The NFL in the '90s (2024)

FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-72 12/20/99

A DECADE TO REMEMBER: THE NFL IN THE ’90s

The Gulf War…Beanie Babies…the Internet.

All are symbolic of life in the 1990s, the last decade of the millennium.

NFL fans will remember the ’90s for "Wide right"…"TheTriplets"…2,000 yards…and "This one’s for John."

The decade will be remembered by players, coaches and fans for greatteams…outstanding players…and memorable milestones.

The Dallas Cowboys became the first team to win three Super Bowls in four years. TheDenver Broncos made a run at a perfect season in 1998 before winning their secondconsecutive Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers andWashington Redskins also won Super Bowls (the 49ers also won the 1989 Super Bowl, whichwas played in January 1990).

DAN MARINO became the all-time passing leader. JERRY RICE became theleague’s all-time leading receiver and touchdown scorer. TERRELL DAVIS and BARRYSANDERS each rushed for over 2,000 yards in a single season.

The NFL also experienced an almost annual attendance increase…15 new or renovatedstadiums…and a popularity growth that confirmed its status as America’s favoritesport.

Following is a look back at the NFL in the 1990s, concentrating on the decade’smemorable games, great players and off-field achievements (all active statistics arethrough Sunday of Week 15, 1999).

BEST TEAM RECORDS OF THE ’90s

(Regular season)

NFL LEADERS IN THE ’90s

TEAM OF THE '90s?

Which team will follow in the footsteps of the 1960s’ Packers, 1970s’Steelers and 1980s’ 49ers as the "Team of the 1990s?"

See Also

OTD: Giants defeat Bills in Super Bowl XXVMost Super Bowl Appearances By A Losing Quarterback For Buffalo Bills | StatMuseBuffalo Bills claim fourth consecutive AFC East titleThe Buffalo Bills had a run of Super Bowl appearances in the 1990s: Their title game past

Many teams can make a case. The Dallas Cowboys have won a league-high three Super Bowlsin the '90s. The Buffalo Bills played in four consecutive Super Bowls. The San Francisco49ers lead the league in regular-season winning percentage (.715). The Denver Broncos wontwo Super Bowl titles in a row.

Following is a chart of the "contenders" (listed alphabetically) for"Team of the ’90s" (* NFL leader):

10 MEMORABLE GAMES OF THE ’90s

(Listed chronologically)

SHOWDOWN

: The 10-1 New York Giants travel to San Francisco to face the 10-1 49ers for a Monday- night showdown. San Francisco’s JOE MONTANA completes a 23-yard pass to JOHN TAYLOR for the game’s only touchdown and a 7-3 49ers victory. The game receives a 26.9 rating, still the second-highest (29.6, Chicago at Miami, 12/2/85) in the 30-season history of Monday Night Football. (12/3/90)

Wide Right

: Super Bowl XXV provides needed relief from the Persian Gulf War and becomes one of the most suspenseful games in history. Buffalo's SCOTT NORWOOD narrowly misses a 47-yard field goal in the final seconds to give the Giants a second Super Bowl title. (1/27/91)

The Comeback

: Buffalo trails Houston 35-3 early in the third quarter of an AFC Wild Card game, but scores five unanswered TDs, taking a 38-35 lead. Houston ties the score and forces overtime, but Buffalo's STEVE CHRISTIE's 32-yard field goal wins the game, completing the greatest comeback in NFL history. (1/3/93)

Shoulder The Burden

: With the NFC East crown and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs at stake, Dallas’ EMMITT SMITH courageously rushes for 168 yards despite a separated shoulder. Smith also adds 61 yards receiving in the Cowboys' 16-13 overtime win over the Giants. (1/2/94)

Monday-Night Magic

: Denver’s JOHN ELWAY scores the apparent game-winning touchdown on a draw play with 1:29 remaining, but Kansas City quarterback JOE MONTANA completes seven of eight attempts while driving the Chiefs 75 yards for the winning five-yard TD pass with eight seconds left. (10/17/94)

Rivalry Of The ’90s

: In one of the most anticipated games of the decade, Dallas and San Francisco meet for the third consecutive year in the NFC title game. The 49ers jump out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead over the two-time defending Super Bowl champions and survive Dallas’ comeback to win 38-28. (1/15/95)

Four’s A Charm

: In the third quarter of Super Bowl XXXII, Denver’s JOHN ELWAY dives for a first down deep in Packers territory and is dramatically spun in the air like a helicopter when hit. Elway’s heroics lead to a TD and propel the Broncos to their first of two consecutive Super Bowl victories. (1/25/98)

Upset Special

: With the 13-0 Broncos chasing an undefeated season, the 5-8 New York Giants score on a 37-yard touchdown pass from KENT GRAHAM to AMANI TOOMER with 48 seconds left to defeat Denver 20-16. (12/13/98)

The Catch II

: Trailing Green Bay 27-23 in the final seconds of an NFC Wild Card game, 49ers quarterback STEVE YOUNG fires a 25-yard TD strike in between five Green Bay defenders to wide receiver TERRELL OWENS, who is simultaneously hit by two Packers. 49ers 30, Packers 27. (1/3/99)

OT in NFC

: Kicker MORTEN ANDERSEN’s 38-yard field goal 11:52 into overtime gives the Atlanta Falcons a 30-27 win over the Minnesota Vikings and their first-ever trip to the Super Bowl. The contest is the first NFC Championship Game to go into overtime since 1958. (1/16/99)

10 MILESTONES OF THE ’90s

(Listed chronologically)

• Winningest Coach

: DON SHULA becomes the NFL's all-time winningest coach when Miami defeats Philadelphia 19-14 for Shula’s 325th career win. Shula's first victory came when the Baltimore Colts defeated the San Francisco 49ers 20-14 on September 22, 1963. (11/14/93)

• All-Time TD
:

With a three-touchdown performance in 1994’s opening game, 49ers wide receiver JERRY RICE passes WALTER PAYTON (125) and JIM BROWN (126) to become the NFL’s all-time TD leader with 127. Rice outleaps two defenders for the record-breaking score. (9/5/94). (In 1995, Rice becomes the NFL’s career leader in catches and receiving yards.)

• Young Rates Best
:

San Francisco 49ers quarterback STEVE YOUNG sets a pair of NFL passing marks in 1994. His 112.8 passer rating is the best in league history. He also becomes the first quarterback in history to lead the NFL in passing in four consecutive seasons, posting ratings of 101.8, 107.0, 101.5 and 112.8 from 1991-94.

• Six Valuable Passes

: San Francisco 49ers quarterback STEVE YOUNG passes for a Super Bowl-record six touchdowns in the 49ers’ 49-26 win over San Diego in Super Bowl XXIX. Young is named MVP of the game. (1/29/95)

• Masterful Marino
: In Indianapolis, Dolphins quarterback DAN MARINO throws his 343rd career TD pass, breaking FRAN TARKENTON’s all-time record. It is one of four (attempts, completions and yards) Tarkenton career passing records that Marino breaks during the season. (11/26/95)

• Year of the Milestone
: In 1995, NFL teams break the 100,000-yard mark in passing (105,976) and 10,000-point barrier (10,314) for the first time in league history. NFL records are also set for 1,000-yard receivers (23), 300-yard passing games (80), and 100-yard receiving games (185). In addition, a record 21 contests go into overtime.

• NFL’s 10,000th game
: The 10,000th regular-season game in NFL history is played when the Seattle Seahawks defeat the Tennessee Oilers 16-13 at the Kingdome in Seattle. The game ball and jersey of winning quarterback WARREN MOON are sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (10/5/97)

• NFL Rookie Rushing -- Down Goes Brown
: Running back COREY DILLON, the Cincinnati Bengals’ second-round draft choice from Washington, registers the top rushing game of the season when he runs for 246 yards – surpassing the 237 yards of JIM BROWN on November 24, 1957 as the top single-game rushing performance by a rookie in NFL history. Dillon also ties a rookie mark with four rushing scores. (12/4/97)

• Beating the Calendar
: Running backs BARRY SANDERS of the Detroit Lions and TERRELL DAVIS of the Denver Broncos each reach the 2,000-yard rushing mark during the decade. In their final game of successive seasons – 1997 and 1998 – Sanders and Davis, respectively, become the third and fourth players in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. Sanders rushes for 184 yards to complete the season with 2,053 yards (12/21/97). Sanders’ final ’97 performance also marks his NFL-record 14th consecutive 100-yard rushing game. Davis gains 178 yards against the Seattle Seahawks to finish with 2,008 yards. (12/27/98)

TYING TOM: With Denver ahead 24-10 on the final play of the first half against Jacksonville, Broncos kicker JASON ELAM runs on to the Mile High Stadium field to try a 58-yard field goal. However, a delay-of-game penalty pushes the ball back another five yards. Elam lines it up and swings as hard as he can. The kick goes down the middle, barely clearing the crossbar from 63 yards out, tying TOM DEMPSEY’s 1970 NFL record. (10/25/98)

10 WACKY MOMENTS OF THE ’90s

(Listed chronologically)

• WATCH OUT BEHIND YOU
: In Super Bowl XXVII, Dallas defensive tackle LEON LETT returns a Buffalo fumble 64 yards. As Lett approaches the goal line, Bills wide receiver DON BEEBE knocks the ball from his hand after racing the length of the field, catching Lett in a premature celebration. (1/31/93)

• THANKS!
: Dallas appears to win the Thanksgiving Day game when Dolphins kicker PETE STOYANOVICH’s kick is blocked by Cowboys defensive end Jimmie Jones. But Dallas defensive tackle LEON LETT muffs the ball while attempting to recover it and Miami center JEFF DELLENBACH falls on the ball at the 1-yard line with: 03 remaining in the game. The Dolphins get a second chance and kick the game-winning field goal. (11/25/93)

• FAKE SPIKE
: Quarterback DAN MARINO and the Miami Dolphins, down 24-21, are on the Jets’ eight-yard line with time running out. Marino motions that he is going to spike the ball in order to stop the clock. His feint fools Jets players, who do not react as Marino passes to wide receiver MARK INGRAM for the winning score. (11/27/93)

• THE QB PUNTS!

: Philadelphia quarterback RANDALL CUNNINGHAM boots an 80-yard punt on a quick-kick against Dallas. The punt is the third longest in club history. (10/6/94)

• PLAY UNTIL THE WHISTLE BLOWS

: With 4:08 remaining, New Orleans punter TOMMY BARNHARDT punts into the end zone. As players from both teams trot off the field, Rams punt returner ROBERT BAILEY alertly picks up the live ball, which was not downed, and sprints 103 yards for a touchdown. The return goes into the record books as the longest punt return in NFL history. (10/23/94)

• STEELERS BAILED OUT
: Trailing 20-16, Indianapolis quarterback JIM HARBAUGH’s desperation pass to AARON BAILEY on the final play of the AFC Championship Game falls incomplete in the end zone, securing a Super Bowl-berth for Pittsburgh. Bailey could not gain possession of the ball as he fell to the ground. (1/14/96)

• RANDALL MC DANIEL -- ASPIRING RECEIVER
: Minnesota guard RANDALL MC DANIEL lines up as a fullback and scores his first professional touchdown on a five-yard pass from Green Bay Packers quarterback BRETT FAVRE in the 1997 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl. (2/2/97)

• QB CATCHES OWN TD PASS
: Against the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings quarterback BRAD JOHNSON becomes the first player in NFL history to complete a touchdown pass to himself when his pass is deflected. Johnson catches the deflection and runs three yards for a touchdown. (10/12/97)

• TRY FOR 3 GOES FOR 7 THE OTHER WAY
: Indianapolis Colts kicker MIKE VANDERJAGT attempts an NFL record-tying 63-yard field goal. The kick comes up short and New York Jets cornerback AARON GLENN returns the missed attempt 104 yards for a touchdown. The play is the longest missed FG return touchdown in NFL history. (11/15/98)

• TRICKY BROWNS
: Cleveland Browns kicker PHIL DAWSON races four yards for a touchdown on a fake field goal. The score – by a kicker -- is the first rushing touchdown for the expansion Browns franchise. Dawson is the first placekicker to score a touchdown since October 13, 1985 (N.Y. Giants’ JESS ATKINSON, 14-yard TD run vs. Cincinnati). (10/10/99)

STADIUM BOOM SHAPED DECADE

Two new NFL stadiums arose in the final year of the decade -- ADELPHIA COLISEUM,home of the Tennessee Titans, and CLEVELAND BROWNS STADIUM, home of the Browns.They brought to 15 the total of new or renovated stadiums in the NFL in the 1990s. The’90s’ lineup of new/renovated NFL stadiums:

1992 New 71,228-seat Georgia Dome opens in Atlanta.

1995 New 73,000-seat ALLTEL Stadium opens in Jacksonville.

New 66,000-seat Trans World Dome opens in St. Louis.

1996 New 72,520-seat Ericsson Stadium opens in Charlotte.

Oakland Coliseum (now called Network Associates Coliseum) renovated; capacity enlargedby 9,000 seats to 63,000.

Renovations on the Louisiana Superdome completed by Super Bowl XXXI.

1997 New 78,600-seat Jack Kent Cooke Stadium (now called FedExField) opens inRaljon, Maryland.

See Also

2024 Super Bowl: Ranking 10 best retired QBs who never won the big game, including Dan Marino, Jim Kelly

Qualcomm Stadium renovated; seating capacity enlarged to 71,000.

1998 New 68,400-seat PSINet Stadium opens in Baltimore.

New 65,000-seat Raymond James Stadium opens in Tampa Bay.

Renovations of Giants Stadium (N.Y. Giants/Jets) completed.

1999 Renovations of Ralph Wilson Stadium (Buffalo Bills) completed.

Renovations of RCA Dome (Indianapolis Colts) completed.

New 72,000-seat Cleveland Browns Stadium opens.

New 67,000-seat Adelphia Coliseum opens in Nashville.

10 POPULAR TERMS/ DEVELOPMENTS/BUZZWORDS OF THE ’90s

KEY NFL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE ’90s

The new millennium has a lot to live up to. If 2000 and beyond are anything like the1990s, the NFL will continue to grow in numerous areas. A review of NFL developments inthe ’90s:

RECORD HOLDERS TO BEGIN EACH DECADE

For years, Miami Dolphins quarterback DAN MARINO and San Francisco 49ers widereceiver JERRY RICE have been all-time record holders at their respectivepositions. But it was not always that way.

Following is a chart of career leaders in major statistical categories at the beginningof each decade:

*As of December 19, 1999.

NOTE: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the official statisticians of the NationalFootball League, accurate record-keeping did not begin until the 1932 season.

IMPORTANT RULES CHANGES IN THE’90s

In the 1990s, there were important ruleschanges, including the addition of the two-point conversion and the return of instantreplay.

As the NFL game has become faster and more complex, and the players stronger, theplaying rules have been changed to complement the action on the field. New rules have spedup the pace of the game, increased offensive production, ensured balance between offenseand defense, and increased player safety. Following are important rules changes of the1990s:

1990

Whenever a player goes out of bounds outside two minutes of the first half and five minutes of the second half, the game clock is to be started when the ball is spotted at the hashmark and the referee gives his ready signal rather than on the snap.

• The penalty for a player who butts, spears, or rams an opponent was clarified to make it clear that, in addition to a loss of 15 yards, the player may be disqualified if the action is judged to be of a flagrant or vicious nature.

1991

• Punts, dropkicks, and field goals can only be attempted from behind the line of scrimmage rather than behind or beyond the line according to previous rules. Rule also eliminated the provision for a return kick.

1993

• Intentional grounding will not be called when a passer, while out of the pocket and facing an imminent loss of yardage, throws a pass that lands beyond the line of scrimmage, even if no offensive player has a realistic chance to catch the ball (including if the ball lands out of bounds over the sideline or endline).

1994

• Kickoff will be from 30-yard line, not the 35-yard line. Kicking team may use a one-inch tee only.

• On a try from the two-yard line after a touchdown, a team may attempt to score one point on a legal field goal or two points in what would ordinarily be a touchdown by the offense. If a legal field goal cannot score, the ball becomes dead as soon as failure is evident, and if a touchdown is not scored, the try is over at the end of the play, or if there is a change of possession. Previously, on a try, only one point was allowed on either a successful kick or what would ordinarily be a touchdown.

When a kick from scrimmage is first touched beyond the line of scrimmage by the receivers and the kickers recover in the receivers’ end zone, it is a touchdown for the kickers. Previously the kickers were awarded the ball at the spot of first touch.

1999

• For 1999 only, the NFL will employ a system of referee replay review to aid officiating for certain reviewable plays. Prior to the two-minute warning of each half, a coaches’ challenge system will be in effect. After the two-minute warning of each half, and throughout any overtime period, a referee review will be initiated by a replay assistant from a replay booth in the press box.

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