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1985 USFL season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| title | 1985 USFL season |
| image | File:Logo of the United States Football League.png |
| duration | February 23 – June 24, 1985 |
| conf1 | Eastern Conference champions (regular season) |
| conf1_champ | Birmingham Stallions |
| conf2 | Western Conference champions (regular season) |
| conf2_champ | Oakland Invaders |
| finals_date | July 14, 1985 |
| finals_venue | Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. |
| finals_champ | Baltimore Stars |
| prevseason_year | [1984](1984-usfl-season) |
| nextseason_year | [1986 (cancelled)](1986-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*
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | Stadium | 1985 Capacity | Avg. Att. | Avg. % Filled | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Birmingham Stallions | 13 | 5 | 0 | .722 | 436 | 299 | Legion Field | 77,000 | 32,065 | 42% | Rollie Dotsch |
| x-New Jersey Generals | 11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 418 | 378 | Giants Stadium | 76,891 | 41,268 | 54% | Walt Michaels |
| x-Memphis Showboats | 11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 429 | 337 | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium | 50,180 | 30,948 | 62% | Pepper Rodgers |
| x-Baltimore Stars | 10 | 7 | 1 | .583 | 368 | 260 | Byrd Stadium | 51,500 | 14,275 | 28% | Jim Mora |
| x-Tampa Bay Bandits | 10 | 8 | 0 | .556 | 405 | 422 | Tampa Stadium | 72,812 | 45,220 | 62% | Steve Spurrier |
| Jacksonville Bulls | 9 | 9 | 0 | .500 | 407 | 402 | Gator Bowl Stadium | 80,100 | 44,325 | 55% | Lindy Infante |
| Orlando Renegades | 5 | 13 | 0 | .278 | 308 | 481 | Orlando Stadium | 52,000 | 24,136 | 46% | Lee Corso |
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | Stadium | 1985 Capacity | Avg. Att. | Avg. % Filled | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Oakland Invaders | 13 | 4 | 1 | .750 | 473 | 359 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 54,615 | 17,509 | 32% | Charlie Sumner |
| x-Denver Gold | 11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 433 | 389 | Mile High Stadium | 75,123 | 14,446 | 19% | Darrell "Mouse" Davis |
| x-Houston Gamblers | 10 | 8 | 0 | .556 | 544 | 388 | Houston Astrodome | 47,695 | 19,120 | 40% | Jack Pardee |
| Arizona Outlaws | 8 | 10 | 0 | .444 | 376 | 405 | Sun Devil Stadium | 70,030 | 17,881 | 26% | Frank Kush |
| Portland Breakers | 6 | 12 | 0 | .333 | 275 | 422 | Civic Stadium | 32,500 | 19,919 | 61% | Dick Coury |
| San Antonio Gunslingers | 5 | 13 | 0 | .278 | 296 | 436 | Alamo Stadium | 32,000 | 11,721 | 37% | Jim Bates/Gil Steinke |
| Los Angeles Express | 3 | 15 | 0 | .167 | 266 | 456 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 94,000 | 8,415 | 9% | John Hadl |
New Jersey finished ahead of Memphis based on a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage (2-0-0).
Playoffs
| Away team | Score | Home team | Date | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | USFL Championship Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey | ||||||
| Houston Gamblers | 20-22 | **Birmingham Stallions** | June 29, 1985 | |||
| Denver Gold | 7-48 | **Memphis Showboats** | June 29, 1985 | |||
| Tampa Bay Bandits | 27-30 | **Oakland Invaders** | June 30, 1985 | |||
| **Baltimore Stars** | 20-17 | New Jersey Generals | July 1, 1985 | |||
| **Baltimore Stars** | 28-14 | Birmingham Stallions | July 6, 1985 | |||
| **Oakland Invaders** | 28-19 | Memphis Showboats | July 7, 1985 | |||
| **Baltimore Stars** | 28-24 | Oakland Invaders | July 14, 1985 |
| score-width = | team-width =
| RD1-seed1 = W3 | RD1-team1 = Houston | RD1-score1 = 20 | RD1-seed2 = E1 | RD1-team2 = Birmingham | RD1-score2 = 22
| RD1-seed3 = E4 | RD1-team3 = Baltimore | RD1-score3 = 20 | RD1-seed4 = E2 | RD1-team4 = New Jersey | RD1-score4 = 17
| RD1-seed5 = E5 | RD1-team5 = Tampa Bay | RD1-score5 = 27 | RD1-seed6 = W1 | RD1-team6 = Oakland | RD1-score6 = 30
| RD1-seed7 = W2 | RD1-team7 = Denver | RD1-score7 = 7 | RD1-seed8 = E3 | RD1-team8 = Memphis | RD1-score8 = 48
| RD2-seed1 = E1 | RD2-team1 = Birmingham | RD2-score1 = 14 | RD2-seed2 = E4 | RD2-team2 = Baltimore | RD2-score2 = 28
| RD2-seed3 = W1 | RD2-team3 = Oakland | RD2-score3 = 28 | RD2-seed4 = E3 | RD2-team4 = Memphis | RD2-score4 = 19
| RD3-seed1 = E4 | RD3-team1 = Baltimore | RD3-score1 = 28 | RD3-seed2 = W1 | RD3-team2 = Oakland | RD3-score2 = 24
Statistics
1985 regular season stat leaders
| Name, Team | Att | Comp | % | yards | YDs/Att | TD | TD % | INT | INT % | Rating | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walter Lewis, MEM | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jim Kelly, HOU | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fred Besana, OAK | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Brian Sipe, JACK | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cliff Stoudt, BIRM | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tim Riordan, BAL | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bobby Hebert, OAK | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Chuck Fusina, BAL | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mike Kelley, MEM | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bob Lane, BIRM | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Doug Williams, ARZ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bob Gagliano, DENV | ||||||||||||||||||||
| John Reaves, TB | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ed Luther, JACK | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Todd Dillon, HOU | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rick Neuheisel, SA | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Doug Flutie, NJ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rick Johnson, ARZ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Reggie Collier, ORL | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Vince Evans, DENV | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Steve Young, LA | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Matt Robinson, POR | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Buck Belue, JACK | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jerry Golsteyn, ORL | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jimmy Jordan, TB | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Doug Woodward, POR | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Frank Seurer, LA | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fred Mortensen, SA |
| Name, Team | Att | Yds | Ave. | TDs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herschel Walker, NJ | ||||||||
| Mike Rozier, JACK | ||||||||
| Bill Johnson, DENV | ||||||||
| Kelvin Bryant, BAL | ||||||||
| Gary Anderson, TB | ||||||||
| Joe Cribbs, BIRM | ||||||||
| Otis Brown, AZ | ||||||||
| Albert Bentley, OAK | ||||||||
| John Williams, OAK | ||||||||
| Buford Jordan, PORT | ||||||||
| Tim Spencer, MEM | ||||||||
| Curtis Bledsoe, ORL | ||||||||
| Maurice Carthon, NJ | ||||||||
| Reggie Collier, ORL | ||||||||
| Walter Lewis, MEM | ||||||||
| Greg Boone, TB | ||||||||
| Allen Harvin, BAL | ||||||||
| George Works, SA | ||||||||
| Mel Gray, LA |
| Name, Team | Rec | Yds | Ave. | TDs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Johnson, HOU | ||||||||
| Leonard Harris, DENV | ||||||||
| Jim Smith, BIRM | ||||||||
| Clarence Verdin, HOU | ||||||||
| Alton Alexis, JACK | ||||||||
| Marc Lewis, DENV | ||||||||
| Scott Fitzkee, BAL | ||||||||
| Gary Anderson, TB | ||||||||
| Derrick Crawford, MEM | ||||||||
| Anthony Carter, OAK | ||||||||
| Larry Brodsky, TB | ||||||||
| Gordon Banks, OAK | ||||||||
| Perry Kemp, JACK | ||||||||
| Marvin Harvey, TB | ||||||||
| Gerald McNeil, HOU | ||||||||
| Joey Walters, ORL | ||||||||
| Greg Moser, MEM | ||||||||
| Vincent White, DENV | ||||||||
| Alphonso Williams, AZ | ||||||||
| Mark Keel, JACK | ||||||||
| Don Roberts, SA | ||||||||
| Sam Harrell, HOU | ||||||||
| Greg Anderson, AZ | ||||||||
| Mike Rozier, JACK | ||||||||
| JoJo Townsell, LA | ||||||||
| Derek Holloway, OAK | ||||||||
| Jerry Gordon, SA | ||||||||
| Ken Dunek, BAL | ||||||||
| Frank Lockett, PORT/SA | ||||||||
| Joey Jones, BIRM | ||||||||
| Jeff Smith, ORL | ||||||||
| Dan Ross, PORT |
1985 USFL regular season sortable offensive team statistics
| Team | Pts. | Ave. | Rank | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yards | Ave. | Rank | Rush. | |||||||||
| Yards | Ave. | Rank | Pass. | |||||||||
| Yards | Ave. | Rank | ||||||||||
| Houston | 544 | 30.2 | 1 | 7032 | 391 | 1 | 1192 | 66 | 14 | 5840 | 324 | 1 |
| Oakland | 473 | 26.3 | 2 | 6354 | 353 | 4 | 2362 | 131 | 5 | 3992 | 222 | 4 |
| Birmingham | 436 | 24.2 | 3 | 5852 | 325 | 8 | 2463 | 137 | 3 | 3389 | 188 | 9 |
| Denver | 433 | 24.1 | 4 | 6629 | 368 | 3 | 2079 | 116 | 7 | 4550 | 253 | 3 |
| Memphis | 429 | 23.8 | 5 | 6201 | 345 | 5 | 2775 | 154 | 2 | 3426 | 190 | 8 |
| New Jersey | 418 | 23.2 | 6 | 6149 | 342 | 6 | 3763 | 209 | 1 | 2386 | 133 | 14 |
| Jacksonville | 407 | 22.6 | 7 | 5752 | 320 | 10 | 1998 | 111 | 11 | 3754 | 209 | 6 |
| Tampa Bay | 405 | 22.5 | 8 | 6709 | 373 | 2 | 2070 | 115 | 8 | 4639 | 258 | 2 |
| Arizona | 376 | 20.9 | 9 | 5804 | 322 | 9 | 2019 | 112 | 10 | 3785 | 210 | 5 |
| Baltimore | 368 | 20.4 | 10 | 5926 | 329 | 7 | 2420 | 134 | 4 | 3506 | 195 | 7 |
| Orlando | 308 | 17.1 | 11 | 4611 | 256 | 13 | 1818 | 101 | 12 | 2793 | 155 | 12 |
| San Antonio | 296 | 16.4 | 12 | 4597 | 255 | 14 | 1777 | 99 | 13 | 2820 | 157 | 11 |
| Portland | 275 | 15.3 | 13 | 5029 | 279 | 11 | 2041 | 113 | 9 | 2988 | 166 | 10 |
| Los Angeles | 266 | 14.8 | 14 | 4707 | 262 | 12 | 2087 | 116 | 6 | 2620 | 146 | 13 |
1985 USFL regular season sortable defensive team statistics
| Team | Pts. | Ave. | Rank | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yards | Ave. | Rank | Rush. | |||||||||
| Yards | Ave. | Rank | Pass. | |||||||||
| Yards | Ave. | Rank | ||||||||||
| Baltimore | 260 | 14.4 | 1 | 5291 | 294 | 2 | 2045 | 114 | 6 | 3246 | 180 | 3 |
| Birmingham | 299 | 16.6 | 2 | 4829 | 268 | 1 | 1807 | 100 | 1 | 3022 | 168 | 1 |
| Memphis | 337 | 18.7 | 3 | 5327 | 296 | 3 | 1897 | 105 | 3 | 3430 | 191 | 5 |
| Oakland | 359 | 19.9 | 4 | 5584 | 310 | 5 | 1832 | 102 | 2 | 3752 | 208 | 10 |
| New Jersey | 378 | 21.0 | 5 | 5685 | 316 | 7 | 1959 | 109 | 5 | 3726 | 207 | 9 |
| Houston | 388 | 21.6 | 6 | 6298 | 350 | 13 | 2168 | 120 | 8 | 4130 | 229 | 13 |
| Denver | 389 | 21.6 | 7 | 5924 | 329 | 8 | 2172 | 121 | 9 | 3752 | 208 | 11 |
| Jacksonville | 402 | 22.3 | 8 | 6121 | 340 | 10 | 2559 | 142 | 13 | 3562 | 198 | 7 |
| Arizona | 405 | 22.5 | 9 | 5518 | 307 | 4 | 2291 | 127 | 10 | 3227 | 179 | 2 |
| Tampa Bay | 422 | 23.4 | 10 | 5949 | 331 | 9 | 2390 | 133 | 12 | 3559 | 198 | 6 |
| Portland | 422 | 23.4 | 11 | 6177 | 343 | 11 | 2344 | 130 | 11 | 3833 | 213 | 12 |
| San Antonio | 436 | 24.2 | 12 | 5645 | 314 | 6 | 1949 | 108 | 4 | 3696 | 205 | 8 |
| Los Angeles | 456 | 25.3 | 13 | 6273 | 349 | 12 | 2132 | 118 | 7 | 4141 | 230 | 14 |
| Orlando | 481 | 26.7 | 14 | 6731 | 374 | 14 | 3319 | 184 | 14 | 3412 | 190 | 4 |
Awards
1985 USFL All-League Team
- 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 Second Team
- WR Anthony Carter, OAKL
- WR Leonard Harris, DENV
- TE Dan Ross, PORT
- T Pat Phenix, BIRM
- T Dan Fike, TB
- G Alvin Powell, AZ
- G Chuck Commusky, BAL
- C Jim Leonard, OAKL
- QB Cliff Stoudt, BIRM
- RB Bill Johnson, DENV
- RB Mike Rozier, JACK
- DE Keith Millard, JACK
- DE Pete Catan, HOU
- LB Bill Roe, BIRM
- LB Herb Spencer, BIRM
- LB Ray Bentley, OAKL
- CB Vito McKeever, OAKL
- CB Jonathan Sutton, BAL
- S Luther Bradley, HOU
- S Vic Monor, SA
- K Toni Fritsch, HOU
- P Greg Carter, ORL
- KR Jerry Parish, ORL
- PR Thad McFadden, BIRM 1985 The Sporting News USFL All-Star Team
- 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
References
References
- "Archives".
- "Archives".
- "Park City Daily News - Google News Archive Search".
- Mizell, Hubert. (30 April 1985). "By its own hand, USFL will fall into oblivion". St. Petersburg Times.
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