1974 NFL season

One sudden death overtime period (originally 15 minutes; since , 10 minutes) was added to all preseason (up to 2019) and regular season games; if no team scored in this period, the game would result in a tie. This rule was enacted to decrease the number of tie games. The first regular season overtime, a September 22 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos, ended in a 35–all draw. It was not until November 10, when the New York Jets defeated the New York Giants, 26–20, that an overtime game would produce a winner. Since the 2012 season teams each get one possession to score unless the team first possessing the ball scores a touchdown or yields safety.

2017

Goal posts: moved to the end line from the goal line, where they were since . This was to reduce the number of games being decided on field goals, and to increase their difficulty, as well as to reduce the risk of player injuries. They were last placed there from 1927 through 1932.

1933

Missed field goals: the defensive team takes possession at the line of scrimmage or the twenty-yard line (), whichever is farther from their goal line. (In 1994, that reference to the line of scrimmage was changed to the kick spot, which is seven to eight yards behind the line of scrimmage.)

touchback

Kickoffs: moved to the 35-yard line (from the forty-yard line) to reduce touchbacks, promoting more excitement with kickoff returns, through and since 2011. From 1994 through 2010, the kickoff was five yards back, at the thirty-yard line.

1993

Punt returns: members of the kicking team cannot go beyond the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked, except the player at the farthest end of each side of the snapper ("gunners"). The original rule change would have prohibited any player from crossing the line of scrimmage prior to the ball being kicked. The penalty is the same as that for an ineligible player downfield on a pass play.

An eligible pass receiver could only be contacted once by defenders after the receiver has gone three yards beyond the line of scrimmage.

When the defensive team commits an illegal use of hands, arms, or body foul from behind the line of scrimmage, the penalty will be assessed from the previous spot instead of the spot of the foul.

The penalties for offensive holding, illegal use of hands, and tripping were reduced from fifteen to ten yards. Tripping was returned to a 15 yard penalty in the .

2023 NFL season

Wide receivers blocking back towards the ball within three yards from the line of scrimmage may not block below the waist.

N.Y. Jets finished ahead of New England in the AFC East based on better conference record (5–6 to Patriots' 4–7).

Houston finished ahead of Cincinnati in the AFC Central based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).

Kansas City finished ahead of San Diego in the AFC West based on better point-differential in head-to-head competition (3 points).

St. Louis finished ahead of Washington in the NFC East based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).

: Don McCafferty died on July 28, 1974, after suffering a heart attack. Assistant coach Rick Forzano was promoted to head coach and remained in the position for two and a half seasons.

Detroit Lions

: This was Sid Gillman's first full season as head coach after replacing Bill Peterson, who was fired after the Oilers lost their first five games in 1973.

Houston Oilers

: Alex Webster was replaced by Bill Arnsparger, architect of the Miami Dolphins' "No-Name Defense".

New York Giants

: After 11 seasons as head coach, Weeb Ewbank resigned and was replaced by Charley Winner, Ewbank's son-in-law and head coach of the Cardinals from 1966 to 1970.

New York Jets

: Tommy Prothro became the team's new head coach. Harland Svare left the team midway through the 1973 season after going 1–6–1, and Ron Waller served for the last six games.

San Diego Chargers

The replaced their standing red bison helmet logo with a charging blue one with a red slanting stripe coming from its horns.

Buffalo Bills

The moved the TV numbers on their white jerseys from the sleeves to the shoulders, where they had been from 1964 to 1969. TV numbers on the blue jerseys remained on the sleeves until 1979.

Dallas Cowboys

The switched from gray to white face masks. The arrowhead logo on the helmets shrank in size, while the black border on the arrowhead became thicker.

Kansas City Chiefs

The modified its helmet logo so that the sunburst was centered on the dolphin's body instead of its head. Several players wore this logo during the 1973 playoffs and Super Bowl VIII.

Miami Dolphins

The switched from white to green helmets, and added sleeve stripes and trim to the numbers. Pants changed from white to silver.

Philadelphia Eagles

The introduced new uniforms, changing their primary color from sky powder blue to royal blue. The helmets were also changed from white to royal blue, and the players' numbers on its sides were removed. In addition, the face masks were switched from gray to yellow.

San Diego Chargers

The Chiefs and Chargers were the first NFL teams to wear face masks in a color other than the then-predominant gray.

NFL Record and Fact Book ( 1-932994-36-X)

ISBN

(Last accessed December 4, 2005)

NFL History 1971–1980

Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League ( 0-06-270174-6)

ISBN