The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League (NFL). It ran from September 16 to December 16, 1973, with the playoffs beginning on December 22, 1973, and concluding with Super Bowl VIII on January 13, 1974, at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Overview
- Regular‑season duration: September 16 – December 16, 1973
- Playoff start: December 22, 1973
- Super Bowl: Super Bowl VIII (January 13, 1974) – Miami Dolphins defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 24–7
- Pro Bowl: January 20, 1974, at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Regular season
All 26 NFL franchises competed in a 14‑game schedule. The season was notable for the introduction of a new jersey‑numbering system that assigned specific number ranges to positions; players who had been active in the 1972 season were grandfathered under the previous system.
Standings and conference champions
- American Football Conference (AFC) champion: Miami Dolphins
- National Football Conference (NFC) champion: Minnesota Vikings
Both conference champions advanced to Super Bowl VIII, where the Dolphins secured their second consecutive championship.
Playoffs
The postseason featured the four division winners from each conference and two wild‑card teams (the next‑best records in each conference). The AFC and NFC championship games were played on December 22, 1973. The Dolphins defeated the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship, while the Vikings beat the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship.
Super Bowl VIII
- Date: January 13, 1974
- Venue: Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Result: Miami Dolphins 24, Minnesota Vikings 7
- MVP: Larry Csonka (Miami Dolphins, running back)
Notable events and achievements
- O. J. Simpson’s 2,000‑yard rushing season: Running back O. J. Simpson of the Buffalo Bills became the first player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season, finishing with 2,003 yards.
- Jersey numbering system: The league’s new numbering scheme standardized player numbers by position, a change that impacted roster identification and officiating.
- Repeat champions: The Miami Dolphins became the first team to win back‑to‑back Super Bowls since the Green Bay Packers’ victories in the 1966 and 1967 seasons.
Awards and honors
- Most Valuable Player (MVP): O. J. Simpson (Buffalo Bills) – awarded by the Associated Press.
- Coach of the Year: Don Shula (Miami Dolphins) – recognized for leading the Dolphins to a second consecutive championship.
- Defensive Player of the Year: Joe Greene (Pittsburgh Steelers) – honored for his dominant defensive line play.
Legacy
The 1973 season is remembered for its historic rushing achievement, the solidification of the Dolphins’ early‑era dynasty, and the implementation of a uniform jersey‑numbering system that remains a fundamental aspect of NFL regulations.