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| 1978 NFL season | |
|---|---|
| Name | 1978 National Football League season |
| Year | 1978 |
| Nfl champion | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Regular season | September 3 – December 18, 1978 |
| Playoffs start | December 24, 1978 |
| Afc champ | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Nfc champ | Dallas Cowboys |
| Sb name | Super Bowl XIII |
| Sb date | January 21, 1979 |
| Sb site | Orange Bowl (Miami), Miami, Florida |
| Sb champion | Pittsburgh Steelers |
1978 NFL season
The 1978 National Football League season introduced transformative National Football League rules that reshaped offensive play and expanded postseason structure, culminating in Super Bowl XIII where the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys at the Orange Bowl (Miami). The campaign featured breakout performances from Terry Bradshaw, Earl Campbell, Dan Fouts, and defensive standouts such as Jack Lambert and Lee Roy Selmon, amid landmark games involving franchises like the Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots.
Owners and the NFL Players Association agreed on changes that dramatically affected strategy: the illegal contact/touchdown pass interference interpretation and the introduction of the "double touching" and "catch" clarifications led to wider use of passing attacks by teams such as the San Diego Chargers and Cleveland Browns. The league also expanded the regular-season schedule and instituted a 16-game format trial discussions that influenced later NFL scheduling; competition committee proposals from figures including Pete Rozelle and coaches like Don Shula and Chuck Noll drove the revisions. Stadiums such as Three Rivers Stadium and Shea Stadium hosted high-profile games under the new rules, while broadcasters like NBC Sports and CBS Sports adapted coverage for increased aerial offense.
The regular season opened with matchups featuring perennial contenders Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys and showcased standout performers including Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, Joe Namath veterans, and emergent stars Earl Campbell and Dan Fouts. Divisional races in the AFC East, AFC Central, AFC West, NFC East, NFC Central, and NFC West produced dramatic finishes with teams like the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and Minnesota Vikings involved in tight contests. Coaches such as Chuck Noll, Tom Landry, Don Coryell, and Bill Walsh influenced offensive philosophies that led to record-setting performances in passing yards, rushing totals by Earl Campbell for the Houston Oilers, and receiving marks by Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. Key regular-season games included primetime showdowns at venues like Foxboro Stadium, Gillette Stadium (predecessor sites), and Memorial Stadium (Baltimore) where tactical use of the new contact rules became evident.
The expanded playoff bracket featured wildcard entries and divisional series culminating in AFC and NFC championship games. The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated rivals en route to the AFC crown with clutch plays by Franco Harris and Jack Lambert; the Dallas Cowboys advanced from the NFC behind leadership from Roger Staubach and defensive efforts by Randy White and Charlie Waters. The title game, Super Bowl XIII, at the Orange Bowl (Miami) featured the Steelers' triumph over the Cowboys, highlighted by Bradshaw's passing, Franco Harris's runs, and award-winning performances recognized by entities such as the Pro Football Writers of America and voting bodies including the Associated Press.
Standings reflected dominance by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC and the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC, while statistical leaders included rushing champion Earl Campbell for the Houston Oilers, passing yards leader Dan Fouts for the San Diego Chargers, and receiving leaders like Lynn Swann and Randy Moss-era precursors such as Lester Hayes-style cornerback play. Team statistical categories—total offense, scoring offense, total defense, and turnovers—highlighted clubs like the Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins; special teams figures such as Garo Yepremian and return specialists influenced field position battles. Attendance and television ratings surged, with networks ABC (American Broadcasting Company) and NBC Sports reporting expanded viewer numbers tied to marquee matchups involving historic rivalries like Steelers–Raiders and Cowboys–Giants.
Annual honors recognized individual excellence: Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award recipients, AP Offensive Player of the Year contenders such as Earl Campbell, and defensive accolades for standouts like Jack Lambert and Lee Roy Selmon. All-Pro selections featured players from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Oilers, and San Diego Chargers, while rookies of the year and Pro Bowl rosters included emerging talents lauded by media outlets such as the Pro Football Hall of Fame electorate and panels convened by the United Press International.
Coaching moves before and during the season involved figures such as Chuck Noll, Tom Landry, Don Coryell, and first-time head coaches who reshaped staff structures, scouting departments governed by directors linked to franchises like the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers. Notable personnel transactions, trades, and draft selections at the 1978 NFL Draft—including high-round picks who joined teams like the Houston Oilers and Oakland Raiders—impacted roster construction. Front-office shifts saw general managers and owners, including those associated with Art Modell-era operations and the Robert Irsay legacy, influence long-term strategies.
The season yielded franchise and league milestones: single-game and season records in passing and rushing set byDan Fouts and Earl Campbell, franchise win streaks by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and career benchmarks for veterans such as Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach. Defensive marks by players like Jack Lambert and Lee Roy Selmon entered record books maintained by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Several games produced landmark statistical achievements recognized in annual summaries and historical retrospectives by organizations including the National Football League Record and Fact Book and sports periodicals such as Sporting News.
Category:National Football League seasons