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Regular season

September 7 – December 31, 2006

January 6, 2007

February 4, 2007

February 10, 2007 (2007-02-10)

The season began with the reigning Super Bowl XL champion Pittsburgh Steelers defeating the Miami Dolphins in the NFL Kickoff Game.


The NFL title was eventually won by the Indianapolis Colts, when they defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium at Miami Gardens, Florida on February 4, 2007.

New NFL commissioner[edit]

On March 20, 2006, Paul Tagliabue announced his plans to retire as NFL commissioner. During an NFL meeting in Northbrook, Illinois, on August 8, league team owners selected Roger Goodell, the NFL's then-current chief operating officer, as the new commissioner. Tagliabue continued to serve as commissioner until Goodell officially replaced him on Friday September 1.


Tagliabue became NFL commissioner on October 26, 1989. During his tenure, the league added four new teams; saw four franchises move (including two franchises—the Rams and Raiders—from Los Angeles, the second-largest television market in the U.S.); the construction of seventeen new stadiums; began its own in-house television specialty cable network, the NFL Network; greatly increased television rights fees with its broadcasters, including the addition of the Fox network and its NFL programming; and maintained labor peace with the players' union.

Draft[edit]

The 2006 NFL Draft was held from April 29 to 30, 2006 at New York City's Radio City Music Hall. With the first pick, the Houston Texans selected defensive end Mario Williams from North Carolina State University.

New referees[edit]

Bernie Kukar and Tom White retired. Jerome Boger and Gene Steratore were promoted to referee.

Jerry Azumah

Ahmed Plummer

Jimmy Smith

Wayne Chrebet

Dat Nguyen

Tommy Maddox

Jerome Bettis

Curtis Martin

Doug Flutie

Deion Sanders

Brady Smith

Dez White

Kordell Stewart

End zone celebrations became more restricted. Players cannot celebrate by using any type of prop, or do any act in which they are on the ground. Players may still spike, spin the ball, or (until 2014), dunk it over the goal posts. Dancing in the end zone is also permitted as long as it is not a prolonged or group celebration. The , though, is still legal.[1]

Lambeau Leap

Defenders were prohibited from hitting a passer in the knee or below unless they are blocked into him. This rule was enacted in response to the previous season's injuries to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback , Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Brian Griese.

Carson Palmer

Down-by-contact calls could now be reviewed by to determine if a player fumbled the ball before he was down, and who recovered it. Previously, these plays could not be reversed once officials blew the whistle.

instant replay

The "" rule enacted during the previous 2005 season was expanded. Players are now prohibited from tackling a ball carrier from the rear by tugging inside his jersey. Previously, it was only illegal if the tackler's hand got inside the player's shoulder pads.

horse-collar tackle

To reduce injuries, defensive players cannot line up directly over the during field goal and extra point attempts.

long snapper

2006 deaths[edit]

Death of Lamar Hunt[edit]

Lamar Hunt died in Dallas, Texas on December 13 from complications from prostate cancer at the age of 74. He is credited with challenging the NFL with the formation of the American Football League, which led to the subsequent merger of the two leagues.

Death of two Broncos[edit]

At 3 a.m. on January 1, 2007, Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was shot and killed in Denver, within hours after the last regular season game against the San Francisco 49ers. Less than two months after, on February 24, 2007, Broncos running back Damien Nash collapsed and died after a charity basketball game at a high school. Both players died at the age of 24.

Regular season[edit]

Schedule formula[edit]

Based on the NFL's scheduling formula, the intraconference and interconference matchups for 2006 were:


Intraconference

2007 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium, , Hawaii: AFC 31, NFC 28

Honolulu

Most points scored: , 492

San Diego

Fewest points scored: , 168

Oakland

Most total offensive yards: , 6,264

New Orleans

Fewest total offensive yards: Oakland, 3,939

Most total passing yards: New Orleans, 4,503

Fewest total passing yards: , 2,371

Atlanta

Most rushing yards: Atlanta, 2,939

Fewest rushing yards: , 1,129

Detroit

Dick Jauron; replaced Mike Mularkey, who resigned after the 2005 season

Buffalo Bills

Rod Marinelli; replaced interim head coach Dick Jauron who replaced Steve Mariucci who was fired following Thanksgiving Day during the 2005 season.

Detroit Lions

Mike McCarthy; replaced Mike Sherman

Green Bay Packers

Gary Kubiak; replaced Dom Capers

Houston Texans

Herman Edwards; replaced Dick Vermeil who retired following the 2005 season

Kansas City Chiefs

Brad Childress; replaced Mike Tice

Minnesota Vikings

Sean Payton; replaced Jim Haslett

New Orleans Saints

Eric Mangini; replaced Herman Edwards

New York Jets

Art Shell; replaced Norv Turner

Oakland Raiders

Scott Linehan; replaced interim head coach Joe Vitt who replaced Mike Martz who was not allowed to coach due to health problems during the 2005 season.

St. Louis Rams

: The Cardinals moved from Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe to University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, with the University of Phoenix acquiring the naming rights

Arizona Cardinals

: Dolphins Stadium was renamed to the singular Dolphin Stadium

Miami Dolphins

The returned to their home at the Louisiana Superdome in Week Three. Due to damage by Hurricane Katrina, the Saints' first 2005 home game against the New York Giants was moved to Giants Stadium. The Saints then played their remaining 2005 home schedule at Baton Rouge's Tiger Stadium for four games and at San Antonio's Alamodome for three games.

New Orleans Saints

: The Coliseum was renamed LP Field after the manufacturing company Louisiana-Pacific (LP) acquired the naming rights

Tennessee Titans

The added trim lines to the outside shoulders and sleeves, and the jersey sides and pants. The horn on the helmet was also modified to be slightly more defined. Purple pants were also worn at selected games.

Minnesota Vikings

The began wearing black pants at selected games.

New Orleans Saints

Ticket sellouts[edit]

Through week 11 of the season, all NFL games had been sold out, and for the 24th time, all blackout restrictions had been lifted.[8] The streak was ended by the Jacksonville at Buffalo game in Week 12.[9]

Football Outsiders 2006 DVOA Rankings

(Last accessed April 6, 2006)

2006 NFL Schedule

from NFL.com, March 29, 2006 (Last accessed March 29, 2006)

NFL curtails end-zone celebrations

by Michael Hiestand, USA Today, April 5, 2006 (Last accessed November 6, 2006)

Process of game-time decisions will eliminate TV duds, create chaos

2007 NFL Record and Fact Book ( 978-1-933821-85-6)

ISBN