The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League (NFL).
The league went back to an even number of teams with the addition of the Houston Texans; the league has remained static with 32 teams since. The clubs were realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each. Also, the Chicago Bears played their home games in 2002 in Champaign, Illinois, at Memorial Stadium because of the reconstruction of Soldier Field.
The NFL title was won by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they defeated the Oakland Raiders 48–21 in Super Bowl XXXVII, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, on January 26, 2003. It is the last Super Bowl held in January and the last to be hosted in San Diego.
This was the first season to feature the "Equipment NFL" logo on the Yoke of the jerseys.
On November 10, during Week 10, a game between the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field ended in a 34–34 tie, the first NFL tie game since November 23, 1997, when the New York Giants and Washington Redskins ended in a 7–7 draw. No more games would end in a tie until 2008.
Expansion and realignment With the Houston Texans joining the NFL, the teams were realigned into eight divisions: four teams in each division and four divisions in each conference. The league tried to maintain historical rivalries from the old alignment while organizing the teams geographically. Legally, three teams from the AFC Central (Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh) were required to be in the same division as part of any realignment proposals; this was part of the NFL's settlement with the city of Cleveland in the wake of the 1995 Cleveland Browns relocation controversy.
The major changes were: The Indianapolis Colts from the AFC East, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans from the AFC Central, and expansion Houston Texans were placed into the newly formed AFC South. The owners of the Jaguars, Titans, and Texans tried to convince Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga for the Dolphins to take the 4th spot in the AFC South instead of the Colts but Huizenga ultimately decided for the Dolphins to remain with their longtime rivals in the new AFC East. The Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans Saints from the NFC West and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the NFC Central were placed into the newly formed NFC South. The teams in the AFC Central and NFC Central were placed in the new AFC North and NFC North respectively, apart from the Titans, Jaguars, and Buccaneers. The Seattle Seahawks became the first team since 1977 to switch conferences, and the only team to do it twice, returning from the AFC West to the NFC West, where they had played in their first season, 1976. The Arizona Cardinals moved from the NFC East to the NFC West. Owner Bill Bidwill was publicly disappointed by the decision but said he would accept it.
Additionally, the arrival of the Texans meant that the league could return to its pre-1999 scheduling format in which no team received a bye during the first three weeks or last seven weeks of the season. From 1999 to 2001, at least one team sat out each week (including the preseason) because of an odd number of teams in the league (this also happened in 1960, 1966, and other years wherein the league had an odd number of teams). It nearly became problematic during the previous season due to the September 11 attacks, since the San Diego Chargers had their bye week during that week and the league considered cancelling that week's slate of games before ultimately rescheduling them after Week 17.
The league also introduced a new eight-year scheduling rotation designed so that all teams will play each other at least twice during those eight years, and play in every other team's stadium at least once. Under scheduling formulas in use from 1978 to 2001, there were several instances of two teams in different divisions going over 15 seasons without playing each other.Urena, Ivan; Pro Football Schedules: A Complete Historical Guide from 1933 to the Present, pp. 17-18 In the most extreme cases, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs did not play from 1973 through 1991, the New York Jets and St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals did not play from 1979 through 1995, the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants did not play from 1973 through 1989, the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not play from 1978 through 1993, and the Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos only played one time from 1976 through 1997. Additionally, while the Buffalo Bills played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seven times between 1976 and 2001, all seven of those games were played in Tampa. Under the new scheduling formula, only two of a team's games each season are based on the previous season's record, down from four under the previous system. All teams play four interconference games. An analysis of win percentages in 2008 showed a statistical trend upward for top teams since this change; the top team each year then averaged 14.2 wins, versus 13.4 previously.
The playoff format was also modified from the one first used in : the number of playoff teams remained the same at 12, but four division winners and two wild cards from each conference advanced to the playoffs, instead of three division winners and three wild cards. In each conference, the division winners were now seeded 1 through 4, and the wild cards were seeded 5 and 6. The only way a wild card team could host a playoff game was if both teams in the conference's championship game were wild cards. This 2002 revised format lasted until . In , the number of playoff teams expanded to 14, and the number of wild card teams went back to three.
Player movement Draft The 2002 NFL draft was held from April 20 to 21, 2002, at New York City's Theater at Madison Square Garden. With the first pick, the Houston Texans selected quarterback David Carr from Fresno State University.
Expansion draft The 2002 NFL expansion draft was held on February 18, 2002. 155 players were left unprotected by their teams for the Houston Texans to select to fill their initial roster. With the first overall pick, the Texans selected offensive tackle Tony Boselli from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Notable retirements Pat Tillman Phil Hansen Ryan Leaf Percy Ellsworth Tony Martin Jeff Graham Terrell Davis Cortez Kennedy Eric Allen Ricky Watters Jamal Anderson Glyn Milburn Derrick Mayes Tony Siragusa James Hasty Elvis Grbac Randall Cunningham Scott Mitchell Jim Turner Andy Vincent Steve Wisniewski Stephen Boyd Bruce Matthews Leon Lett Conrad Hamilton Brock Olivo Rich Tylski Ron Rice Kurt Schulz Jerry Ostroski Russell Maryland
Major rule changes
A player who touches a pylon remains in-bounds until any part of his body touches the ground out-of-bounds. Continuing-action fouls now become dead-ball fouls and will result in the loss of down and distance. Any dead-ball penalties by the offense after they have made the line to gain will result in a loss of 15 yards and a new first down. Previously, the 15 yard penalty was enforced but the down was replayed.
The act of batting and stripping the ball from a player is now legal. Chop-blocks are illegal on kicking plays. Hitting a quarterback helmet-to-helmet anytime after a change of possession is illegal. After a kickoff, the game clock will start when the ball is touched legally in the field of play. Previously, the clock started immediately when the ball was kicked. Inside the final two minutes of a half/overtime, the game clock will not stop when the player who originally takes the snap is tackled behind the line of scrimmage (i.e. sacked).
Also, with the opening of the NFL's first stadium with a retractable roof, Reliant Stadium, the following rules were enacted: The home team must determine whether their retractable roof is to be opened or closed 90 minutes before kickoff (regular season only; in the playoffs, the NFL determines whether the roof is open or closed). If it is closed at kickoff, it cannot be reopened during the game. If it is open at kickoff, it cannot be closed during the game unless the weather conditions become severe.
This rule was amended in to allow a roof to be opened or closed at halftime, at the home team's discretion.
2002 deaths Johnny Unitas who died on September 11, 2002, from a heart attack. On Week 2 of the season, each game played held a moment of silence pre-game tribute to Unitas. Dick "Night Train" Lane Mike Webster Al Lerner, owner of the Cleveland Browns, died during the 2002 season from brain cancer. The Browns wore a patch on their uniforms to commemorate Lerner.
Regular season standings Division
Conference
Playoffs
Bracket
Milestones The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:
RecordPlayer/teamDate/opponentPrevious record holder Most pass receptions, season Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis (143) December 29, vs. Jacksonville Herman Moore, Detroit, 1995 (123) Longest return of a missed field goal Chris McAlister, Baltimore (107 yards) September 30, vs. Denver Aaron Glenn, N.Y. Jets vs. Indianapolis, November 15, 1998 (104) Yards from scrimmage, career Jerry Rice, Oakland (21,284) September 29, vs. Tennessee Walter Payton, 1975–1987 (21,264) Most rushing yards gained, career Emmitt Smith, Dallas October 27, vs. Seattle Walter Payton, 1975–1987 (16,726) Most rushing yards by a quarterback, game Michael Vick, Atlanta (173) December 1 vs. Minnesota Tobin Rote, Green Bay vs. Chicago, November 18, 1951 (150) Most first downs by both teams, game Seattle (32) vs. Kansas City (32) [64 total] November 24 Tied by 2 games (62 total) Fewest fumbles by a team, season Kansas City (7) N/A Cleveland, 1959 (8) Fewest fumbles lost by a team, season Kansas City (2) N/A Tied by 2 teams (3) Most punts by a team, season Houston (116) N/A Chicago, 1981 (114)
Statistical leaders
Team Points scoredKansas City Chiefs (467)Total yards gainedOakland Raiders (6,237)Yards rushingMinnesota Vikings (2,507)Yards passingOakland Raiders (4,475)Fewest points allowedTampa Bay Buccaneers (196)Fewest total yards allowedTampa Bay Buccaneers (4,044)Fewest rushing yards allowedPittsburgh Steelers (1,375)Fewest passing yards allowedTampa Bay Buccaneers (2,490)
Individual ScoringPriest Holmes, Kansas City (144 points)TouchdownsPriest Holmes, Kansas City (24 TDs)Most field goals madeMartin Gramatica, Tampa Bay (32 FGs)RushingRicky Williams, Miami (1,853 yards)PassingRich Gannon, Oakland Raiders (4,689 yards)Passing touchdownsTom Brady, New England (28 TDs)Pass receivingMarvin Harrison, Indianapolis (143 catches)Pass receiving yardsMarvin Harrison, Indianapolis (1,722)Punt returnsJimmy Williams, San Francisco (16.8 average yards)Kickoff returnsMarTay Jenkins, Arizona (28.0 average yards)InterceptionsBrian Kelly, Tampa Bay (8)PuntingTodd Sauerbrun, Carolina (45.5 average yards)SacksJason Taylor, Miami (18.5)
Awards Most Valuable PlayerRich Gannon, quarterback, OaklandCoach of the YearAndy Reid, PhiladelphiaOffensive Player of the YearPriest Holmes, running back, Kansas CityDefensive Player of the YearDerrick Brooks, linebacker, Tampa BayOffensive Rookie of the YearClinton Portis, running back, DenverDefensive Rookie of the YearJulius Peppers, defensive end, CarolinaNFL Comeback Player of the YearTommy Maddox, quarterback, PittsburghWalter Payton NFL Man of the YearTroy Vincent, cornerback, PhiladelphiaSuper Bowl Most Valuable PlayerDexter Jackson, safety, Tampa Bay
Head coach/front office changes Head coach Houston Texans – Dom Capers was hired as the Texans’ first head coach on January 19th, 2001. Carolina Panthers – John Fox replaced George Seifert, who was fired following the 2001 season Indianapolis Colts – Tony Dungy replaced Jim Mora, who was fired following the 2001 season