1981 NAFL season (Jayverse)

The 1981 NAFL season was the 62nd Regular Season of the North American Football League.

New Officials
Cal Lepore retired prior to the 1981 season. Tom Dooley, who was assigned the Super Bowl XV 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 Montreal Beavers made their first selection in the draft to South Carolina select RB George Rogers, However the Edmonton Elks followed to get RB Sean Kehoe from Alberta, Ottawa Canadians made their 3rd pick to select TE Ian Beckstead from Richmond, Dickinson State T Chris Walby was chosen as the 4th pick in the NAFL Draft in which he goes to his home city as a Member of the Winnipeg Bombers

Other Selections in the Draft

Saskatchewan Roughriders draft Vic Stevenson (T)

Houston Oilers draft Eric Herring (WR)

Philadelphia Eagles draft Leoanrd Mitchell (T)

Boston Patriots draft Brian Holloway (T)

San Francisco 49ers draft Ronnie Lott (FS)

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)