1994 NFL season

1994 National Football League season

NFL 75th season anniversary logo
Regular season
Duration	September 4, 1994 – December 26, 1994
Playoffs
Start date	December 31, 1994
AFC Champions	San Diego Chargers
NFC Champions	San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XXIX
Date	January 29, 1995
Site	Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida
Champions	San Francisco 49ers
Pro Bowl
Date	February 5, 1995
Site	Aloha Stadium
← 1993 NFL seasons 1995 →

The 1994 NFL season was the 75th regular season of the National Football League. To honor the NFL's 75th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season. Also, a selection committee of media and league personnel named a special NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, honoring the best NFL players from the first 75 seasons.

The Phoenix Cardinals changed their name to “Arizona Cardinals” in an attempt to widen their appeal to the entire state of Arizona instead of just the Phoenix area. The name was initially resisted by Bill Bidwill.

The Seattle Seahawks played their first three regular season home games at Husky Stadium because the Kingdome, the Seahawks' regular home field, was undergoing repairs for damaged tiles on its roof. The Seahawks returned for the 2000 and 2001 seasons while their new stadium was under construction.

This marked the last season until 2016 that the city of Los Angeles had an NFL team and the last one until 2017 that the city had two. Both the Rams and the Raiders left the city following the season. The Rams moved east to St. Louis, Missouri after being in Los Angeles for 49 years, while the Raiders left after twelve seasons to return to their previous home in Oakland, California. The Rams eventually returned in 2016 after failing to reach an agreement with St. Louis on a new stadium.

This was also the first season that the then eight-year old Fox network televised NFL games. Fox took over the National Football Conference package from CBS, who would return to televising the NFL in 1998. The league also signed an exclusivity agreement with the new direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service DirecTV to launch NFL Sunday Ticket, a satellite television subscription service that offers every regular season NFL game. The package remains exclusive to DirecTV to this day.

The season ended with Super Bowl XXIX when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers 49–26 at Joe Robbie Stadium. Both teams had met that regular season, the second straight season that had happened, and ninth time overall.

Even though the 1994 World Series was canceled, the NFL ultimately decided not to reschedule its Thursday night contests in October for Sunday, even though they wouldn't have competed with baseball those nights.

This was also the first year of the current practice of whenever Christmas Day falls on a Sunday that most of that weekend's games were played on the Saturday afternoon of Christmas Eve. Every NFL season afterwards with Christmas Day on a Sunday has followed this same scheduling format. (Prior to the 1990 introduction of the bye week, Christmas had fallen within the postseason. In years in which Christmas was on a Sunday, that weekend's games would be split between Saturday December 24 and Monday December 26.)

1994 would also be the first season in which the NFL instituted a salary cap.

Contents

• 
  1 Major rule changes
  


• 
  2 Throwback jerseys
  


• 
  3 Final regular season standings
  
  
  
  • 
    3.1 Tiebreakers
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  4 Playoffs
  


• 
  5 Coaching changes
  
  
  
  • 
    5.1 In-season
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  6 Statistical leaders
  
  
  
  • 
    6.1 Team
    
  
  
  • 
    6.2 Individual
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  7 Awards
  


• 
  8 Draft
  


• 
  9 Coaches
  
  
  
  • 
    9.1 American Football Conference
    
  
  
  • 
    9.2 National Football Conference
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  10 External links
  


• 
  11 References
  

Major rule changes

A package of changes were adopted to increase offensive production and scoring:

• The two-point conversion after touchdowns is adopted.


• The spot of the kickoff is moved from the 35-yard line to the 30-yard line. This rule change would be reverted prior to the 2011 season.


• The “neutral zone infraction” foul is adopted. A play is automatically dead before the snap when a defensive player enters the neutral zone and causes an offensive player to react.


• After a field goal is missed, the defensive team takes possession of the ball at the spot of the kick (instead of at the line of scrimmage) or the 20-yard line, whichever is farther from the goal line.


• During field goal attempts and extra point tries, players on the receiving team cannot block below the waist.


• The referee shall announce the end of each period on his microphone. Prior to 1994, an official (the line judge from 1965 up to 1993) fired a starter's pistol to signal the end of a period.

Throwback jerseys

The league also honored its 75th season by having each team wear throwback uniforms during selected games. The designs varied widely in their accuracy; many of them were not completely accurate for a number of reasons:

• Although no attempt was made to simulate obsolete leather helmets (which were phased out in the 1950s), teams simulating uniforms from the era of leather headgear (Bears, Cardinals, Lions, Packers, Redskins, Steelers) simply removed all decals and striping from their regular hard-shell helmets.


• All jerseys displayed the players' last names on the back, though this practice did not become standard until 1970.^[1]
  


• The Buffalo Bills and New York Jets' otherwise accurate throwbacks used different colored helmets than their historic uniforms used, being red and green, respectively, instead of white. The Dallas Cowboys wore their then-current helmets with their throwbacks. The Cowboys and the Bills would later adopt a more accurate representation of their 1960s throwbacks as their alternative uniform, while the Jets would move to a style similar to their throwbacks but with a darker shade of green and green facemasks full-time in 1998.


• In some instances the fonts and typestyles used were only approximate matches at best. The San Diego Chargers and Houston Oilers’ throwbacks averted this, being completely accurate replications, including typefaces, of their first uniforms in 1960. The Chargers and the Oilers’ successors, the Tennessee Titans, wore these throwbacks again for the American Football League's 50th anniversary celebration during the 2009 season.

Some teams occasionally wore their throwbacks in additional games during the season, and the San Francisco 49ers wore them through the Super Bowl. They proved to be so popular that the New York Giants followed the lead of the Jets and eventually returned to wearing them full-time, with very slight modifications, in 2000. After the NFL modified its rules to allow teams to wear alternate jerseys in 2002, the San Diego Chargers selected their throwbacks as their third uniforms.

Final regular season standings

AFC East view talk edit W L T PCT PF PA STK (3)Miami Dolphins 10 6 0 .625 389 327 W1 (5)New England Patriots 10 6 0 .625 351 312 W7 Indianapolis Colts 8 8 0 .500 307 320 W2 Buffalo Bills 7 9 0 .438 340 356 L3 New York Jets 6 10 0 .375 264 320 L5 AFC Central view talk edit W L T PCT PF PA STK (1)Pittsburgh Steelers 12 4 0 .750 316 234 L1 (4)Cleveland Browns 11 5 0 .688 340 204 W1 Cincinnati Bengals 3 13 0 .188 276 406 W1 Houston Oilers 2 14 0 .125 226 352 W1 AFC West view talk edit W L T PCT PF PA STK (2)San Diego Chargers 11 5 0 .688 381 306 W2 (6)Kansas City Chiefs 9 7 0 .563 319 298 W2 Los Angeles Raiders 9 7 0 .563 303 327 L1 Denver Broncos 7 9 0 .438 347 396 L3 Seattle Seahawks 6 10 0 .375 287 323 L2

NFC East view talk edit W L T PCT PF PA STK (2)Dallas Cowboys 12 4 0 .750 414 248 L1 New York Giants 9 7 0 .563 279 305 W6 Arizona Cardinals 8 8 0 .500 235 267 L1 Philadelphia Eagles 7 9 0 .438 308 308 L7 Washington Redskins 3 13 0 .188 320 412 W1 NFC Central view talk edit W L T PCT PF PA STK (3)Minnesota Vikings 10 6 0 .625 356 314 W1 (4)Green Bay Packers 9 7 0 .563 382 287 W3 (5)Detroit Lions 9 7 0 .563 357 342 L1 (6)Chicago Bears 9 7 0 .563 271 307 L1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6 10 0 .375 251 351 L1 NFC West view talk edit W L T PCT PF PA STK (1)San Francisco 49ers 13 3 0 .813 505 296 L1 New Orleans Saints 7 9 0 .438 348 407 W1 Atlanta Falcons 7 9 0 .438 317 385 W1 Los Angeles Rams 4 12 0 .250 286 365 L7

Tiebreakers

• Miami finished ahead of New England in the AFC East based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).


• Kansas City finished ahead of L.A. Raiders in the AFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).


• Green Bay was the first NFC Wild Card based on best head-to-head record (3–1) vs. Detroit (2–2) and Chicago (1–3) and better conference record (8–4) than N.Y. Giants (6–6).


• Detroit was the second NFC Wild Card based on better division record (4–4) than Chicago (3–5) and head-to-head victory over N.Y. Giants (1–0).


• Chicago was the third NFC Wild Card based on better record against common opponents (4–4) than N.Y. Giants (3–5).


• New Orleans finished ahead of Atlanta in the NFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).

Playoffs

Main article: 1994–95 NFL playoffs

	Dec. 31 – Joe Robbie Stadium					Jan. 8 – Jack Murphy Stadium
	6	Kansas City	17
						3	Miami	21
	3	Miami	27								Jan. 15 – Three Rivers Stadium
						2	San Diego	22
						AFC
	Jan. 1 – Cleveland Stadium										2	San Diego	17
						Jan. 7 – Three Rivers Stadium
											1	Pittsburgh	13
	5	New England	13								AFC Championship
						4	Cleveland	9
	4	Cleveland	20													Jan. 29 – Joe Robbie Stadium
						1	Pittsburgh	29
	Wild card playoffs
						Divisional playoffs
	Dec. 31 – Lambeau Field															A2	San Diego	26
						Jan. 8 – Texas Stadium
																N1	San Francisco	49
	5	Detroit	12													Super Bowl XXIX
						4	Green Bay	9
	4	Green Bay	16								Jan. 15 – Candlestick Park
						2	Dallas	35
						NFC
	Jan. 1 – Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome										2	Dallas	28
						Jan. 7 – Candlestick Park
											1	San Francisco	38
	6	Chicago	35								NFC Championship
						6	Chicago	15
	3	Minnesota	18
						1	San Francisco	44

This box:

• view


• talk


• edit

Coaching changes

• 
  Arizona Cardinals: Buddy Ryan replaced the fired Joe Bugel.


• 
  Atlanta Falcons: June Jones replaced the fired Jerry Glanville.


• 
  Dallas Cowboys: Barry Switzer replaced Jimmy Johnson, who resigned in March 1994.


• 
  New York Jets: Pete Carroll replaced the fired Bruce Coslet.


• 
  Washington Redskins: Norv Turner replaced the fired Richie Petitbon.

In-season

• 
  Houston Oilers: Jack Pardee was fired after 10 games and was replaced by Jeff Fisher.

Statistical leaders

Team

Points scored	San Francisco 49ers (505)
Total yards gained	Miami Dolphins (6,078)
Yards rushing	Pittsburgh Steelers (2,180)
Yards passing	New England Patriots (4,444)
Fewest points allowed	Cleveland Browns (204)
Fewest total yards allowed	Dallas Cowboys (4,313)
Fewest rushing yards allowed	Minnesota Vikings (1,090)
Fewest passing yards allowed	Dallas Cowboys (2,752)

Individual

Scoring	John Carney, San Diego Chargers (135 points)
Touchdowns	Emmitt Smith, Dallas Cowboys (22 TDs)
Most field goals made	John Carney, San Diego Chargers, and Fuad Reveiz, Minnesota Vikings (34 FGs)
Rushing	Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions (1,883 yards)
Passing	Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers (112.8 rating)
Passing touchdowns	Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers (35 TDs)
Pass receiving	Cris Carter, Minnesota Vikings (122 catches)
Pass receiving yards	Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers (1,499)
Punt returns	Brian Mitchell, Washington Redskins (14.1 average yards)
Kickoff returns	Mel Gray, Detroit Lions (28.4 average yards)
Interceptions	Eric Turner, Cleveland Browns, and Aeneas Williams, Arizona Cardinals (9)
Punting	Sean Landeta, Los Angeles Rams (44.8 average yards)
Sacks	Kevin Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers (14)

Awards

Most Valuable Player	Steve Young, Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers
Coach of the Year	Bill Parcells, New England Patriots
Offensive Player of the Year	Barry Sanders, Running back, Detroit Lions
Defensive Player of the Year	Deion Sanders, Cornerback, San Francisco 49ers
Offensive Rookie of the Year	Marshall Faulk, Running back, Indianapolis Colts
Defensive Rookie of the Year	Tim Bowens, Defensive tackle, Miami Dolphins
Comeback Player of the Year	Dan Marino, Quarterback, Miami Dolphins
NFL Man of the Year Award	Junior Seau, Linebacker, San Diego Chargers
Super Bowl Most Valuable Player	Steve Young, Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers

Draft

The 1994 NFL Draft was held from April 24 to 25, 1994 at New York City's Marriott Marquis. With the first pick, the Cincinnati Bengals selected defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson from Ohio State University.

Coaches

American Football Conference

• 
  Buffalo Bills: Marv Levy
  


• 
  Cincinnati Bengals: Dave Shula
  


• 
  Cleveland Browns: Bill Belichick
  


• 
  Denver Broncos: Wade Phillips
  


• 
  Houston Oilers: Jack Pardee (10 games) and Jeff Fisher (6 games)


• 
  Indianapolis Colts: Ted Marchibroda
  


• 
  Kansas City Chiefs: Marty Schottenheimer
  


• 
  Los Angeles Raiders: Art Shell
  


• 
  Miami Dolphins: Don Shula
  


• 
  New England Patriots: Bill Parcells
  


• 
  New York Jets: Pete Carroll
  


• 
  Pittsburgh Steelers: Bill Cowher
  


• 
  San Diego Chargers: Bobby Ross
  


• 
  Seattle Seahawks: Tom Flores
  

National Football Conference

• 
  Arizona Cardinals: Buddy Ryan
  


• 
  Atlanta Falcons: June Jones
  


• 
  Chicago Bears: Dave Wannstedt
  


• 
  Dallas Cowboys: Barry Switzer
  


• 
  Detroit Lions: Wayne Fontes
  


• 
  Green Bay Packers: Mike Holmgren
  


• 
  Los Angeles Rams: Chuck Knox
  


• 
  Minnesota Vikings: Dennis Green
  


• 
  New Orleans Saints: Jim Mora
  


• 
  New York Giants: Dan Reeves
  


• 
  Philadelphia Eagles: Rich Kotite
  


• 
  San Francisco 49ers: George Seifert
  


• 
  Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sam Wyche
  


• 
  Washington Redskins: Norv Turner
  

External links

• Football Outsiders 1994 DVOA Ratings and Commentary

References

1. 
   ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 21, 2010. Retrieved 2008-10-01.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link).mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
   

• 
  NFL Record and Fact Book (
  ISBN 1-932994-36-X)


• 
  NFL History 1991–2000 (Last accessed October 17, 2005)


• 
  Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (
  ISBN 0-06-270174-6)


• 
  NFL 75th Anniversary Throwbacks (Archived 2009-10-21)

v t e 1994 NFL season
AFC East Central West East Central West NFC Buffalo Cincinnati Denver Arizona Chicago Atlanta Indianapolis Cleveland Kansas City Dallas Detroit LA Rams Miami Houston LA Raiders NY Giants Green Bay New Orleans New England Pittsburgh San Diego Philadelphia Minnesota San Francisco NY Jets Seattle Washington Tampa Bay
1994 NFL Draft NFL Playoffs Pro Bowl Super Bowl XXIX

v t e National Football League seasons
Early era (1920–1969)	1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
Modern era (1970–present)	1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

This page is only for reference, If you need detailed information, please check here