1979 NAFL season (Jayverse)

The 1979 NAFL Season was the 60th Regular Season of the North American Football League

Major Rule Changes

 * Whenever the quarterback is sacked, the clock will be stopped for at least five seconds and then restarted again.
 * If a fair catch is made, or signaled and awarded to a team because of interference, on the last play of a half or overtime, the period can be extended and the team can run one play from scrimmage or attempt a fair catch kick.
 * Defensive linemen can wear numbers 90 to 99.
 * Centers are included as the interior offensive linemen in the uniform numbering system.
 * Players are prohibited from wearing torn or altered equipment. Tear-away jerseys are banned.
 * During kickoffs, punts, and field goal attempts, players on the receiving team cannot block below the waist.
 * The zone in which crackback blocks are prohibited is extended from 3 yards on either side of the line of scrimmage to 5.
 * Players cannot use their helmets to butt, spear, or ram an opponent. Any player who uses the crown or the top of his helmet unnecessarily will be called for unnecessary roughness.
 * In order to prevent incidents such as the Holy Roller game, the following change is made: If an offensive player fumbles during a fourth down play, or during any down played after the two-minute warning in a half or overtime, only the fumbling player can recover and/or advance the ball.
 * Referees were outfitted with black identifying hats, while all other officials continued to wear white hats.
 * For the first time, each official's position was identified on his shirt. The position was abbreviated on the front pocket of the shirt and then spelled out on the back above the number.
 * The numbering system for officials was altered, with officials numbered separately by position rather than as an entire group, making duplicate numbers among officials common.
 * Uprights were extended to 30 feet above the crossbar.

New Officials
Jerry Seeman was promoted to referee succeeding Don Wedge who returned to being a deep wing official, primarily as a back judge.

Draft
The 1979 NAFL Rookie Draft took place as the Los Angeles Rams got the first pick to draft Ohio State LB Tom Cousineau

Other Picks taken in the draft were

Philadelphia Eagles draft Jerry Robinson (LB)

Cleveland Browns draft Willis Adams (WR)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft Greg Roberts (G)

Montreal Alouettes draft Nick Arakgi (TE)

Detroit Lions draft Keith Dorney (T)

Hamilton Tiger-Cats draft John Priestner (DB)

Miami Dolphins draft Jon Giesler (T)

Winnipeg Bombers draft Rick House (RB)

New York Jets draft Marty Lyons (DE)

Calgary Stampeders draft Rob Forbes (FB)

Las Vegas Gamblers draft Doug Robertson (QB)

Cincinnati Bengals draft Charles Alexander (RB)

Baltimore Colts draft Barry Krauss (LB)

Houston Oilers draft Mike Stensrud (DT)

San Francisco 49ers draft Joe Montana (QB)

Washington Sentinels draft Don Warren (TE)

Edmonton Elks draft Marco Cyncar (WR)

Chicago Bears draft Dan Hampton (DT)

Buffalo Bills draft Jerry Butler (WR)

Minnesota Vikings draft Ted Brown (RB)

Vancouver Lumberjacks draft Nick Hebeler (DE)

Atlanta Falcons draft Don Smith (DT)

New Orleans Saints draft Russell Erxleben (P)

Denver Broncos draft Kelvin Clark (T)

Saskatchewan Roughriders draft Tim Hook (G)

Standings
NFC East: Montreal Alouettes (13-5), New York Giants (11-7), Baltimore Colts (8-10), Philadelphia Eagles (8-10), Washington Redskins (8-10)

NFC Central: Minnesota Vikings (14-4), Chicago Bears (12-6), Pittsburgh Steelers (8-10), Cleveland Browns (8-10), Green Bay Packers (6-12)

NFC Mountain: Saskatchewan Roughriders (11-7), Calgary Stampeders (11-7), Denver Broncos (9-9), Edmonton Eskimos (9-9), Salt Lake City Pioneers (8-10)

NFC West: Portland Loggers (13-5), Dallas Cowboys (11-7), Las Vegas Gamblers (9-9), San Francisco 49ers (6-12), Los Angeles Rams (6-12)

CFC East: New York Empire (13-5), Halifax Schooners (9-9), Boston Patriots (9-9), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (9-9), Ottawa Northmen (7-11)

CFC Central: Buffalo Bills (10-8), Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-10), Cincinnati Bengals (8-10), Detroit Lions (8-10), Toronto Argonauts (7-11)

CFC South: Memphis Grizzlies (12-6), Miami Dolphins (8-10), Houston Oilers (6-12), Birmingham Vulcans (6-12), Atlanta Falcons (5-13)

CFC West: Los Angeles Chargers (14-4), Seattle Jets (10-8), Phoenix Firebirds (9-9), British Columbia Cardinals (7-11), Sacramento Raiders (6-12)

Playoffs
Halas Cup Quarterfinal

Portland Loggers 31, Calgary Stampeders 28

Saskatchewan Roughriders 45, Chicago Bears 24

Grey Cup Quarterfinal

Memphis Grizzlies 55, Boston Patriots 31

Buffalo Bills 25, Seattle Jets 22

Halas Cup Semifinal

Montreal Alouettes 41, Portland Loggers 14

Minnesota Vikings 41, Saskatchewan Roughriders 35

Grey Cup Semifinal

Memphis Grizzlies 21, New York Empire 17

Buffalo Bills 28, Los Angeles Chargers 25

Halas Cup Final

Montreal Alouettes 10, Minnesota Vikings 3

Grey Cup Final

Buffalo Bills 52, Memphis Grizzlies 30

20th World Series of Pro Football (at Stade Olympique in Montreal, QU)

Montreal Alouettes 27, Buffalo Bills 24

NAFL All-Star Game (at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, HI)

Continental All-Stars 48, National All-Stars 27

Awards
League MVP: Roger Staubach (QB - Los Angeles Chargers)

Playoff MVP: Joseph Beckett (QB - Buffalo Bills)

Offensive POTY: Roger Staubach (QB - Los Angeles Chargers)

Defensive POTY: Dick Butkus (LB - Portland Loggers)

Offensive ROTY: Joe Montana (QB - Dallas Cowboys)

Defensive ROTY: Garry Cobb (LB - Denver Broncos)