National Football League (NFL)

1965 NFL Season Overview

National Football League (NFL)

1965 NFL Season Overview

Leagues / Football / NFL / 1965 / Season Overview

The NFL teams pledged not to sign college seniors until completion of all their games, including bowl games, and empowered the Commissioner to discipline the clubs up to as much as the loss of an entire draft list for a violation of the pledge, February 15. The NFL added a sixth official, the line judge, February 19. The color of the officials' penalty flags was changed from white to bright gold, April 5. Atlanta was awarded an NFL franchise for 1966, with Rankin Smith, Sr., as owner, June 30. Miami was awarded an AFL franchise for 1966, with Joe Robbie and Danny Thomas as owners, August 16. Field Judge Burl Toler became the first black official in NFL history, September 19. According to a Harris survey, sports fans chose professional football (41 percent) as their favorite sport, overtaking baseball (38 percent) for the first time, October. Green Bay defeated Baltimore 13-10 in sudden-death overtime in a Western Conference playoff game. Don Chandler kicked a 25-yard field goal for the Packers after 13 minutes, 39 seconds of overtime, December 26. The Packers then defeated the Browns 23-12 in the NFL Championship Game, January 2. In the AFL Championship Game, the Bills again defeated the Chargers, 23-0, December 26. CBS acquired the rights to the NFL regular-season games in 1966 and 1967, with an option for 1968, for $18.8 million per year, December 29.

1965 NFL Champions

Green Bay Packers

defeated Cleveland Browns

Commissioner Pete Rozelle

Players' Attorney Creighton Miller

Players' President Ordell Braase

1965 NFL Draft

Pick Player Team

1 Tucker Frederickson RB Giants

1 Joe Namath QB Jets

2 Ken Willard RB 49ers

3 Dick Butkus LB Bears

4 Gale Sayers RB Bears

View Entire 1965 NFL Draft

1965 NFL Draft

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