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
2023 USFL Champions
Birmingham Stallions
Most Successful Team
Eastern Conference Teams (1985)
TEAMS |
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)
TEAMS |
SEASONS | USFL | STADIUM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  |
ARIZONA OUTLAWS |
1985 | 0 |  SUN DEVIL STADIUM (TEMPE, AZ) (1985) |
  |
DENVER GOLD |
1983-1985 | 0 |  MILE HIGH STADIUM (DENVER, CO) (1983-1985) |
  |
HOUSTON GAMBLERS |
1984-1985 | 0 | 
ASTRODOME (HOUSTON, TX) (1984-1985) |
  |
LOS ANGELES EXPRESS |
1983-1985 | 0 |  MEMORIAL COLISEUM (LOS ANGELES, CA) (1983-1985) |
  |
OAKLAND INVADERS |
1983-1985 | 0 |  OAKLAND-ALAMEDA COUNTY COLISEUM (OAKLAND, CA) (1983-1985) |
  |
PORTLAND BREAKERS |
1983-1985 | 0 |  civic stadium (PORTLAND, ME) (1985) |
  |
SAN ANTONIO GUNSLINGERS |
1984-1985 | 0 |  ALAMO STADIUM (SAN ANTONIO, TX) (1984-1985) |
FORMER/RELOCATED TEAMS
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.
DIVISONAL HISTORY
| Atlantic Division | 1983-1984 |
| Central Division | 1983-1984 |
| Eastern Conference | 1985 |
| Pacific Division | 1983-1984 |
| Southern Division | 1984 |
| Western Conference | 1985 |
EXPANSION HISTORY
| 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) |
||
| 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 |
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 |
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 |
|
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
| Team | 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 |