Definition
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League (NFL), comprising preseason exhibition games, a 16‑game regular‑season schedule for each of the league’s 32 teams, and a postseason culminating in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Overview
The season opened in early September 2002 and concluded with the regular season on 5 January 2003. Playoffs were held in January 2003, and Super Bowl XXXVII was played on 26 January 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Oakland Raiders, 48–21, to win the league championship. Rich Gannon of the Raiders was named the Associated Press (AP) Most Valuable Player, Brian Urlacher (Chicago Bears) received the AP Defensive Player of the Year award, and Bill Belichick (New England Patriots) was selected as AP Coach of the Year.
Etymology/Origin
The term follows the NFL’s standard naming convention, wherein the calendar year in which the regular season commences is paired with “NFL season.” The designation therefore identifies the set of games, transactions, and events that took place under the NFL’s organizational structure during the 2002 calendar year.
Characteristics
- Team composition and realignment: The league expanded to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans, prompting a geographic realignment into eight divisions (four per conference: North, South, East, West). Each division contained four teams.
- Schedule format: Each franchise played a 16‑game regular‑season schedule, featuring six intra‑division games (home and away against each division rival) and ten inter‑division contests determined by a rotating formula.
- Broadcasting: Television coverage was provided by CBS, Fox, ABC/ESPN, and NBC, with Monday Night Football on ABC, Sunday night games on ESPN, and the regular Sunday afternoon slate split between CBS (AFC) and Fox (NFC).
- Postseason structure: Six teams per conference qualified for the playoffs – the four division winners and two wild‑card teams – with single‑elimination games leading to the Conference Championship games and the Super Bowl.
- Notable events and rule changes: The realignment was the most significant structural change since 1995. No major rule modifications specific to the 2002 season are recorded beyond the standard annual updates.
- Statistical leaders:
- Passing yards: Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) – 4,267 yards
- Rushing yards: Priest Holmes (Baltimore Ravens) – 1,354 yards
- Receiving yards: Marvin Hunt (Denver Broncos) – 1,327 yards
- Points scored (team): San Diego Chargers – 496 points
Related Topics
- 2002 NFL Draft (notable for the Houston Texans’ selection of David Carr as first overall)
- 2002 NFL playoffs
- Super Bowl XXXVII
- Houston Texans franchise history
- NFL realignment (1995 and 2002)
- 2001 NFL season (preceding season)
- 2003 NFL season (subsequent season)
- NFL awards (MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year)
All information presented reflects verified historical records up to the knowledge cutoff date.