{{More citations needed|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}} {{Infobox sports season | title = 1983 USFL season | image = File:Logo of the United States Football League.png | duration = March 6 – July 3, 1983 | finals_date = July 17, 1983 | finals_venue = Denver, Colorado | finals_champ = Michigan Panthers | nextseason_year = 1984 }} {{Location map+|USA|width=360|caption=''' USFL teams: 10px Pacific, 10px Central, 10px Atlantic'''|relief=no|places= {{Location map~|USA|label='''Breakers'''|position=top|mark=Green pog.svg|lat=42.353 |long=-71.119}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Federals'''|position=bottom|mark=Green pog.svg|lat=38.89 |long=-76.972}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Generals'''|position=right|mark=Green pog.svg|lat=40.812 |long=-74.077}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Stars'''|position=left|mark=Green pog.svg|lat=39.907 |long=-75.171}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Bandits'''|position=bottom|mark=Yellow ffff00 pog.svg|lat=27.979 |long=-82.504}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Blitz'''|position=left|mark=Yellow ffff00 pog.svg|lat=41.862 |long=-87.617}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Panthers'''|position=top|mark=Yellow ffff00 pog.svg|lat=42.646 |long=-83.255}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Stallions'''|position=bottom|mark=Yellow ffff00 pog.svg|lat=33.511 |long=-86.843}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Express'''|position=top|mark=Blue pog.svg|lat=34.014 |long=-118.288}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Gold'''|position=bottom|mark=Blue pog.svg|lat=39.746 |long=-105.022}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Invaders'''|position=top|mark=Blue pog.svg|lat=37.752 |long=-122.201}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Wranglers'''|position=bottom|mark=Blue pog.svg|lat=33.426 |long=-111.933}} }}
The '''1983 USFL season''' was the inaugural season of the United States Football League.
==Rules differences from NFL== *Optional 2 point conversion after touchdown (the NFL would add this rule in 1994). *Optional 1 inch kicking tee for extra points and field goal attempts. *Clock stop on first downs within the last 2 minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters. *Intentional and unintentional pass interference. *Six member officiating crew (no side judge). *The USFL game ball was {{frac|3|8}} inch (1 cm) shorter than the NFL game ball (both made by Wilson). *There were no preseason games.
==Expansion cities for 1984== During the 1983 season, the USFL announced expansion cities for the 1984 season. *Pittsburgh April 28<ref>{{Cite news |date=Apr 29, 1983 |title=Pittsburgh Gets USFL Team |page=14B |pages= |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19830429&id=veQbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a2gEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5226,7471431&hl=en}}</ref> *San Diego May 16;<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 17, 1983 |title=San Diego gets USFL franchise |pages=15 |work=The Times-News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19830517&id=GWYcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RE4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6691,2303316&hl=en}}</ref> moved to Tulsa July 7<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 8, 1983 |title=Tulsa awarded new USFL franchise after San Diego spurns proposal |pages=8 |work=The Nevada Daily Mail |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1908&dat=19830708&id=ZlUrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TtQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1359,516249&hl=en}}</ref> *Houston May 19<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 20, 1983 |title=USFL Selects Houston For Expansion Team |page=4B |pages= |work=The Victoria Advocate |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19830520&id=8cgbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-1cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4421,4819165&hl=en}}</ref> *Jacksonville June 14<ref>{{Cite news |date=Jun 15, 1983 |title=Jacksonville Gets USFL Team For 1984 Season |page=8C |work=Ocala Star-Banner |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19830615&id=bsswAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ygUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2061,2557978&hl=en}}</ref> *San Antonio July 11<ref>{{Cite news |date=Jul 12, 1983 |title=San Antonio Gets USFL Team |page=3B |work=Gainesville Sun |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19830712&id=gMYxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=i-kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3270,3547019&hl=en}}</ref> *Memphis July 17<ref>{{Cite news |date=Jul 18, 1983 |title=Memphis Gets USFL Franchise |page=9B |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |agency=United Press International |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19830718&id=ZP4jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dmgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6632,5870623&hl=en}}</ref>
==Regular season== {{1983 USFL Atlantic standings}} {{1983 USFL Central standings}} {{1983 USFL Pacific standings}} ''Michigan won the tiebreaker with Chicago based on season series 2-0-0''
==Playoffs== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%" ! Away team !! Score !! Home team !! Date |- ! colspan=4 | Divisional playoffs |- | Chicago Blitz ||align=center|38–44 (OT)|| '''Philadelphia Stars''' || July 9, 1983 |- | Oakland Invaders ||align=center|21–37 || '''Michigan Panthers''' || July 10, 1983 |- ! colspan=4 | USFL Championship Game<br>{{small|Mile High Stadium, Denver Colorado}} |- | '''Michigan Panthers''' || align=center|24–22 || Philadelphia Stars || July 17, 1983 |}
{{4TeamBracket | RD1 = Division playoffs | RD1-seed1 = A1 | RD1-seed2 = C2 | RD1-seed3 = P1 | RD1-seed4 = C1 | RD1-team1 = '''Philadelphia''' | RD1-team2 = Chicago | RD1-score1 = '''44 (OT)''' | RD1-score2 = 38 | RD1-team3 = Oakland | RD1-team4 = '''Michigan''' | RD1-score3 = 21 | RD1-score4 = '''37'''
| RD2 = USFL Championship | RD2-seed1 = A1 | RD2-seed2 = C1 | RD2-team1 = Philadelphia | RD2-team2 = '''Michigan''' | RD2-score1 = 22 | RD2-score2 = '''24''' }} {{navbar|text=This bracket:|1983 USFL playoffs}}
==Statistics==
===1983 regular season stat leaders=== {| class="wikitable" |- style="background:#ffcbcb;" | colspan="12" style="text-align:center;"| '''1983 Passing Leaders (over 100 attempts)''' |- style="background:#efefef;" !Name, Team||Att||Comp||%||yards||YDs/Att||TD||TD %||Long||INT||INT %||Rating |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Bobby Hebert, MICH||451||257||57.0||3568||7.91||27||6.0||t81||17||3.8||86.8 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Fred Besana, OAK||550||345||62.7||3980||7.24||21||3.8||t80||16||2.9||85.1 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Greg Landry, CHIC||334||188||56.3||2383||7.13||16||4.8||52||9||2.7||83.5 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Jimmy Jordan, TB||238||145||60.9||1831||7.69||14||5.9||49||14||5.9||80.0 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Chuck Fusina, PHIL||421||238||56.5||2718||6.46||15||3.6||52||10||2.4||78.1 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Alan Risher, ARIZ||424||236||55.7||2672||6.30||20||4.7||t98||16||3.8||74.7 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Johnnie Walton, BOS||589||330||56.0||3772||6.40||20||3.4||t86||18||3.1||74.0 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Mike Rae, LA||319||175||54.9||1964||6.16||11||3.4||t61||10||3.1||71.9 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Mike Hohensee, WASH||190||92||48.4||1297||6.83||9||4.7||t80||7||3.7||71.3 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Bobby Scott, NJ/CHIC||374||210||56.1||2813||7.52||11||2.9||t65||19||5.1||68.9 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Tom Ramsey, LA||307||160||52.1||1975||6.43||13||4.2||t82||14||4.6||67.4 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Mike Kelley, TB||166||81||48.8||1003||6.04||4||2.4||43||5||3.0||63.4 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Bob Lane, BIRM||346||175||50.6||2264||6.54||14||4.0||53||18||5.2||63.3 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Kim McQuilken, WASH||334||188||56.3||1912||5.72||7||2.1||55||14||4.2||62.4 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|John Reaves, TB||259||139||53.7||1726||6.66||9||3.5||51||16||6.2||60.4 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Ken Johnson, DENV||248||121||48.8||1115||4.50||6||2.4||t56||12||4.8||49.4 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Joe Gilliam, WASH||102||40||39.2||673||6.60||5||4.9||t52||12||11.8||39.0 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Reggie Collier, BIRM||108||47||43.5||604||5.59||1||0.9||t46||7||6.5||37.7 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Dan Manucci, ARIZ||119||52||43.7||577||4.85||2||1.7||t48||8||6.7||36.3 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|Jeff Knapple, DENV/NJ||213||105||49.3||1191||5.59||3||1.4||41||19||8.9||34.0 |}
{| class="wikitable" |- style="background:#ffcbcb;" | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| '''1983 Rushing leaders''' |- style="background:#efefef;" !POS Name, Team!!Att!!Yds!!Avg.!!Long!!TDs |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Herschel Walker, NJ||412||1812||4.4||t83||17 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Kelvin Bryant, PHIL||318||1442||4.5||45||16 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Ken Lacy, MI||232||1180||5.1||59||6 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Tim Spencer, CHIC||300||1157||3.9||25||6 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Arthur Whittington, OAK||282||1043||3.7||24||6 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Kevin Long, CHIC||262||1022||3.9||33||12 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Richard Crump, BOS||190||990||5.2||62||8 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Ken Talton, BIRM||228||907||4.0||28||5 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Craig James, WASH||202||823||4.1||24||4 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Harry Sydney, DENV||176||801||4.6||45||9 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Billy Taylor, WASH||171||757||4.4||34||5 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Calvin Murray, ARIZ||179||699||3.9||34||4 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Greg Boone, TB||174||694||4.0||21||5 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Allen Harvin, PHIL||139||681||4.9||49||7 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Larry Canada, DENV||142||631||4.4||t24||3 |}
{| class="wikitable" |- style="background:#ffcbcb;" | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| '''1983 Receiving Leaders''' |- style="background:#efefef;" !POS Name, Team||Rec||Yds||Avg.||Long||TDs |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|WR Trumaine Johnson, CHIC||81||1322||16.3||56||10 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|WR Danny Buggs, TB||76||1146||15.1||51||5 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|WR Ricky Ellis, LA||69||716||10.4||36||6 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|TE Raymond Chester, OAK||68||951||14.0||57||5 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|WR Eric Truvillion, TB||66||1080||16.4||46||15 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Arthur Whittington, OAK||66||584||8.8||3.7||2 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|TE Mark Keel, ARIZ||65||802||12.3||27||2 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Billy Taylor, WASH||64||523||8.2||55||2 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|WR Joey Walters, WASH||63||959||15.2||42||6 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|WR Jackie Flowers, ARIZ||63||869||13.8||t98||11 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|WR Neil Balholm, ARIZ||63||703||11.2||27||5 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|WR Nolan Franz, BOS||62||848||13.7||50||4 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|WR Gordon Banks, OAK||61||855||14.0||41||2 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|TE Michael Cobb, MICH||61||746||12.2||31||5 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|WR Anthony Carter, MICH||60||1181||19.7||t81||9 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|WR Scott Fitzkee, PHIL||55||731||13.3||44||3 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|WR Charles Smith, BOS||54||1009||18.7||t58||5 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|WR Wyatt Henderson, OAK||54||801||14.8||t53||9 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Herschel Walker, NJ||53||489||9.2||t65||1 |- style="text-align:center;" |align="left"|HB Kelvin Bryant, PHIL||53||410||7.7||50||1 |}
==Awards== === Offense === {|class="wikitable" !Position !Player(s) |- |style="text-align:center"|Quarterback |{{Small|11}} Bobby Hebert, Michigan Panthers |- |style="text-align:center"|Running back |{{Small|34}} Herschel Walker, New Jersey Generals<br>{{Small|44}} Kelvin Bryant, Philadelphia Stars |- |style="text-align:center"|Wide receiver |{{Small|2}} Trumaine Johnson, Chicago Blitz<br>{{Small|84}} Eric Truvillion, Tampa Bay Bandits |- |style="text-align:center"|Tight end |{{Small|87}} Raymond Chester, Oakland Invaders |- |style="text-align:center"|Offensive tackle |{{Small|75}} Irv Eatman, Philadelphia Stars<br>{{Small|74}} Ray Pinney, Michigan Panthers |- |style="text-align:center"|Guard |{{Small|78}} Buddy Aydelette, Birmingham Stallions<br>{{Small|63}} Thom Dornbrook, Michigan Panthers |- |style="text-align:center"|Center |{{Small|67}} Bob Van Duyne, Tampa Bay Bandits |}
=== Defense === {|class="wikitable" !Position !Player(s) |- |style="text-align:center"|Defensive end |{{Small|79}} Mike Raines, Birmingham Stallions<br>{{Small|70}} Kit Lathrop, Chicago Blitz |- |style="text-align:center"|Defensive tackle |{{Small|68}} Fred Nordgren, Tampa Bay Bandits |- |style="text-align:center"|Linebacker |{{Small|57}} John Corker, Michigan Panthers<br>{{Small|52}} Stan White, Chicago Blitz<br>{{Small|54}} Sam Mills, Philadelphia Stars<br>{{Small|56}} Marcus Marek, Boston Breakers |- |style="text-align:center"|Cornerback |{{Small|33}} Jeff George, Tampa Bay Bandits<br>{{Small|34}} David Martin, Denver Gold |- |style="text-align:center"|Safety |{{Small|27}} Luther Bradley, Chicago Blitz<br>{{Small|25}} Scott Woerner, Philadelphia Stars |}
=== Special teams === {|class="wikitable" !Position !Player(s) |- |style="text-align:center"|Kicker |{{Small|5}} Tim Mazzetti, Boston Breakers |- |style="text-align:center"|Punter |{{Small|10}} Stan Talley, Oakland Invaders |- |style="text-align:center"|Kickoff returner |{{Small|40}} Eric Robinson, Washington Federals |- |style="text-align:center"|Punt returner |{{Small|34}} David Martin, Denver Gold |}
===Season awards=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! Award !! Winner !! Position !! Team |- | USFL Most Valuable Player || Kelvin Bryant || RB || Philadelphia Stars |- | USFL Most Valuable Player (AP) || Kelvin Bryant || RB || Philadelphia Stars |- | USFL Player of the Year (TSN) || Bobby Hebert || QB || Michigan Panthers |- | USFL Man of the Year || Raymond Chester || WR || Oakland Invaders |- | USFL Coach of the Year || Dick Coury || Head coach || Boston Breakers |- | USFL Coach of the Year (TSN) || Dick Coury || Head coach || Boston Breakers |- | USFL Outstanding Running Back || Herschel Walker || RB || New Jersey Generals |- | USFL Outstanding Quarterback || Bobby Hebert || QB || Michigan Panthers |- | USFL Leading Scorer Award || David Trout || K || Philadelphia Stars |- | USFL Leading Receiver || Trumaine Johnson || WR || Chicago Blitz |- | USFL Defensive Player of the Year || John Corker || LB || Michigan Panthers |- | USFL Outstanding Lineman || Kit Lathrop || DL || Chicago Blitz |- | Special Teams Player of the Year || Stan Talley || P || Oakland Invaders |- | USFL Executive of the Year (TSN) || Carl Peterson || General manager || Philadelphia Stars |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==See also== * 1983 NFL season
{{1983 USFL season}} {{USFL}}
Category:1983 USFL season United States Football League 1983