USFL 1983-1985 Seasons History

USFL (1983-1985)

United States Football League (USFL) was a professional American football league that played for three seasons, 1983 through 1985. The league played a spring/summer schedule in each of its active seasons. The 1986 season was scheduled to be played in the autumn/winter, directly competing against the long-established National Football League (NFL). However, the USFL ceased operations before that season was scheduled to begin.

Teams competed to play in the USFL Championship Game.

USFL Champions

1985 USFL Champions

Baltimore Stars

2 titles

MOST SUCCESSFUL TEAM

Birmingham Stallions

2 titles

Eastern Conference Teams (1985)

Prior to 1985, the Eastern Conference was split into two divisions Atlantic Division and Southern Division and in 1983 Atlantic Division played independent of any conference.

	SEASONS	USFL	STADIUM
BALTIMORE STARS	1983-1985	2	BYRD STADIUM (COLLEGE PARK, MD) (1985)
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS	1983-1985	0	LEGION FIELD (BIRMINGHAM, AL) (1983-1985)
JACKSONVILLE BULLS	1984-1985	0	GATOR BOWL (JACKSONVILLE, FL) (1984-1985)
MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS	1984-1985	0	LIBERTY STADIUM (MEMPHIS, TN) (1984-1985)
NEW JERSEY GENERALS	1983-1985	0	GIANTS STADIUM (EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ) (1983-1984)
ORLANDO RENEGADES	1985	0	CITRUS BOWL (ORLANDO, FL) (1985)
TAMPA BAY BANDITS	1983-1985	0	TAMPA STADIUM (TAMPA, FL) (1983-1985)

Western Conference Teams (1985)

Prior to 1985, the Western Conference was split into two divisions Central Division and Pacific Division and in 1983 both division played independent of any conference.

	SEASONS	STADIUM
ARIZONA OUTLAWS	1985	SUN DEVIL STADIUM (TEMPE, AZ) (1985)
DENVER GOLD	1983-1985	MILE HIGH STADIUM (DENVER, CO) (1983-1985)
HOUSTON GAMBLERS	1984-1985	ASTRODOME (HOUSTON, TX) (1984-1985)
LOS ANGELES EXPRESS	1983-1985	MEMORIAL COLISEUM (LOS ANGELES, CA) (1983-1985)
OAKLAND INVADERS	1983-1985	OAKLAND-ALAMEDA COUNTY COLISEUM (OAKLAND, CA) (1983-1985)
PORTLAND BREAKERS	1983-1985	civic stadium (PORTLAND, ME) (1985)
SAN ANTONIO GUNSLINGERS	1984-1985	ALAMO STADIUM (SAN ANTONIO, TX) (1984-1985)

FORMER/RELOCATED TEAMS

	SEASONS	USFL	STADIUM
ARIZONA WRANGLERS**	1983-1984	0	SUN DEVIL STADIUM (TEMPE, AZ) (1983-1984)
CHICAGO BLITZ	1983-1984	0	(SOLDIER FIELD) (CHICAGO, IL) (1983-1984)
MICHIGAN PANTHERS*	1983-1984	1	(PONTIAC SILVERDOME) (PONTIAC, MI) (1983-1984)
OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS**	1984	0	SKELLY STADIUM (TULSA, OK) (1984)
PITTSBURGH MAULERS	1984	0	THREE RIVERS STADIUM (PITTSBURGH, PA) (1984)
WASHINGTON FEDERALS	1983-1984	0	RFK STADIUM (WASHINGTON, DC) (1983-1984)

USFL Championship Title

* - Michigan Panthers (1983-1984) merged with Oakland for the 1985 season.

** - Arizona Wranglers & Oklahoma Outlaws merged to become Arizona Outlaws for the 1985 season.

History

Divisional History
Expansion History

DIVISONAL HISTORY

Atlantic Division	1983-1984
Central Division	1983-1984
Eastern Conference	1985
Pacific Division	1983-1984
Southern Division	1984
Western Conference	1985

HISTORY & Team Profiles

Season	Team	Change	Notes
1983	Arizona Wranglers Birmingham Stallions Boston Breakers Chicago Blitz Denver Gold Los Angeles Express Michigan Panthers New Jersey Generals Oakland Invaders Philadelphia Stars Tampa Bay Bandits Washington Federals		Founding Members of the league
1984	Houston Gamblers (E) Jacksonville Bulls (E) Memphis Showboats (E) Oklahoma Outlaws (E) Pittsburgh Maulers (E) San Antonio Gunslingers (E)
1984	Boston Breakers	New Orleans Breakers
1985	Arizona Wranglers & Oklahoma Outlaws	Arizona Outlaws
	Michigan Panthers	Oakland Invaders
	New Orleans Breakers	Portland Breakers
	Philadelphia Stars	Baltimore Stars
	Washington Federals	Orlando Renegades
	Chicago Blitz	Folded
	Pittsburgh Maulers	Folded

DIVISONAL HISTORY

Atlantic Division	1983-1984
Central Division	1983-1984
Eastern Conference	1985
Pacific Division	1983-1984
Southern Division	1984
Western Conference	1985

Team Profiles

Arizona Wranglers (1983, 1984; Arizona and Chicago traded players)

Team History

Arizona Wranglers (1983–1984)
Arizona Outlaws (1985)

League/Conference affiliations

United States Football League (1983–1985)
- Western Conference (1983–1985)
  - Pacific Division (1982–1985)
Conference Championships: 2
- Western Conference Championship: 1984
Playoff Appearances: 1
- 1984
Arizona Outlaws (1985; result of Arizona/Oklahoma merger)
Team History League/Conference affiliations
- United States Football League (1984-1985)
  - Western Conference (1984-1985)
    - Central Division (1984)
Birmingham Stallions (1983–1985)
League/Conference affiliations
- United States Football League (1983–1985)
  - Eastern Conference (1983–1985)
    - Central Division (1983)
    - Southern Division (1984)
  Division Titles: 2
  - Southern: 1984, 1985
  Portland Breakers
  Team History
  - Boston Breakers (1983)
  - New Orleans Breakers (1984)
  - Portland Breakers (1985)
  League/Conference affiliations
  - United States Football League (1983–1985)
    - Eastern Conference (1984)
    - Western Conference (1985)
      - Atlantic Division (1983)
      - Southern Division (1984)
    Chicago Blitz (1983, 1984; Arizona and Chicago traded players)
    League/Conference affiliations
    - United States Football League (1983–1984)
      - Western Conference (1985)
        
        Central Division (1983–1984)
      Denver Gold (1983–1985)
      League/Conference affiliations
      - United States Football League (1983–1985)
        
        Western Conference (1985)
        
        Pacific Division (1983–1985)
        
        Houston Gamblers (1984–1985)
        League/Conference affiliations
        
        United States Football League (1984–1985)
        
        Western Conference (1984–1985)
        
        Central Division (1984)
        
        Division Titles: 1
        
        Central: 1984
        
        Playoff Appearances: 2
        
        1984, 1985
        
        Jacksonville Bulls (1984–1985)
        League/Conference affiliations
        
        United States Football League (1983–1985)
        
        Eastern Conference (1984–1985)
        
        Southern Division (1984)
        
        Los Angeles Express (1983–1985)
        League/Conference affiliations
        
        United States Football League (1983–1985)
        
        Western Conference (1984–1985)
        
        Pacific Division (1983–1984)
        
        Division Titles: 1
        
        Pacific: 1984
        
        Playoff Appearances: 2
        
        1984
        
        Memphis Showboats (1984–1985)
        League/Conference affiliations
        
        United States Football League (1984–1985)
        
        Eastern Conference (1984–1985)
        
        Southern Division (1984)
        
        Playoff Appearances: 1
        
        1985
        
        Michigan Panthers (1983–1984; merged with Oakland for 1985 season)
        Team History
        
        Michigan Panthers (1983–1984)
        
        merged with Oakland Invaders (1985)
        
        League/Conference affiliations
        
        United States Football League (1983–1984)
        
        Western Conference (1984)
        
        Central Division (1983–1984)
        
        League Titles: 1
        
        USFL Championship Game: 1983
        
        Division Titles: 1
        
        Central Division: 1983
        
        Playoff Appearances: 2
        
        1983, 1984
        
        New Jersey Generals (1983–1985)
        League/Conference affiliations
        
        United States Football League (1983–1985)
        
        Eastern Conference (1984-1985)
        
        Atlantic Division (1983–1984)
        
        Playoff Appearances: 2
        
        1983, 1984
        
        Oakland Invaders (1983–1985; merged with Michigan for 1985 season)
        Team History
        Oklahoma Outlaws (1984)
        Team History
        Philadelphia Stars (1983–1984)
        Team History Baltimore Stars (1985; moved from Philadelphia)
        Pittsburgh Maulers (1984)
        Team History
        San Antonio Gunslingers (1984–1985)
        Team History
        Tampa Bay Bandits (1983–1985)
        Team History
        Washington Federals (1983–1984)
        Orlando Renegades (1985; moved from Washington)

Seasons

1985 Season

Champion: Baltimore Stars

Runner-Up: Oakland Invaders

Playoff Teams: Birmingham, New Jersey, Memphis, Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Oakland, Denver, Houston

Notes: Final completed USFL season. The Stars won their second straight title after relocating from Philadelphia.

1984 Season

Champion: Philadelphia Stars

Runner-Up: Arizona Wranglers

Playoff Teams: Philadelphia, New Jersey, Birmingham, Tampa Bay, Houston, Michigan, Los Angeles, Arizona

Notes: League expanded to 18 teams. The Stars established themselves as the league’s top franchise.

1983 Season

Champion: Michigan Panthers

Runner-Up: Philadelphia Stars

Playoff Teams: Philadelphia, Boston, Michigan, Chicago, Oakland

Notes: Inaugural USFL season. Michigan won the first championship in league history.

PLAYOFFS

SEASON	ROUND	WINNER	SCORE	LOSER
1983	Divisional playoffs	Philadelphia Stars	44 VS 38(OT)	Chicago Blitz
1983	Divisional playoffs	MICHIGAN PANTHERS	37 VS 21	Oakland Invaders
1984	Divisional playoffs	Philadelphia Stars	28 VS 7	New Jersey Generals
		Los Angeles Express	27 VS 21(3OT)	MICHIGAN PANTHERS
		Birmingham Stallions	36 VS 17	Tampa Bay Bandits
		Arizona Wranglers	17 @ 16	Houston Gamblers
	WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP	Arizona Wranglers	35 @ 23	Los Angeles Express
	EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP	Philadelphia Stars	20 VS 10	Birmingham Stallions
1985	Quarterfinals	Birmingham Stallions	22 VS 20	Houston Gamblers
		Memphis Showboats	48 VS 7	Denver Gold
		Oakland Invaders	30 VS 27	Tampa Bay Bandits
		Baltimore Stars	20 @ 17	New Jersey Generals
	Semifinals	Baltimore Stars	28 @ 14	Birmingham Stallions
	Semifinals	Oakland Invaders	28 @ 19	Memphis Showboats

USFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

SEASON	DATE	WINNER	SCORE	LOSER	STADIUM
1983	1 17 JULY 1983	MICHIGAN PANTHERS (1)	24-22	PHILADELPHIA STARS	mile high Stadium denver,co
1984	2 15 JULY 1984	PHILADELPHIA STARS (1)	23 - 3	Arizona WranglERS	tampa Stadium tampa,fl
1985	3 14 JULY 1985	BALTIMORE STARS (2)	28 - 12	Oakland InvadERS	giants Stadium EAST RUTHERFORD, nj

Championship Standings

	REC	A	RT	RA
Baltimore Stars	2-1	3	1985	1985
Michigan Panthers	1-0	1	1983	1983
Arizona Wranglers	0-1	1	0	1984
Oakland Invaders	0-1	1	0	1985

USFL (1983-1985)

USFL Champions

1985 USFL Champions

MOST SUCCESSFUL TEAM

History

Eastern Conference Teams (1985)

Western Conference Teams (1985)

FORMER/RELOCATED TEAMS

History

DIVISONAL HISTORY

HISTORY & Team Profiles

DIVISONAL HISTORY

Team Profiles

Arizona Wranglers (1983, 1984; Arizona and Chicago traded players)

Arizona Outlaws (1985; result of Arizona/Oklahoma merger)

Birmingham Stallions (1983–1985)

Portland Breakers

Chicago Blitz (1983, 1984; Arizona and Chicago traded players)

Denver Gold (1983–1985)

Houston Gamblers (1984–1985)

Jacksonville Bulls (1984–1985)

Los Angeles Express (1983–1985)

Memphis Showboats (1984–1985)

Michigan Panthers (1983–1984; merged with Oakland for 1985 season)

New Jersey Generals (1983–1985)

Oakland Invaders (1983–1985; merged with Michigan for 1985 season)

Oklahoma Outlaws (1984)

Philadelphia Stars (1983–1984)

Pittsburgh Maulers (1984)

San Antonio Gunslingers (1984–1985)

Tampa Bay Bandits (1983–1985)

Washington Federals (1983–1984)

Seasons

1985 Season

1984 Season

1983 Season

PLAYOFFS

USFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Championship Standings

LEGEND