The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season was highlighted by O. J. Simpson becoming the first player to rush for 2,000 yards in one season.
The season ended with Super Bowl VIII when the Miami Dolphins repeated as league champions by defeating the Minnesota Vikings at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Pro Bowl took place on January 20, 1974, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri; the AFC beat the NFC
Draft
The 1973 NFL Draft was held from January 30 to 31, 1973 at New York City's Americana Hotel. With the first pick, the Houston Oilers selected defensive end John Matuszak from the University of Tampa.
Major rule changes
Jersey numbering system
The league's jersey numbering system is adopted (players who played in 1972 are grandfathered): 1–19: Quarterbacks and specialists 20–49: Running backs, fullbacks and defensive backs 50–59: Centers and linebackers 60–79: Defensive linemen, guards, and offensive tackles 80–89: Wide receivers and tight ends Numbers 0, 00, and 90 to 99 are no longer allowed to be issued, even though these numbers were rarely issued anyway (two players wearing 00 at the time, Jim Otto and Ken Burrough, were grandfathered).
The system would later be modified throughout the years to increase the available numbers to different positions due to increasing team rosters and teams retiring numbers .
Other new rules
Defensive players cannot jump or stand on a teammate while trying to block a kick (leverage). The clock is to start at the snap following all changes of possession. Previously, the clock started on a change of possession when the ball was spotted ready for play by the referee, except if the ball went out of bounds on the change of possession, there was an incomplete pass on fourth down, the change of possession occurred on the final play of the first or third quarter, or either team took a timeout immediately; in those cases, the clock started on the snap. If there is a foul by the offensive team, and it is followed by a change of possession, the period can be extended by one play by the other team. If the receiving team commits a foul after the ball is kicked, possession will be presumed to have changed; the receiving team keeps the ball.
Division races
Starting in 1970, and until 2002, there were three divisions (Eastern, Central and Western) in each conference. The winners of each division, and a fourth “wild card” team based on the best non-division winner, qualified for the playoffs. The tiebreaker rules were changed to start with head-to-head competition, followed by division records, records against common opponents, and records in conference play.
National Football Conference
For the last time until 1997, the last two unbeaten teams in the league met in Week 7, with the Vikings tipping the Rams 10–9.
American Football Conference
Final standings
Tiebreakers
N.Y. Jets finished ahead of Baltimore in the AFC East based on head-to-head sweep (2–0). Cincinnati finished ahead of Pittsburgh in the AFC Central based on better conference record (8–3 to Steelers' 7–4). Kansas City finished ahead of Denver in the AFC West based on better division record (4–2 to Broncos' 3–2–1). Dallas finished ahead of Washington in the NFC East based on better point differential in head-to-head games (13 points). San Francisco finished ahead of New Orleans in the NFC West based on better division record (2–4 to Saints' 1–5).
Playoffs
Awards
Coaching changes
Offseason
Baltimore Colts: Howard Schnellenberger was hired as head coach. Don McCafferty was fired after going 1-4 to start the 1972 season. John Sandusky replaced McCafferty, getting the Colts to finish 1972 with a 5–9 record. Detroit Lions: Joe Schmidt resigned. Don McCafferty was named as Schmidt's replacement. Los Angeles Rams: Tommy Prothro was fired and replaced by Chuck Knox. New England Patriots: Chuck Fairbanks joined the team as both head coach and general manager. John Mazur resigned after going 2-7 to start the 1972 season, and Phil Bengtson then served as interim. New Orleans Saints: J. D. Roberts was fired midway through the 1973 preseason. John North served as head coach for the rest of the preseason and the 1973 regular season onward. Philadelphia Eagles: Ed Khayat was replaced by Mike McCormack. St. Louis Cardinals: Bob Hollway was fired and replaced by Don Coryell.