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1992 NFL season

The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League (NFL). Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that weekend off. This marked the first time since the 1966 NFL season and the AFL seasons of 1966 and 1967 that there were byes in week 1.

Regular season

September 6 – December 28, 1992

January 2, 1993

Buffalo Bills

Dallas Cowboys

January 31, 1993

Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

Dallas Cowboys

February 7, 1993

Aloha Stadium

The season ended with Super Bowl XXVII when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Buffalo Bills 52–17 at the Rose Bowl. This would be the third of the Bills' four consecutive Super Bowl losses; as of 2023, no other team has ever lost more than two Super Bowls in a row. Buffalo joined the Miami Dolphins of the early 1970s as the second team to reach three straight Super Bowls (the New England Patriots of the late 2010s became the third).

April 2, 1992, was signed in Plan B free agency by the Buffalo Bills, joining his brother Gary Baldinger.[1]

Brian Baldinger

August 31, 1992: Brian Baldinger was released by the Buffalo Bills on August 31.

[2]

Referee changes[edit]

After one season as referee, Stan Kemp stepped down after he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Tom Dooley also retired during the off-season. Gary Lane and Ed Hochuli were then promoted to referee.


Kemp's son, Alex, became an NFL official in 2014 and was promoted to referee in 2018.

The NFL ceases to use the system that was in effect since the 1986 NFL season to review questionable on-field calls, due to many reviews taking up long periods of time. Instant replay would not return to the league until a more comprehensive instant replay review system with time limits was introduced in the 1999 NFL season.

instant replay

To reduce injuries, any offensive player who is lined up in the backfield before the snap cannot chop block a defensive player who is already engaged above the waist by another offensive player.

A maximum of six captains are allowed at midfield for the coin toss. This was in response to coach Jerry Glanville sometimes sending out his entire squad, and Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs sending eight captains to midfield at Super Bowl XXVI.

Atlanta Falcons

: A selection of the Washington Redskins in the 1943 NFL Draft, Akins died on July 6, 1992.

Frank Akins

: An offensive lineman with the Detroit Lions, Andolsek was working in the yard of his Thibodaux, Louisiana home when a semi-trailer truck ran off Louisiana Highway 1 in front of his house and struck and killed him on June 23.[5]

Eric Andolsek

: On May 14, 1992, at age 43, Alzado died from brain cancer. He was buried at River View Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.[6]

Lyle Alzado

: A starter for the Dallas Texans for the 1962 AFL Championship Game, Branch was also a charter member of the Miami Dolphins in 1966. He died on April 21, 1992

Mel Branch

: A two-time All-Pro with the Philadelphia Eagles, Brown died on June 25, 1992, at the age of 27, following an automobile accident in Brooksville, in which both he and his 12-year-old nephew were killed when Brown lost control of his ZR1 Chevrolet Corvette at high speed and crashed into a palm tree. Brown was buried in his hometown of Brooksville.[7]

Jerome Brown

: A selection of the Indianapolis Colts in the 1991 NFL Draft, Curry was shot and killed outside a Cincinnati nightclub during an argument over a blocked vehicle on May 4, 1992.[8][9]

Shane Curry

: Was a backup for the Raiders before being released after a fight instigated by a teammate, and had serious injuries which made it impossible for him to resume his career. Committed suicide at his home in California.

Mike Wise

Preseason[edit]

American Bowl[edit]

A series of National Football League pre-season exhibition games that were held at sites outside the United States, a total of three games were contested.

: Two games were played on Thursday, November 26, featuring Houston at Detroit and the New York Giants at Dallas, with Houston and Dallas winning.

Thanksgiving

Week 16: The San Diego Chargers became the first (as of 2022 the only) team to start 0-4 and made the playoffs and they achieve that feat by beating the Los Angeles Raiders. The Chargers won the AFC West championship the next week with a road win vs. the Seattle Seahawks.

: Dave Shula replaced the fired Sam Wyche.

Cincinnati Bengals

: Mike Holmgren replaced the fired Lindy Infante.

Green Bay Packers

: Ted Marchibroda was named the permanent replacement, after Ron Meyer was fired after five games in 1991 and Rick Venturi served as interim for the final 11 games. Marchibroda had previously served as head coach of the Colts (then based in Baltimore) from 1975 to 1979.

Indianapolis Colts

: Chuck Knox replaced the fired John Robinson, having previously served as Rams head coach from 1973 to 1977.

Los Angeles Rams

: Dennis Green replaced the retired Jerry Burns.

Minnesota Vikings

: Bill Cowher replaced the retired Chuck Noll.

Pittsburgh Steelers

: Bobby Ross replaced the fired Dan Henning.

San Diego Chargers

: Tom Flores replaced Chuck Knox, who resigned to become the Rams' head coach.

Seattle Seahawks

: Sam Wyche replaced the fired Richard Williamson.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Stadium changes[edit]

The Atlanta Falcons played their first season in the new Georgia Dome, replacing Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium. The Falcons would play at the Georgia Dome until 2016.

Uniform changes[edit]

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers began wearing orange pants with their white jerseys.

Television[edit]

This was the third year under the league's four-year broadcast contracts with ABC, CBS, NBC, TNT, and ESPN. ABC, CBS, and NBC continued to televise Monday Night Football, the NFC package, and the AFC package, respectively. Sunday night games aired on TNT during the first half of the season, and ESPN during the second half of the season. With Bill Walsh leaving NBC to become head coach of the Stanford Cardinal college football team, Bob Trumpy was named to replace him as the network's lead color commentator, alongside Dick Enberg. Gary Bender replaced Skip Caray as TNT's play-by-play announcer.[11]

and Commentary at Football Outsiders

1992 team efficiency ratings

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

ISBN

(Last accessed December 4, 2005)

NFL History 1991–2000

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

ISBN

1992 NFL season at Pro-Football Reference