# 1983 NFL season

The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts played their final season in Baltimore before the team's relocation to Indianapolis the following season. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins 38–9 at Tampa Stadium in Florida.

## Player movement
### Trades

* May 2, 1983: The Baltimore Colts traded John Elway for Chris Hinton, backup quarterback Mark Herrmann, and a first-round pick in the 1984 Draft, which turned into offensive lineman Ron Solt.

### Retirements

* January 11, 1983: Wide receiver and four-time Super Bowl champion Lynn Swann retires.

### Draft

The 1983 NFL draft was held from April 26 to 27, 1983, at New York City's Sheraton Hotel. With the first pick, the Baltimore Colts selected quarterback John Elway from Stanford University.

## Major rule changes

* In the last 30 seconds of a half (but not overtime), with the defensive team behind with no more time outs, a defensive foul cannot prevent the half from ending except for the normal options that are available to the offensive team.
* Pass interference will not be called if there was incidental contact, or if players make simultaneous attempts to catch, tip, block, or bat the ball.
* Players may not use a helmet, that is no longer worn by anyone, as a weapon to strike or hit an opponent; they risk disqualification if they do. This rule was instituted after Raiders defensive end Lyle Alzado swung a helmet at New York Jets tackle Chris Ward during a playoff game the previous season.

## 1983 deaths

* June 25, 1983: Larry Gordon, the Miami Dolphins first round pick in the 1976 NFL draft, died from heart failure
* October 31, 1983: George Halas, the owner of the Chicago Bears dies of cancer at the age of 88 years old.
* December 16, 1983: Doug Kotar, Running Back for the New York Giants, died from an inoperable brain tumor.

## Division races

From 1978 to 1981 and this season to 1989, 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. The tiebreaker rules were based on head-to-head competition, followed by division records, common opponents records, and conference play.

### National Football Conference

| Week | East | | Central | | West | | Wild Card | | Wild Card | |
| 1 | Dallas, Philadelphia | 1–0 | 3 teams | 1–0 | 3 teams | 1–0 | | | | |
| 2 | Dallas | 2–0 | 4 teams | 1–1 | L.A. Rams | 2–0 | | | | |
| 3 | Dallas | 3–0 | Minnesota, Green Bay | 2–1 | 4 teams | 2–1 | | | | |
| 4 | Dallas | 4–0 | Minnesota | 3–1 | San Francisco | 3–1 | Washington | 3–1 | 6 teams | 2–2 |
| 5 | Dallas | 5–0 | Minnesota, Green Bay | 3–2 | San Francisco | 4–1 | Washington | 4–1 | 5 teams | 3–2 |
| 6 | Dallas | 6–0 | Minnesota | 4–2 | 3 teams | 4–2 | Washington | 5–1 | 4 teams | 4–2 |
| 7 | Dallas | 7–0 | Minnesota | 5–2 | San Francisco, L.A. Rams | 5–2 | 3 teams | 5–2 | 3 teams | 4–3 |
| 8 | Dallas | 7–1 | Minnesota | 6–2 | San Francisco | 6–2 | Washington | 6–2 | New Orleans, L.A. Rams | 5–3 |
| 9 | Dallas | 8–1 | Minnesota | 6–3 | San Francisco | 6–3 | Washington | 7–2 | New Orleans, L.A. Rams | 5–4 |
| 10 | Dallas | 9–1 | Minnesota | 6–4 | 3 teams | 6–4 | Washington | 8–2 | 3 teams | 6–4 |
| 11 | Dallas, Washington | 9–2 | Minnesota, Green Bay | 6–5 | San Francisco, L.A. Rams | 7–4 | Dallas, Washington | 9–2 | San Francisco, L.A. Rams | 7–4 |
| 12 | Dallas, Washington | 10–2 | Minnesota | 7–5 | San Francisco, L.A. Rams | 7–5 | Dallas, Washington | 10–2 | San Francisco, L.A. Rams | 7–5 |
| 13 | Dallas, Washington | 11–2 | Minnesota, Detroit | 7–6 | L.A. Rams | 8–5 | Dallas, Washington | 11–2 | Minnesota, Detroit | 7–6 |
| 14 | Dallas, Washington | 12–2 | Detroit | 8–6 | San Francisco, L.A. Rams | 8–6 | Dallas, Washington | 12–2 | San Francisco, L.A. Rams | 8–6 |
| 15 | Washington | 13–2 | Detroit, Green Bay | 8–7 | San Francisco | 9–6 | Dallas | 12–3 | 4 teams | 8–7 |
| 16 | Washington | 14–2 | Detroit | 9–7 | San Francisco | 10–6 | Dallas | 12–4 | L.A. Rams | 9–7 |

### American Football Conference

| Week | East | | Central | | West | | Wild Card | | Wild Card | |
| 1 | 3 teams | 1–0 | 4 teams | 0–1 | 3 teams | 1–0 | | | | |
| 2 | Miami | 2–0 | Pittsburgh, Cleveland | 1–1 | L.A. Raiders, Denver | 2–0 | | | | |
| 3 | Miami, Buffalo | 2–1 | Pittsburgh, Cleveland | 2–1 | L.A. Raiders | 3–0 | 6 teams | 2–1 | | |
| 4 | Miami, Buffalo | 3–1 | Cleveland | 3–1 | L.A. Raiders | 4–0 | 3 teams | 3–1 | 6 teams | 2–2 |
| 5 | 4 teams | 3–2 | Pittsburgh, Cleveland | 3–2 | L.A. Raiders | 4–1 | 7 teams | 3–2 | 4 teams | 2–3 |
| 6 | Buffalo, Baltimore | 4–2 | Pittsburgh, Cleveland | 4–2 | L.A. Raiders | 5–1 | 4 teams | 4–2 | 5 teams | 3–3 |
| 7 | Buffalo | 5–2 | Pittsburgh | 5–2 | L.A. Raiders | 5–2 | Miami, Baltimore | 4–3 | Cleveland, Seattle | 4–3 |
| 8 | Miami, Buffalo | 5–3 | Pittsburgh | 6–2 | L.A. Raiders | 6–2 | Miami, Buffalo | 5–3 | Denver | 5–3 |
| 9 | Miami, Buffalo | 6–3 | Pittsburgh | 7–2 | L.A. Raiders, Denver | 6–3 | Miami, Buffalo | 6–3 | L.A. Raiders, Denver | 6–3 |
| 10 | Miami | 7–3 | Pittsburgh | 8–2 | L.A. Raiders | 7–3 | Buffalo, Baltimore | 6–4 | Seattle, Denver | 6–4 |
| 11 | Miami, Buffalo | 7–4 | Pittsburgh | 9–2 | L.A. Raiders | 8–3 | Miami, Buffalo | 7–4 | 5 teams | 6–5 |
| 12 | Miami | 8–4 | Pittsburgh | 9–3 | L.A. Raiders | 9–3 | 3 teams | 7–5 | 3 teams | 6–5 |
| 13 | Miami | 9–4 | Pittsburgh | 9–4 | L.A. Raiders | 10–3 | Cleveland | 8–5 | 3 teams | 7–6 |
| 14 | Miami | 10–4 | Pittsburgh | 9–5 | L.A. Raiders | 11–3 | 3 teams | 8–6 | 4 teams | 7–7 |
| 15 | Miami | 11–4 | Pittsburgh | 10–5 | L.A. Raiders | 11–4 | Denver | 9–6 | 4 teams | 8–7 |
| 16 | Miami | 12–4 | Pittsburgh | 10–6 | L.A. Raiders | 12–4 | Seattle | 9–7 | Denver | 9–7 |

## Regular season
### Scheduling formula

* Inter-conference
* AFC East vs NFC West
* AFC Central vs NFC Central
* AFC West vs NFC East
Highlights of the 1983 season included:
* Thanksgiving: Two games were played on Thursday, November 24, featuring Pittsburgh at Detroit and St. Louis at Dallas, with Detroit and Dallas winning.

### Final standings

AFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Miami Dolphins$^{(2)}$ | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 6–2 | 9–3 | 389 | 250 | W5 |
| New England Patriots | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–4 | 6–6 | 274 | 289 | L1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–4 | 7–5 | 283 | 351 | L2 |
| Baltimore Colts | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3–5 | 5–9 | 264 | 354 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3–5 | 4–8 | 313 | 331 | L2 |
AFC Central :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Pittsburgh Steelers$^{(3)}$ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 4–2 | 8–4 | 355 | 303 | L1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–3 | 7–5 | 356 | 342 | W1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 4–8 | 346 | 302 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 1–5 | 1–11 | 288 | 460 | L1 |
AFC West :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Los Angeles Raiders$^{(1)}$ | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 6–2 | 10–2 | 442 | 338 | W1 |
| Seattle Seahawks$^{(4)}$ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–3 | 8–4 | 403 | 397 | W2 |
| Denver Broncos$^{(5)}$ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–5 | 9–5 | 302 | 327 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 4–4 | 4–8 | 358 | 462 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–6 | 4–8 | 386 | 367 | W1 |
NFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Washington Redskins$^{(1)}$ | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 7–1 | 10–2 | 541 | 332 | W9 |
| Dallas Cowboys$^{(4)}$ | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 7–1 | 10–2 | 479 | 360 | L2 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 8 | 7 | 1 | .531 | 3–4–1 | 5–6–1 | 374 | 428 | W3 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–7 | 4–10 | 233 | 322 | L2 |
| New York Giants | 3 | 12 | 1 | .219 | 1–6–1 | 3–8–1 | 267 | 347 | L4 |
NFC Central :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Detroit Lions$^{(3)}$ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 7–1 | 8–4 | 347 | 286 | W1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–4 | 6–6 | 429 | 439 | L1 |
| Chicago Bears | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–4 | 7–7 | 311 | 301 | W2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–4 | 4–8 | 316 | 348 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 1–7 | 1–11 | 241 | 380 | L3 |
NFC West :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| San Francisco 49ers$^{(2)}$ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 4–2 | 8–4 | 432 | 293 | W3 |
| Los Angeles Rams$^{(5)}$ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–1 | 8–4 | 361 | 344 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2–4 | 7–5 | 319 | 337 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 1–5 | 4–8 | 370 | 389 | W1 |

### Tiebreakers

* Los Angeles Raiders was the first AFC seed over Miami based on head-to-head victory (1–0).
* Seattle was the first AFC Wild Card ahead of Denver based on better division record (5–3 to Broncos' 3–5) after Cleveland was eliminated from the three-way tie based on head-to-head record (Seattle and Denver 2–1 to Browns' 0–2).
* New England finished ahead of Buffalo in the AFC East based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).
* Baltimore finished ahead of N.Y. Jets in the AFC East based on better conference record (5–9, .357 to Jets' 4–8, .333).
* San Diego finished ahead of Kansas City in the AFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).
* Minnesota ended up in fourth place in the NFC Central after being eliminated from the three-way tie based on conference record (Chicago 7–7 and Green Bay 6–6 to Vikings' 4–8).
* Green Bay finished ahead of Chicago in the NFC Central based on better record against common opponents (4–4 to Bears' 3–5).

## Playoffs

    Note: The Los Angeles Raiders (the AFC 1 seed) did not play the Seattle Seahawks (the 4 seed) in the Divisional playoff round because both teams were in the same division.
| | | | Dec 31 – Candlestick Park | Dec 31 – Candlestick Park | Dec 31 – Candlestick Park | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Detroit | 23 | | | | | | | | |
| Dec 26 – Texas Stadium | Dec 26 – Texas Stadium | Dec 26 – Texas Stadium | 3 | Detroit | 23 | Jan 8 – RFK Stadium | Jan 8 – RFK Stadium | Jan 8 – RFK Stadium | | | | | | | |
| Dec 26 – Texas Stadium | Dec 26 – Texas Stadium | Dec 26 – Texas Stadium | 2 | San Francisco | 24 | Jan 8 – RFK Stadium | Jan 8 – RFK Stadium | Jan 8 – RFK Stadium | | | | | |
| Dec 26 – Texas Stadium | Dec 26 – Texas Stadium | Dec 26 – Texas Stadium | NFC | NFC | NFC | | | Jan 8 – RFK Stadium | Jan 8 – RFK Stadium | Jan 8 – RFK Stadium | | | | | |
| 5 | LA Rams | 24 | NFC | NFC | NFC | 2 | San Francisco | 21 | | | | | |
| 5 | LA Rams | 24 | Jan 1 – RFK Stadium | Jan 1 – RFK Stadium | Jan 1 – RFK Stadium | | | 2 | San Francisco | 21 | | | | | |
| 4 | Dallas | 17 | Jan 1 – RFK Stadium | Jan 1 – RFK Stadium | Jan 1 – RFK Stadium | 1 | Washington | 24 | | | | | |
| | | | Jan 1 – RFK Stadium | Jan 1 – RFK Stadium | Jan 1 – RFK Stadium | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | LA Rams | 7 | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | LA Rams | 7 | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | | | Jan 22 – Tampa Stadium | Jan 22 – Tampa Stadium | Jan 22 – Tampa Stadium |
| | | | 1 | Washington | 51 | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | | | Jan 22 – Tampa Stadium | Jan 22 – Tampa Stadium | Jan 22 – Tampa Stadium |
| | | | Divisional playoffs | Divisional playoffs | Divisional playoffs | | | | | | | | Jan 22 – Tampa Stadium | Jan 22 – Tampa Stadium | Jan 22 – Tampa Stadium |
| Wild Card playoffs | Wild Card playoffs | Wild Card playoffs | Divisional playoffs | Divisional playoffs | Divisional playoffs | | | | | | N1 | Washington | 9 |
| Wild Card playoffs | Wild Card playoffs | Wild Card playoffs | Dec 31 – Miami Orange Bowl | Dec 31 – Miami Orange Bowl | Dec 31 – Miami Orange Bowl | | | | | | | | N1 | Washington | 9 |
| Wild Card playoffs | Wild Card playoffs | Wild Card playoffs | Dec 31 – Miami Orange Bowl | Dec 31 – Miami Orange Bowl | Dec 31 – Miami Orange Bowl | | | | | | A1 | LA Raiders | 38 |
| | | | Dec 31 – Miami Orange Bowl | Dec 31 – Miami Orange Bowl | Dec 31 – Miami Orange Bowl | | | | | | Super Bowl XVIII | Super Bowl XVIII | Super Bowl XVIII |
| | | | 4 | Seattle | 27 | | | | | | Super Bowl XVIII | Super Bowl XVIII | Super Bowl XVIII |
| Dec 24 – Kingdome | Dec 24 – Kingdome | Dec 24 – Kingdome | 4 | Seattle | 27 | Jan 8 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Jan 8 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Jan 8 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | | | | | Super Bowl XVIII | Super Bowl XVIII | Super Bowl XVIII |
| Dec 24 – Kingdome | Dec 24 – Kingdome | Dec 24 – Kingdome | 2* | Miami | 20 | Jan 8 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Jan 8 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Jan 8 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | | | Super Bowl XVIII | Super Bowl XVIII | Super Bowl XVIII |
| Dec 24 – Kingdome | Dec 24 – Kingdome | Dec 24 – Kingdome | AFC | AFC | AFC | | | Jan 8 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Jan 8 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Jan 8 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | | |
| 5 | Denver | 7 | AFC | AFC | AFC | 4 | Seattle | 14 | | |
| 5 | Denver | 7 | Jan 1 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Jan 1 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Jan 1 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | | | 4 | Seattle | 14 | | |
| 4 | Seattle | 31 | Jan 1 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Jan 1 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Jan 1 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 1 | LA Raiders | 30 | | |
| | | | Jan 1 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Jan 1 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Jan 1 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | AFC Championship | AFC Championship | AFC Championship | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Pittsburgh | 10 | AFC Championship | AFC Championship | AFC Championship | | |
| | | | 1* | LA Raiders | 38 | AFC Championship | AFC Championship | AFC Championship | | | | |
* view
* talk

## Notable events

* Kansas City Chiefs running back Joe Delaney dies after attempting to rescue three boys who were drowning in a makeshift swimming pool at a construction site in Monroe, Louisiana.
* The Raiders' Super Bowl win would be the AFC's last win until the 1997 season when the Denver Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers.

## Milestones

The following players set all-time records during the season:
| Most touchdowns, season | John Riggins, Washington (24) |
| Most rushing touchdowns, season | John Riggins, Washington (24) |
| Most punt return yards, season | Greg Pruitt, Los Angeles Raiders (666) |
| Most total field goals made, season | Ali Haji-Sheikh, New York Giants (35) |

## Statistical leaders
### Team

| Points scored | Washington Redskins (541) |
| Total yards gained | San Diego Chargers (6,197) |
| Yards rushing | Chicago Bears (2,727) |
| Yards passing | San Diego Chargers (4,661) |
| Fewest points allowed | Miami Dolphins (250) |
| Fewest total yards allowed | Cincinnati Bengals (4,327) |
| Fewest rushing yards allowed | Washington Redskins (1,289) |
| Fewest passing yards allowed | New Orleans Saints (2,691) |

## Awards

| Most Valuable Player | Joe Theismann, quarterback, Washington |
| Coach of the Year | Joe Gibbs, Washington |
| Offensive Player of the Year | Joe Theismann, quarterback, Washington |
| Defensive Player of the Year | Doug Betters, defensive end, Miami |
| Offensive Rookie of the Year | Eric Dickerson, running back, LA Rams |
| Defensive Rookie of the Year | Vernon Maxwell, linebacker, Baltimore Colts |
| Man of the Year | Rolf Benirschke, placekicker, San Diego |
| Comeback Player of the Year | Billy Johnson, wide receiver, Atlanta |
| Super Bowl Most Valuable Player | Marcus Allen, running back, LA Raiders |

## Coaching changes
### Offseason

* Atlanta Falcons: Dan Henning replaced the fired Leeman Bennett.
* Buffalo Bills: Kay Stephenson replaced Chuck Knox, who left the team to join the Seattle Seahawks.
* Kansas City Chiefs: Marv Levy was fired and replaced by John Mackovic.
* New York Giants: Ray Perkins was replaced by Bill Parcells.
* New York Jets: Walt Michaels resigned and was replaced by Joe Walton.
* Los Angeles Rams: Ray Malavasi was fired and replaced by John Robinson.
* Philadelphia Eagles: Dick Vermeil resigned and was replaced by Marion Campbell.
* Seattle Seahawks: Chuck Knox joined the Seahawks after resigning from the Bills. Seattle had fired Jack Patera after the team lost their first two games in 1982. Mike McCormack, the team's director of football operations, took over as interim for the remainder of that season.

### In-season

* Houston Oilers: Ed Biles was fired after the team lost their first six games. Defensive coordinator Chuck Studley took over as interim.

## Stadium changes

Schaefer Stadium is renamed Sullivan Stadium after New England Patriots founder and owner Billy Sullivan

## Uniform changes

* The New Orleans Saints' jersey numbers were slightly modified, adding a thin inner border which matched the jersey color between the gold outer border and the number itself, similar to the numbers on the San Diego Chargers' jerseys.
* The Seattle Seahawks revised their jerseys for the first time since joining the NFL in 1976. The new jerseys moved the TV numbers from the sleeves to the shoulders, with the helmet logo duplicated on the sleeves and the jersey collars gaining striping trim; the socks also became solid blue. The face masks also changed from gray to blue.
* The Washington Redskins reversed their helmet logo modification of 1982, when the feathers hanging from the portrait of the Native American were curved instead of straight, which they were from 1972-81. Washington kept the 1972 logo until retiring the Redskins nickname and all Native American imagery prior to the 2020 season.

## Television

This was the second year under the league's five-year broadcast contracts with ABC, CBS, and NBC to televise Monday Night Football, the NFC package, and the AFC package, respectively.
O. J. Simpson replaced Fran Tarkenton as ABC's fill-in color commentator. Howard Cosell then ignited racial controversy during the broadcast of the September 5 MNF game between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins when his commentary on Alvin Garrett, an African American wide receiver for Washington, included a reference to "That little monkey". The fallout contributed to Cosell's decision to leave MNF after the season.

### Regular season game not broadcast by Network TV

| Date | Time | Teams | Local TV | Announcers |
| October 9, 1983 | 3:00 PM CDT | Kansas City Chiefs @ Los Angeles Raiders | KCTV-TV (Kansas City area) (blacked out in Los Angeles area) | Don Fortune (play-by-play) Len Dawson (analyst) |