to the Oakland Raiders. He was replaced by Don Coryell.
Pete McCulley was fired after a 1–8 start. Fred O'Connor served as interim for the last seven games.
ABC, CBS, and NBC each signed four-year contracts to renew their rights to broadcast Monday Night Football, the NFC package, and the AFC package, respectively. The new contracts are adjusted for the expanded season, with CBS awarded the rights to the new NFC wild card game, and NBC the rights to the new AFC wild card game. The teams of Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen and Curt Gowdy and John Brodie began the season as NBC's co-head crews, while Jim Simpson was demoted from #2 play-by-play. This would be Gowdy's last season on NBC as network executives wanted to promote Enberg to #1, but let Gowdy call the Super Bowl. Mike Adamle joined NBC's pregame show NFL '78 as an analyst. Additionally; Simpson would leave after Week 2 of the following season to join the newly-launched ESPN.
Meanwhile, former Miss Ohio USA Jayne Kennedy replaced Phyllis George as reporter on The NFL Today.[8]