The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League (NFL). The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The two expansion teams were slotted into the two remaining divisions that previously had only four teams (while the other four had five teams): the AFC Central (Jaguars) and the NFC West (Panthers).
Meanwhile, the two teams in Los Angeles relocated to other cities: the Rams transferred to St. Louis and the Raiders moved back to Oakland; this would be the start of a 20-year absence for the NFL in Los Angeles. During the course of the season it emerged that the Cleveland Browns would relocate to Baltimore for the 1996 season. The Raiders' move was not announced until after the schedule had been announced, which resulted in a problem in the third week of the season when both the Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers had games scheduled to air on NBC which ended up overlapping each other. The Raiders game was rescheduled for 10:00 a.m. PDT in case they were to relocate and NBC was given the doubleheader so that both Bay Area teams had their games televised locally.
The season ended with Super Bowl XXX, when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 27–17 at Sun Devil Stadium. They became the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in four years. This season was Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula's last season as coach.
Player movement
Transactions July 27: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed linebacker Tommy Thigpen July 27: The Miami Dolphins signed Defensive End Steve Emtman July 29: The New York Giants signed Jessie Armstead July 29: The Indianapolis Colts signed wide receiver Wendell Davis
Retirements April 18, 1995: Four-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Joe Montana announced his retirement. He spent the last two seasons of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Draft The 1995 NFL draft was held from April 22 to 23, 1995, at New York City's Theater at Madison Square Garden. With the first pick, the Cincinnati Bengals selected running back Ki-Jana Carter from Penn State University.
Expansion draft The 1995 NFL expansion draft was held on February 15, 1995. The Jacksonville Jaguars held the first pick overall, while the Carolina Panthers were second, alternating picks as the existing teams made six players available for selection. The Panthers ultimately picked 35 players, while the Jaguars picked 31. With the first selection in the expansion draft, the Jaguars selected quarterback Steve Beuerlein from the Arizona Cardinals. Selecting second, the Panthers obtained cornerback Rod Smith from the New England Patriots.
New referees Mike Carey and Walt Coleman were promoted to referee; Carey became the second African-American referee in NFL history following Johnny Grier, who was promoted in 1988. Dale Hamer had to sit out the 1995 season to recover from open heart surgery, while league expansion from 28 to 30 teams required an additional officiating crew.
Major rule changes An eligible receiver forced out of bounds by a defensive player may return to the field and automatically become eligible to legally be the first player to touch a forward pass. Quarterbacks may now receive communications from the bench from a small radio receiver in their helmets, partly repealing a rule that had been in force since 1956. They are also allowed to spike the ball immediately after snap to save time that is running.
Preseason
American Bowl A series of National Football League pre-season exhibition games that were held at sites outside the United States. Two games were contested in 1995.
Date Winning team Score Losing team Score Stadium City August 6, 1995 Denver Broncos 24 San Francisco 49ers 10 Tokyo Dome Tokyo August 12, 1995 Buffalo Bills 9 Dallas Cowboys 7 SkyDome Toronto
Hall of Fame Game The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game featured the NFL's newest expansions teams, as the Carolina Panthers defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 20–14, was played on July 29, and held at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, the same city where the league was founded. The 1995 Hall of Fame Class included Jim Finks, Henry Jordan, Steve Largent, Lee Roy Selmon and Kellen Winslow
Regular season
Scheduling formula With the addition of Carolina and Jacksonville to give each division five teams, the "fifth place" schedule given to the last-place teams in the AFC East, AFC West, NFC East and NFC Central from 1978 to 1994 was eliminated. Inter-conference AFC East vs NFC West AFC Central vs NFC Central AFC West vs NFC East
Highlights of the 1995 season included: Thanksgiving: Two games were played on Thursday, November 23, featuring the Minnesota Vikings at Detroit and Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas, with Detroit and Dallas winning. Snowball Game (1995): In the final weekend of the season, the New York Giants hosted the San Diego Chargers. Giants fans threw snowballs onto the field throughout the contest. This action resulted in 15 arrests and the ejection of 175 fans from Giants Stadium; San Diego posted a 27–17 victory in what became known as the "Snowball Game".
Final standings
Tiebreakers Indianapolis finished ahead of Miami in the AFC East based on head-to-head sweep (2–0). San Diego was the first AFC Wild Card based on head-to-head victory over Indianapolis (1–0). Cincinnati finished ahead of Houston in the AFC Central based on better division record (4–4 to Oilers' 3–5). Seattle finished ahead of Denver and Oakland in the AFC West based on best head-to-head record (3–1 to Broncos' 2–2 and Raiders' 1–3). Denver finished ahead of Oakland in the AFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2–0). Philadelphia was the first NFC Wild Card ahead of Detroit based on better conference record (9–3 to Lions' 7–5). San Francisco was the second NFC playoff seed ahead of Green Bay based on better conference record (8–4 to Packers' 7–5). Atlanta was the third NFC Wild Card ahead of Chicago based on better record against common opponents (4–2 to Bears' 3–3). St. Louis finished ahead of Carolina and New Orleans in the NFC West based on best head-to-head record (3–1 to Panthers' 1–3 and Saints' 2–2). Carolina finished ahead of New Orleans in the NFC West based on better conference record (4–8 to 3–9).
Playoffs
Milestones The following players set all-time records during the season:
Most touchdowns, season Emmitt Smith, Dallas (25) Most passing attempts, career Dan Marino, Miami (6,531 at the end of the season) Most passes completed, career Dan Marino, Miami (3,913 at the end of the season) Most passing yards, career Dan Marino, Miami (48,841 at the end of the season) Most touchdown passes, career Dan Marino, Miami (352 at the end of the season) Most pass receptions, career Jerry Rice, San Francisco (942 at the end of the season) Most pass receiving yards gained, career Jerry Rice, San Francisco (15,123 at the end of the season)
Statistical leaders
Team Points scoredSan Francisco 49ers (457)Total yards gainedDetroit Lions (6,113)Yards rushingKansas City Chiefs (2,222)Yards passingSan Francisco 49ers (4,608)Fewest points allowedKansas City Chiefs (241)Fewest total yards allowedSan Francisco 49ers (4,398)Fewest rushing yards allowedSan Francisco 49ers (1,061)Fewest passing yards allowedNew York Jets (2,740)
Individual ScoringEmmitt Smith, Dallas (150 points)TouchdownsEmmitt Smith, Dallas (25 TDs)Most field goals madeNorm Johnson, Pittsburgh (34 FGs)RushingEmmitt Smith, Dallas (1,773 yards)PassingJim Harbaugh, Indianapolis (100.7 rating)Passing touchdownsBrett Favre, Green Bay (38 TDs)Pass receivingHerman Moore, Detroit (123 catches)Pass receiving yardsJerry Rice, San Francisco (1,848)Punt returnsDavid Palmer, Minnesota (13.2 average yards)Kickoff returnsRon Carpenter, New York Jets (27.7 average yards)InterceptionsOrlando Thomas, Minnesota (9)PuntingRick Tuten, Seattle (45.0 average yards)SacksBryce Paup, Buffalo (17.5)
The 1995 season produced four of the top twenty highest single-season totals for receiving yards. Two of the top five teams receiving yard totals of all time – Jerry Rice's 1,848 & Isaac Bruce's 1,781 – were recorded in 1995. Detroit Lions receiver Herman Moore gained 1,686 yards (6th highest all time) and Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin gained 1,603 yards (11th most in NFL history).
Awards Most Valuable PlayerBrett Favre, quarterback, Green BayCoach of the YearRay Rhodes, PhiladelphiaOffensive Player of the YearBrett Favre, quarterback, Green BayDefensive Player of the YearBryce Paup, linebacker, BuffaloOffensive Rookie of the YearCurtis Martin, running back, New EnglandDefensive Rookie of the YearHugh Douglas, defensive end, New York JetsNFL Comeback Player of the YearJim Harbaugh, quarterback, Indianapolis and Garrison Hearst, running back, ArizonaNFL Man of the Year AwardBoomer Esiason, quarterback, NY JetsSuper Bowl most valuable playerLarry Brown, cornerback, Dallas
Coaching changes
Offseason Denver Broncos: Mike Shanahan replaced the fired Wade Phillips Carolina Panthers: Dom Capers became this expansion team's first head coach. Houston Oilers: Jeff Fisher became the permanent head coach. Fisher served as interim for the final six games of 1994 after Jack Pardee was fired. Jacksonville Jaguars: Tom Coughlin became this expansion team's first head coach. Oakland Raiders: Mike White replaced the fired Art Shell for the Raiders' first season since returning to Oakland. Philadelphia Eagles: Ray Rhodes replaced the fired Rich Kotite. New York Jets: Rich Kotite replaced the fired Pete Carroll. Seattle Seahawks: Dennis Erickson replaced the fired Tom Flores. St. Louis Rams: Rich Brooks replaced the fired Chuck Knox for the Rams's first season in St. Louis.
In-season Buffalo Bills: Elijah Pitts served as interim for three games while Marv Levy recovered from prostate cancer surgery.
Stadium changes Carolina Panthers: The expansion Panthers played their first season at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina while their new stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina remained under construction Green Bay Packers: This is the first season since 1932 that the Packers played full time in Green Bay, no longer playing select games in Milwaukee Jacksonville Jaguars: The expansion Jaguars moved into Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on the site of the former Gator Bowl Stadium Oakland Raiders: The relocated Raiders moved back from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum St. Louis Rams: The relocated Rams initially moved from Anaheim Stadium to Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. The Trans World Dome then opened for their fifth regular season home game, with Trans World Airlines acquiring the naming rights San Francisco 49ers: Candlestick Park was renamed 3Com Park after the digital electronics manufacturer 3Com acquired the naming rights
Uniform changes The inaugural Carolina Panthers uniforms featured gray helmets, blue trim, black jerseys with white numbers and gray pants, and white jerseys with black numbers and white pants. The helmet logo featured a black panther head with blue trim. The Dallas Cowboys wore a navy blue version of the white "Double-Star" alternate jerseys they wore in 1994, with blue sleeves and white star logos on the shoulders. The white "Double Star" jersey was discontinued due to a since-repealed NFL policy which allowed teams only one colored jersey and one white jersey except for special occasions. The Houston Oilers began wearing their white pants with their white jerseys, discontinuing their blue pants. This was the first time the Oilers wore white pants with white jerseys for a full season since 1980. The Indianapolis Colts experimented with wearing blue pants with their white jerseys for their first three games.