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Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 30 general entries.
Special Topics
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 NFL 1980s
| What team rode to its first NFL title in 40 years on the backs of the Hogs, the Smurfs, the Fun Bunch, and the Diesel? | NFL in the 1980s #1
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Washington Redskins. The Washington Redskins under Joe Gibbs seemingly had something for every football fan in the 1980s, mixing solid ground control running with big play passing on offense, and throwing in a solid defense, to win Super Bowls in 1982, 1987, and 1991. Few NFL offensive lines were ever colorful enough to merit a nickname, but when the Redskins' line coach told them they "looked like a bunch of hogs," they took the name as a badge of pride that they wore for the rest of the decade. The Smurfs were the team's undersized receiving corps, nicknamed after a cartoon about little blue people that was popular at the time. The Fun Bunch was the group who would gather in the end zone after a touchdown for a mass high-five. And the Diesel was their tireless Hall of Fame running back John Riggins, who seemed to get stronger after his 30th carry of a game.
| What two league fixtures, both Hall of Famers, squared off against each other in a lawsuit in the early 1980s? | NFL in the 1980s #1
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Al Davis & Pete Rozelle. The Davis vs. Rozelle courtroom dustup took shape when Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis wanted to move his team to Los Angeles. Blocked from doing so by a 22-0 vote of NFL owners (five owners abstained), Davis sued NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle for antitrust violations related to the league's interference in his move of the team. Davis prevailed in the suit, winning an $18 million settlement, plus $35 million in damages, in 1982. "In their mind, it's their team," Davis said of the Oakland fans. "In my mind, it's not." For many, the highlight of the Davis-Rozelle battle came when the Raiders won the Super Bowl in January 1981, right in the midst of the ongoing lawsuit. Rozelle handed the Super Bowl trophy to Davis with two hands to avoid having to shake hands with his nemesis, Davis replied with some barely audible mumbles, and some observers marvelled that neither hit the other with the heavy object.
Joe Montana, his 49ers trailing late in the game, 92 yards from the end zone, coolly pointed out John Candy in the stands before driving to the winning score. Montana's mix of coolness and being starstruck as Super Bowl XXIII neared its climax is one of the most widely cited examples of the quarterback's grace under pressure. Trailing Cincinnati 16-13 with just over three minutes remaining, Montana huddled the team 92 yards from the end zone. Looking up in the stands, he pointed out comic actor John Candy to the players. Getting his mind back on football, he then led the team down the field, throwing the game-winning touchdown pass to John Taylor with 34 seconds left.
| When the Raiders hired me in 1989, I became the NFL's first black coach since 1921. Who am I? | NFL in the 1980s #1
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Art Shell. Shell, a former Raiders offensive tackle, was brought in two games into the 1989 season and led the team to a 54-38 record and three playoff appearances in six seasons. Thinking the team was underachieving, the Raiders fired Shell after the 1994 season, then proceeded to go another six years before having another winning season or playoff appearance. Before Shell, the league's last black coach had been Fritz Pollard with the 1921 Akron Pros.
| My name's Ickey Woods, and if you followed football in 1988, you remember me. Otherwise you don't. But even more than being known for my brief talents as a running back, I was known for that funny dance I used to do after scoring a touchdown. What was it called? | NFL in the 1980s #1
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Ickey Shuffle. Ickey Woods helped the Super Bowl bound Cincinnati Bengals in 1988 with his incredible rushing (1,066 yards on 203 carries for a league-leading 5.3 yards per carry). But what really enamored him to fans was his Ickey Shuffle, a little dance defying easy description. He became an instant celebrity, with his face on clothing, in commercials, and in music videos. However, in the second game of the 1989 season, he tore his ACL and sat out the rest of the year. Two seasons later, he was cut by the Bengals and retired, having gained less than 500 yards in his last three years in the league.
| I broke into the league in 1981 with one of the NFL's worst teams, and in just five seasons, helped them win their first championship in 30 years. For every one of my off-field problems that my detractors might point to, my supporters can talk about dozens of highlights from my career, like being one of the few defensive players to win league MVP honors, my amazing sack totals, or how teams would completely redo their game plans just to not run at me. Who am I? | NFL in the 1980s #1
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Lawrence Taylor. Taylor brought speed, strength, and unparallelled ferocity and intensity to the New York Giants. In his rookie 1981 season, he won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, as well as NFL Defensive Player of the year, and being selected for his first of ten consecutive Pro Bowl appearances. Perhaps best remembered for ending Joe Theismann's NFL career by breaking his leg in a 1985 Monday Night Football game (it was a clean hit and Taylor was the first player to call for a stretcher; he has since described the play as "not a moment I want to remember or see again"), Taylor was NFL Most Valuable Player in 1986 when he had 20 1/2 sacks and the Giants won the Super Bowl.
| The first half of the 1980s was a period of incredible promise for our team that was never fulfilled. We made two Super Bowl appearances, but lost them both. Our young quarterback put up absolutely sick numbers, but at the end of his career had taken us to just one title game. Maybe the last great moment for us in the 1980s came in 1985, when we were the only team that managed to beat the Chicago Bears that year. Which team are we? | NFL in the 1980s #1
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Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins had early leads in Super Bowls XVII and XIX against the Redskins and Dolphins, but couldn't hold on, as Washington beat them 27-17 for the 1982 title, and San Francisco took the 1984 championship 38-16. The Dolphins' quarterback in that game was Dan Marino, who, in just his second NFL season, had set new NFL records for touchdown passes (48) and passing yards (5,084). Amazingly, after all that promise, the best the Dolphins ever subsequently did under Marino was losses in the 1985 and 1992 AFC championship games. Miami handed the great 1985 Chicago Bears their only loss, 38-24, in the highest rated Monday Night Football game to that point, but after going 64-24-1 in the first six years of the 80s, they closed out the decade 30-33.
| In 1985, I was just a little-known guy, drafted after 15 other players had been taken, coming out of a little college few people ever paid attention to, Mississippi Valley State. By the end of the decade, I had two Super Bowl rings and a Super Bowl MVP award and people were already starting to call me the greatest football player who ever lived. Who am I? | NFL in the 1980s #1
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Jerry Rice. Rice was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1985 partially because Bill Walsh, their coach, saw him by chance on a televised college football game he was watching in hopes of scouting a different player. It proved to be a good choice. Rice was MVP of Super Bowl XXIII, then helped the team become the first repeat NFL champions in a decade when they won the following year. Known for having one of the most gruelling work ethics and workout regimens of any athlete in the world, Rice led the NFL in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns six times apiece, and set career receiving records hugely above what any player before him had ever done.
| A black quarterback all my life, at least until becoming a black coach and a black NFL executive, I think I still have Denver Broncos fans wishing that the second quarter of Super Bowl XXII never happened. Who am I? | NFL in the 1980s #1
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Doug Williams. Doug Williams, who had a solid NFL career as a quarterback for Tampa Bay and Washington, took over for a floundering Jay Schroeder as the Redskins starting quarterback in 1987, leading them to the Super Bowl. After the Denver Broncos jumped out to a 10-0 first quarter lead, Williams caught fire in the second period, throwing four touchdown passes as Washington moved out to a 35-10 halftime lead, effectively putting the game out of reach. Williams endured a mind-numbing volley of questions going into the game, because he was the first black quarterback to start a Super Bowl, later alluding to the pressure by titling his autobiography "Quarterblack." An innocent question asked of him before the Super Bowl ("Doug, obviously you've been a black quarterback your whole life. When did race begin to matter to people?") was misheard in a noisy room and continues to be wrongly cited as the dumbest question ever asked of an athlete ("How long have you been a black quarterback?"). Williams eventually became football coach at Grambling, his college alma mater, before taking a position as a personnel executive with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004.
| The leading rusher in the NFL in 1982 had 786 yards, the lowest winning total since 1946. Why? | NFL in the 1980s #2
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A player strike shortened the season to nine games. After several episodes of labor unrest in the 1970s failed to stop regular season play, the 1982 season was interrupted by a strike following the second week of games. No football was played for eight more weeks. The NFL cancelled all the missed games, shortened the schedule to nine games, and modified its playoff structure for the season. Five years later, another mid-season strike occurred, but this time, after one week of inactivity, the owners fielded teams of replacement players. The replacements played for three weeks, with the results counting in the standings, before the regular players ended the strike. The Washington Redskins seemingly benefited, winning the Super Bowl for both of the strike seasons.
| Heading into the 1980 season, people were calling me a washed up quarterback. I'd won the Heisman Trophy in college, and Rookie of the Year in the NFL, then it was all downhill after that. I didn't play in 1978. In 1979, I threw 15 passes all season. Then 1980 came around, and all of a sudden, I was a Super Bowl MVP and had six more seasons to look forward to, not to mention one more Super Bowl ring. Who am I? | NFL in the 1980s #2
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Jim Plunkett. Plunkett, the 1970 Heisman Trophy winner and 1971 NFL Rookie of the Year, managed to play for some very bad New England Patriot teams, before being traded to San Francisco in time to play for some very bad 49er teams. After not playing in 1978 and barely being used the next year, he moved into the Raiders' starting job in 1980, helping the team become the first playoff wildcard to win the Super Bowl. He was the game's MVP on the strength of his three touchdowns, no interceptions, and 261 yards on 21 passes. His career in the 1980s wound up being far better than his career in the previous decade: 8-2 as a postseason starter, two Super Bowl titles, and the best passing stats of his career. Plunkett retired after the 1986 season.
| After years of demands from fans, NFL owners in 1986 made a rule change that took some of the controversy out of officiating. Think for a moment about what that was, then after further review, see if your choice stands. What rule change below became effective in 1986? | NFL in the 1980s #2
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Permitting coaches to challenge calls using instant replay. Fans and some owners had long argued that video technology would make it possible to quickly review disputed plays and, if necessary, overrule an official's initial call. Although a majority of NFL owners often voted to allow instant replay, not until 1986 did the idea win approval from the required 75% of owners. Instant replay lasted through the 1991 season, then, after failing to win renewal in 1992, was reinstated in 1999. Roughly 90% of disputed officials' calls have been upheld by replay.
| Who was Frank Kush, and what role did he play in John Elway signing with the Denver Broncos in 1983? | NFL in the 1980s #2
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Elway wanted no part of Kush, the authoritarian coach of the Baltimore Colts, forcing Baltimore to trade Elway to the Broncos after drafting him. Frank Kush was a successful college coach at Arizona State, and often compared to Vince Lombardi for his strict rules and rough practices. Brought to the NFL to revive the struggling Baltimore Colts, he failed to get the same results, going 0-8-1 in his 1982 first season with the team. The poor record got the Colts the right to draft Elway, who announced he would not play for Kush (Elway was a talented baseball player as well, and made it known he was willing to pursue that route). The Colts eventually traded Elway to the Broncos for two players and a draft pick. Elway led Denver to five Super Bowls, winning two, and was selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Colts snuck their team out of Baltimore under dark of night during a snow storm on March 28, 1984, moving to Indianapolis. Kush was fired in 1984 after compiling an 11-28-1 record with the team.
| Three of the choices below are related. Which one doesn't go with the other three? | NFL in the 1980s #2
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70 Chip. Want to see a Redskins fan smile? Mention "70 Chip," the play they used on a fourth-and-one in Super Bowl XVII, sending John Riggins 43 yards for the touchdown that put the Redskins ahead of the Miami Dolphins for good that day as the team won its first NFL title in 40 years. Want to see a Redskins fan cry, or perhaps threaten you with bodily harm? Mention the "Rocket Screen." The 1983 Redskins were one of the best teams the NFL had ever seen, scoring a then-record 541 points in 16 games, with only two losses, each by a single point, keeping them from perfection. In the Super Bowl, they faced the Los Angeles Raiders, who they had already beaten 37-35 during the regular season. This time, they struggled against the Raiders with the league title on the line. With 12 seconds left in the first half, the Redskins had the ball on their own 12 following a Raider punt, trailing 14-3. They called for the "Rocket Screen," a screen pass that had been good for a 67-yard gain the first time the teams played. This time, reserve linebacker Jack Squirek stepped in front of Joe Theismann's pass at the five and ran it in for a touchdown, sending the teams to the locker room with the Raiders fully in control, 21-3. They won the game 38-9, the biggest margin of victory in a Super Bowl to that point.
| Why did the Buffalo Bills change their helmet color from white to red in 1984? | NFL in the 1980s #2
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To help their quarterback spot his receivers. When quarterback Joe Ferguson threw 25 interceptions in 1983, the most of his NFL career, someone in their organization noticed that in Buffalo's AFC East division, all five teams had white helmets, unique among NFL divisions. So the Bills switched to a red helmet, making them the only team in the division using that color, in hopes that it would make it easier for Ferguson to spot his receivers. In terms of improving the Bills, the experiment failed. The team went 2-14 in 1984 and Ferguson was traded to Detroit after the season. However, the basic helmet design they adapted for 1984 stayed with the team longer than any previous helmet in their history, making it an unqualified aesthetic success.
| When Bo Jackson signed with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1987, he angered several NFL players by referring to a hobby of his. What was the "hobby" that so irritated people?
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Playing NFL football. The 1986 Heisman Trophy winner coming out of Auburn, Jackson spurned his draft selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, declaring baseball to be his first love. He joined the Kansas City Royals organization and was moved up to the major leagues by the end of his first season. The next year, he joined the Raiders after Al Davis agreed to let Jackson play only when it fit his baseball schedule. Jackson's remark that football would be his "hobby," made while signing his contract, greatly angered full time football players who couldn't imagine someone playing the sport as an afterthought. Jackson wound up with the last laugh. He became the first athlete to be selected for both the baseball All Star game and the NFL Pro Bowl, and the first NFL player to rush for two touchdowns of 90 yards or longer. His multisport abilities made him the star of a funny series of commercials in which it was claimed that "Bo knows" everything from tennis to auto racing. A 1990 NFL playoff injury ended his football career, and his baseball performance never returned to peak form. His NFL career includes 515 rushes for 2,782 yards, a sparkling 5.4 yards per carry average.
| Remember da rap of da Chicago Bears?
Rhymin' 'n' rappin' 'bout football affairs
They sang the Super Bowl Shuffle just for fun
And like their '85 team, it hit number one
We've got some lines below from dat rappin' song
'Cept one of dem lines, well, it be wrong
Ten mo' points is what you'll win
If you can pick da line dat don't fit in!*
(* Translation: Which of the lines below was not a lyric in the Chicago Bears' "Super Bowl Shuffle" song and video?) | NFL in the 1980s #2
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I'm the coach of these guys, I'm Iron Mike, bringin' home trophies is what I like. Recorded in December 1985, the day after the Bears lost their only game that season, "Super Bowl Shuffle" won praise from ESPN almost 20 years later as "far and away the greatest musical performance by a sports team." The video featured players Walter Payton, Willie Gault, Mike Singletary, Jim McMahon, Otis Wilson, Steve Fuller, Mike Richardson, Richard Dent, Gary Fencik, and William Perry rapping (sometimes even in rhythm and on-key) about their football abilities. The song and video were released in time for their appearance in Super Bowl XX, and the proceeds went to hunger-based charities. The team won the Super Bowl handily, and their song won a Grammy nomination.
| Who led the NFL in passing yardage during the 1980 regular season? | NFL 1980s
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Dan Fouts. Dan Fouts of the San Diego Chargers threw for 4,715 yards to lead the NFL during the 1980 regular season. Fouts was a Charger for all 15 of his NFL seasons, leading the NFL in passing yardage 4 consecutive times from 1979-82. Steve Bartkowski of the Atlanta Falcons threw for 3,544 yards good enough for 4th in the NFL. However, Bartkowski did lead the NFL with 31 touchdown passes in 1980. Brian Sipe of the Cleveland Browns finished 2nd in passing yardage to Fouts with 4,132 yards, and matched Fouts and Vince Ferragamo with 30 touchdown passes, one behind Bartkowski. Archie Manning finished the regular season with 3,716 passing yards, 3rd best in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints.
| Who are the two members of the 1985 Cleveland Browns that each had 1,000 yards rushing during the regular season? | NFL 1980s
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Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack. As a rookie fullback in 1985, Kevin Mack led the Browns with 1,104 rushing yards during the regular season. Mack never bested 1,000 yards again during his 9-year career. Earnest Byner broke the 1,000 plateau by 2 yards in 1985. Byner also had consecutive 1,000 yard seasons while playing for the Washington Redskins in 1990 and 1991.
| Which NFL rookie won the rushing title in 1981? | NFL 1980s
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George Rogers. New Orleans Saints rookie running back George Rogers led the NFL for the 1981 regular season with 1,674 rushing yards. Rogers came to the NFL highly regarded after winning the 1980 Heisman Trophy while rushing for the Gamecocks of South Carolina. Rogers would break the 1,000 yard rushing barrier 4 times during his 7-year NFL career. Ottis Anderson finished 5th in rushing yards in 1981, playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1979, Ottis Anderson set the record for rushing yardage as a rookie with 1,605 yards before being bested by Rogers. Anderson would later be named the MVP of Super Bowl XXV for the New York Giants. Second year player Billy Sims of the Detroit Lions ran for 1,437 yards, finishing 3rd in the NFL. Sims finished 5th in rushing yardage during his rookie campaign in 1980. Sims won the 1978 Heisman Trophy while playing for the Oklahoma Sooners. William Andrews of the Atlanta Falcons ran for 1,301 yards in 1981 finishing 7th in the NFL. Both Andrews (6 NFL seasons) and Sims (5 NFL seasons) had shortened careers due to severe knee injuries.
| Who led the NFL in rushing yards during the strike shortened, 15-game regular season of 1987? | NFL 1980s
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Charles White. Charles White led the NFL with 1,374 yards playing in 15 games for the Los Angeles Rams. During White’s 7 other NFL seasons, he never even came within 1,000 yards of his 1987 mark. Eric Dickerson ran for 1,288 that season in only 12 games. He was traded from Rams after 3 games in a three team deal to the Indianapolis Colts for the final 9 games of the regular season, in which he amassed 1,011 yards. Herschel Walker ran for 891 yards in 12 games for the Dallas Cowboys in 1987. In 1988, Walker finished second in rushing yards to Dickerson. Marcus Allen ran for 754 yards as a member of the Los Angeles Raiders. Both Charles White and Marcus Allen won the Heisman Trophy while playing running back at USC in college, White in 1979, and Allen in 1981.
| Who led the NFL in receptions during the 1986 regular season? | NFL 1980s
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Todd Christensen. Todd Christensen, while playing tight end for the Los Angeles Raiders, led the NFL with 95 receptions in 1986. Christensen was the premier tight end in the NFL from 1983-86 while averaging 87 catches for 1099 yards and 8 touchdowns during that 4-year span. In 1986, Jerry Rice finished 2nd to Christensen with 86 receptions, but did lead the NFL with 1,570 receiving yards. Washington Redskins wide receiver Art Monk finished the 1986 season with 73 receptions. In 1984, Monk broke the NFL single-season record with 106 receptions. Monk’s record stood for 8 years until former Green Bay Packer wide receiver Sterling Sharpe caught 108 passes in 1992 (Sharpe's record has since been broken). Steve Largent only had 70 receptions in 1986, but went on to a Hall of Fame career (1995 inductee) while playing 14 seasons, all for the Seattle Seahawks.
| In 1982, what team did Doug Martin play for while leading the NFL with 11.5 sacks? | NFL 1980s
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Minnesota Vikings. Doug Martin played his entire 10-year NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings. He is the first player to lead the NFL in sacks. The NFL made the quarterback sack an official stat starting in 1982. Martin edged out Dennis Harrison of the Philadelphia Eagles by one sack to claim the sack title.
| Who finished second to Dan Marino in passing yardage during the 1984 NFL regular season? | NFL 1980s
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Neil Lomax. St. Louis Cardinal quarterback Neil Lomax finished 2nd in passing yardage during the 1984 NFL regular season with 4,614 yards. Phil Simms of the New York Giants finished 3rd with 4,044 passing yards, the highest single season total for Simms in his 14-year career. Joe Montana threw for 3,630 yards good enough for 6th in the NFL in 1984. Houston Oilers rookie quarterback Warren Moon threw for 3,338 in 1984. Dan Marino not only led the NFL in passing yardage during the 1984 season, but also broke the single season passing yardage record by throwing for 5,084 yards, (previously held by Dan Fouts 4,802 yards in 1981). Marino also broke the single season touchdown passes mark by throwing 48, a record that stood for 20 years until it was broken by the Colts Peyton Manning 49 touchdown passes in 2004.
| Who led the NFL in scoring during the 1988 regular season? | NFL 1980s
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Scott Norwood. Posting a league leading 129 points, Scott Norwood of the Buffalo Bills led the NFL during the 1988 regular season. Norwood is better remembered for missing the game-winning 47-yard field goal in Super Bowl XXV against the New York Giants as time expired. Jerry Rice led the NFL in scoring during the 1987 regular season with 138 points. Rice totaled only 60 points, on 10 total touchdowns in 1988. Gary Anderson, then kicking for the Pittsburgh Steelers finished 3rd in the NFL with 118 points. Anderson would go on to have an amazing 23 year career totaling 2,434 career points. Morten Andersen was kicking for the New Orleans Saints in 1988. He finished the season with 110 points.
| Who led the NFL in passing touchdowns, passing yards, and interceptions thrown during the 1983 NFL season? | NFL 1980s
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Lynn Dickey. Lynn Dickey of the Green Bay Packers passed for 4,458 yards, threw 32 touchdowns, and threw 29 interceptions. Perhaps a young Brett Favre was inspired by this truly unique statistical season. In 1983, Danny White of the Dallas Cowboys threw for 3,980 yards passing (3rd in the NFL), 29 touchdown tosses (tied for 2nd), and 23 interceptions (tied for 4th). Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Sipe threw for 3,566 yards (6th in the NFL), 26 touchdowns (tied for 4th), and 23 interceptions (tied for 4th). Bill Kenney of the Kansas City Chiefs threw for 4,348 yards (2nd in the NFL), 24 touchdown passes, and 18 interceptions.
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