National Football League (NFL)

1973 NFL Season Overview

National Football League (NFL)

1973 NFL Season Overview

Leagues / Football / NFL / 1973 / Season Overview

Rozelle announced that all Super Bowl VII tickets were sold and that the game would be telecast in Los Angeles, the site of the game, on an experimental basis, January 3. Miami defeated Washington 14-7 in Super Bowl VII at Los Angeles, completing a 17-0 season, the first perfect-record regular-season and postseason mark in NFL history, January 14. The NBC telecast was viewed by approximately 75 million people. The AFC defeated the NFC 33-28 in the Pro Bowl in Dallas, the first time since 1942 that the game was played outside Los Angeles, January 21. A jersey numbering system was adopted, April 5: 1-19 for quarterbacks and specialists, 20-49 for running backs and defensive backs, 50-59 for centers and linebackers, 60-79 for defensive linemen and interior offensive linemen other than centers, and 80-89 for wide receivers and tight ends. Players who had been in the NFL in 1972 could continue to use old numbers. NFL Charities, a nonprofit organi-zation, was created to derive an income from monies generated from NFL Properties' licensing of NFL trademarks and team names, June 26. NFL Charities was set up to support education and charitable activities and to supply economic support to persons formerly associated with professional football who were no longer able to support themselves. Congress adopted experimental legislation (for three years) requiring any NFL game that had been declared a sellout 72 hours prior to kickoff to be made available for local televising, September 14. The legislation pro- vided for an annual review to be made by the Federal Communications Commission. The Buffalo Bills moved their home games from War Memorial Stadium to Rich Stadium in nearby Orchard Park. The Giants tied the Eagles 23-23 in the final game in Yankee Stadium, September 23. The Giants played the rest of their home games at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut. A rival league, the World Football League, was formed and was reported in operation, October 2. It had plans to start play in 1974. O.J. Simpson of Buffalo became the first player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season, gaining 2,003.

1973 NFL Champions

Miami Dolphins

defeated Minnesota Vikings

Commissioner Pete Rozelle

Union Director Ed Garvey

Players' President Bill Curry

1973 NFL Draft

Pick Player Team

1 John Matuszak DE Oilers

2 Bert Jones QB Colts

3 Jerry Sisemore T Eagles

4 John Hannah G Patriots

5 Dave Butz DT Cardinals

View Entire 1973 NFL Draft

1973 NFL Draft

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