1981 NAFL season (Jayverse)

The 1981 NAFL season was the 22nd Regular Season of the North American Football League.

New Officials
Cal Lepore retired prior to the 1981 season. Tom Dooley, who was assigned the 1980 World Series of Pro Football as line judge at the of end of 1981 season, was promoted to referee to replace Lepore.

The Draft
The 1981 NAFL Draft took place at the New York Sheraton Hotel in New York City, The Buffalo Bills selected RB George Rogers from South Carolina as their Top Draft Choice, Notable Selections Chosen are as follows


 * Montreal Alouettes draft Mark Lacelle (RB - McGill)
 * Pittsburgh Steelers draft Anthony Washington (CB - California)
 * Los Angeles Rams draft Mel Owens (LB - Michigan)
 * Winnipeg Blue Bombers draft Pete Martell (LB - Western Kentucky)
 * Sacramento Raiders draft Howie Long (DE - Villanova)
 * Calgary Stampeders draft Scott MacArthur (DE - Calgary)
 * Detroit Lions draft Mark Nichols (WR - San Jose State)
 * Los Angeles Chargers draft James Brooks (RB - Auburn)
 * Denver Broncos draft Dennis Smith (FS - USC)
 * Seattle Jets draft Kenny Easley (CB - UCLA)
 * San Francisco 49ers draft Ronnie Lott (FS - USC)
 * Atlanta Falcons draft Bobby Butler (CB - Florida State)
 * Dallas Cowboys draft Everson Walls (FS - Grambling State)
 * New York Empire draft Freeman McNeil (RB - UCLA)
 * Washington Redskins draft Mark May (G - Pittsburgh)
 * Philadelphia Eagles draft Leonard Mitchell (T - Houston)
 * Boston Patriots draft Brian Holloway (T - Stanford)
 * British Columbia Cardinals draft E. J. Junior (LB - Alabama)
 * Las Vegas Gamblers draft Rickey Jackson (LB - Pittsburgh)
 * Cleveland Browns draft Hanford Dixon (CB - Southern Miss)
 * Minnesota Vikings draft Tim Irwin (T - Tennessee)
 * Toronto Argonauts draft Russ Grimm (G - Pittsburgh)
 * Saskatchewan Roughriders draft Neil Lomax (QB - Portland State)
 * Chicago Bears draft Mike Singletary (LB - Baylor)
 * New York Giants drat Lawrence Taylor (LB - North Carolina)
 * Cincinnati Bengals draft Cris Collinsworth (WR - Florida)
 * Ottawa Northmen draft Joe Jacoby (T - Louisville)
 * Salt Lake City Pioneers draft Deron Cherry (FS - Rutgers)
 * Hamilton Tiger-Cats draft Hugh Green (LB - Pittsburgh)
 * Edmonton Eskimos draft Sean Kehoe (RB - Maine)

Final Standings
NFC East: Baltimore Colts (15-3), New York Giants (13-5), Philadelphia Eagle (11-7), Washington Redskins (9-9), Montreal Alouettes (4-14)

NFC Central: Green Bay Packers (10-8), Pittsburgh Steelers (9-9), Cleveland Browns (8-10), Chicago Bears (7-11), Minnesota Vikings (5-13)

NFC Mountain: Denver Broncos (12-6), Salt Lake City Pioneers (10-8), Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-9), Calgary Stampeders (6-12), Edmonton Eskimos (5-13)

NFC West: Portland Loggers (13-5), Dallas Cowboys (12-6), Las Vegas Gamblers (10-8), Los Angeles Rams (8-10), San Francisco 49ers (4-14)

CFC East: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (13-5), Ottawa Northmen (13-5), New York Empire (11-7), Halifax Schooners (6-12), Boston Patriots (6-12)

CFC Central: Buffalo Bills (10-8), Toronto Argonauts (9-9), Cincinnati Bengals (8-10), Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-12), Detroit Lions (6-12)

CFC South: Houston Oilers (11-7), Memphis Grizzlies (8-10), Birmingham Vulcans (8-10), Atlanta Falcons (7-11), Miami Dolphins (7-11)

CFC West: Los Angeles Chargers (13-5), Seattle Jets (13-5), Phoenix Firebirds (10-8), Sacramento Raiders (8-10), British Columbia Cardinals (7-11)

Playoffs
Halas Cup Quarterfinal

Denver Broncos 20, Dallas Cowboys 17

Green Bay Packers 30, New York Giants 28

Grey Cup Quarterfinal

Houston Oilers 34, Seattle Jets 10

Ottawa Northmen 24, Buffalo Bills 10

Halas Cup Semi-Final

Portland Loggers 31, Denver Broncos 26

Baltimore Colts 35, Green Bay Packers 10

Grey Cup Semi-Final

Houston Oilers 46, Hamilton Tiger-Cats 14

Los Angeles Chargers 31, Ottawa Northmen 19

Halas Cup Final

Baltimore Colts 52, Portland Loggers 38

Grey Cup Final

Los Angeles Chargers 38, Houston Oilers 13

22nd World Series of Pro Football (at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, MD)

Baltimore Colts 19, Los Angeles Chargers 17

NAFL All-Star Game (at San Diego Stadium in San Diego, CA)

National All-Stars 20, Continental All-Stars 13

Awards
League MVP: Dan Fouts (QB - Portland Loggers)

Playoff MVP: Bert Jones (QB - Baltimore Colts)

Offensive POTY: Dan Fouts (QB - Portland Loggers)

Defensive POTY: Willie Lanier (LB - Salt Lake City Pioneers)

Offensive ROTY: George Edwards (QB - Washington Redskins)

Defensive ROTY: Lawrence Taylor (LB - New York Giants)