1985 NFL season

August 30, 1985: Four-time Super Bowl champion announces his retirement.^[1]

Franco Harris

Whenever a team time out is called after the two-minute warning of each half or overtime, it should only last a minute instead of 90 seconds.

A play is immediately dead anytime the quarterback performs a kneel-down (the quarterback immediately kneels down after receiving the snap) after the two-minute warning of each half, or whenever the player declares himself down by sliding feet first on the ground. The ball is then spotted at the point where the player touches the ground first.

is not to be called when a pass is clearly uncatchable.

Pass interference

Both "Roughing the kicker" and "Running into the kicker" fouls are not to be called if the defensive player was blocked into the kicker.

The definition of a valid fair catch signal is clearly defined as one arm that is fully extended above the head and waved from side to side.

Goaltending (leaping up to deflect a kick as it passes through the goal posts) is illegal.

The officials' uniform changed slightly. Instead of wearing black stirrups with two white stripes over white sanitary hose, the officials began wearing a one-piece sock similar to those worn by players, black with two white stripes on top and solid white on the bottom. These were first worn the previous season in .

Super Bowl XIX

Defensive backs were ruled to have an "equal right to the ball", meaning that pass interference would not be called if the defensive player was looking back attempting to intercept the ball, and that any contact with the receiver did not materially affect the receiver's ability to catch the ball.

Denver Broncos tight ends coach died on April 5, 1985, after suffering from brain cancer.^[2]

Fran Polsfoot

: Two games were played on Thursday, November 28, featuring the New York Jets at Detroit and the St. Louis Cardinals at Dallas, with Detroit and Dallas winning.

Thanksgiving

: Marty Schottenheimer began his first full season as head coach of the Browns. He replaced Sam Rutigliano, who was fired after starting the 1984 season 1–7.

Cleveland Browns

: Monte Clark was fired and replaced by Darryl Rogers.

Detroit Lions

: Rod Dowhower was named as head coach. Frank Kush resigned after the team went 4–11 to start the 1984 season. Offensive line coach Hal Hunter served as interim for the team's final 1984 game.

Indianapolis Colts

: Les Steckel was fired. Bud Grant came out of retirement for a second stint with the Vikings.

Minnesota Vikings

: Raymond Berry began his first full season as head coach. He replaced Ron Meyer, who was fired after eight games into the 1984 season.

New England Patriots

: John McKay retired and was replaced by Leeman Bennett.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Due to their unpopularity, the removed the three-stripe sleeve pattern and number outlines that they introduced in 1984. They returned to their five-stripe sleeve pattern brown and white jerseys, and white pants combination used prior to 1975. The face masks remained white.

Cleveland Browns

The switched from white to purple face masks.

Minnesota Vikings

The replace the sleeve stripes with their "eagle in flight" logo.

Philadelphia Eagles

The switched from dark royal blue to navy blue jerseys, and from gold to white pants.

San Diego Chargers

1985 NFL Season Schedule

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

ISBN

(Last accessed December 4, 2005)

NFL History 1981–1990

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

ISBN