1985 USFL season

The 1985 USFL season was the third and final season of the United States Football League (USFL), and the last by a league using that name until the 2022 USFL season.

Rule changes

Adopted instant replay for the 1985 season. Under the instant-replay rule, a team may have one appeal per half in three situations:
*A fumble or no-fumble situation.
*Whether a pass is complete, incomplete or intercepted.
*Whether the ball has penetrated the goal line.
The team asking for the replay would lose a time out if they were wrong.
The replay was available only in games televised by ABC.

Franchise changes

*Pittsburgh Maulers fold.
*Chicago Blitz suspend operations.
*Michigan Panthers merge with the Oakland Invaders.
*Arizona Wranglers and the Oklahoma Outlaws merge and create the Arizona Outlaws.
*New Orleans Breakers relocate to Portland, Oregon as the Portland Breakers.
*Philadelphia Stars move games to College Park, Maryland, with plans to move to Baltimore in 1986, team is renamed the Baltimore Stars.
*Washington Federals are sold and relocate to Orlando, Florida, as the Orlando Renegades.

General news

August 22, 1984, the owners voted to move to a fall schedule starting in 1986.

Harry Usher became the new commissioner of the USFL in January 1985.

The USFL and the United States Football League Players Association (USFLPA) agreed on a four-year agreement in March 1985.

On April 29, 1985, the league's owners voted 13–2 to reaffirm their decision to begin playing a fall season in 1986.

Regular season

''W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against''

'' = Division Champion, = Wild Card''

''New Jersey finished ahead of Memphis based on a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage (2-0-0).''

Playoffs

''Home team in CAPITALS''

Quarterfinals June 29–30 and July 1
*BIRMINGHAM 22, Houston 20
*MEMPHIS 48, Denver 7
*OAKLAND 30, Tampa Bay 27
*Baltimore 20, NEW JERSEY 17

Semifinals July 6–7
*Baltimore 28, BIRMINGHAM 14
*Oakland 28, MEMPHIS 19

USFL Championship game July 14 (at East Rutherford, New Jersey)
*Baltimore 28, OAKLAND 24

Statistics

1985 regular season stat leaders

1985 USFL regular season sortable offensive team statistics

1985 USFL regular season sortable defensive team statistics

Awards

*WR Richard Johnson, HOU
*WR Jim Smith, BIRM
*TE Marvin Harvey, TB
*T Irv Eatman, BAL
*T Ray Pinney, OAKL
*G Buddy Aydelette, BIRM
*G Pat Saindon, BIRM
*C Kent Hull, NJ
*QB Jim Kelly, HOU
*HB Herschel Walker, NJ
*HB Gary Anderson, TB
*DE James Lockette, NJ
*DE Bruce Thornton, DENV
*DT Reggie White, MEM
*DT Dave Tipton, AZ
*LB Sam Mills, BAL
*LB Kiki DeAyala, HOU
*CB Kerry Justin, NJ
*CB David Martin, DENV/ AZ
*S Chuck Clanton, BIRM
*S Mike Lush, BAL
*K Brian Franco, JACK
*KR Clarence Verdin, HOU
*P Stan Talley, OAKL
*PR Gerald McNeil, HOU
*MVP – HB Herschel Walker, NJ
*Coach of the year – Rollie Dotsch, BIRM
*Special Teams Player of the year – WR Clarence Verdin, HOU

*WR Richard Johnson, HOU
*WR Jim Smith, BIRM
*WR Anthony Carter, OAKL
*TE Gordon Hudson, LA
*T Irv Eatman BAL
*T Gary Zimmerman, LA
*G Buddy Aydelette, BIRM
*G Pat Saindon, BIRM
*C Kent Hull, NJ
*QB Jim Kelly, HOU
*HB Herschel Walker, NJ
*HB Gary Anderson, TB
*DE Reggie White, MEM
*DE William Fuller, BAL
*DT Jearld Baylis, PORT
*DT Doug Smith, BIRM
*OLB Herb Spencer, BIRM
*OLB Andy Hawkins, HOU
*ILB Sam Mills, BAL
*ILB John Nevens, DENV
*ILB Howard Carson, LA
*CB Jerry Holmes, NJ
*CB David Martin, DENV/ AZ
*S Barney Bussey, MEM
*S Chuck Clanton, BIRM
*K Tony Zendejas, LA
*KR Clarence Verdin, HOU
*P Stan Talley, OAKL
*PR Gerald McNeil, HOU
*Player of the year—HB Herschel Walker, NJ
*Coach of the year -- Rollie Dotsch, BIRM
*Executive of the year -- Jerry Sklar, BIRM

See also

* 1985 NFL season

References

{{USFL

United States Football League
1985