1978 NAFL season (Jayverse)

The 1978 NAFL season was the 59th regular season of the North American Football League

New Officials
Future referees Tom Dooley, Dale Hamer and Dick Hantak were among those entering the league. Bernie Ulman retired prior to the season, which left the NAFL with only 25 crews for the 1978 season. Dooley (103), Hamer (104) and Hantak (105) were among the first officials to wear triple-digit numbers, joined by Bob Boylston (101), Gene Carrabine (102), Al Jury (106), Jim Kearney (107), Bob McLaughlin (108), Sid Demon (109), and Jim Osborne (110).

Draft
The 1st Pick of the 1978 NAFL Draft went to the Pittsburgh Steelers in which they select Heisman Trophy Winner Terry Miller (RB) from Oklahoma State

Other Selections taken in the draft

Montreal Alouettes draft Jerry Friesen (LB)

Winnipeg Bombers draft Leo Ezerins (TE)

San Francisco 49ers draft Dan Bunz (LB)

Denver Broncos draft Don Latimer (DT)

Baltimore Colts draft Reese McCall (TE)

Buffalo Bills draft Scott Hutchinson (DE)

Detroit Lions draft Luther Bradley (SS)

Saskatchewan Roughriders draft Doug Redl (C)

Miami Dolphins draft Guy Benjamin (QB)

Cleveland Browns draft Clay Matthews (LB)

Minnesota Vikings draft Randy Holloway (DE)

Vancouver Lumberjacks draft John Blake (G)

Calgary Stampeders draft Miles Gorrell (DT)

Boston Patriots draft Bob Cryder (T)

St. Louis Gunners draft Steve Little (K)

Kentucky Bourbons draft Art Still (DE)

Hamilton Tiger-Cats draft Rocky DiPietro (RB)

New York Giants draft Odis McKinney (FS)

Jacksonville Sharks draft Wes Chandler (WR)

Washington Sentinels draft Tony Green (RB)

Edmonton Elks draft Joe Poplawski (WR)

Atlanta Falcons draft Mike Kenn (T)

New York Jets draft Chris Ward (T)

Chicago Bears draft Brad Shearer (DT)

New Orleans Saints draft Barry Bennett (DT)

San Diego Destroyers draft John Jefferson (WR)

Los Angeles Rams draft Frank Corral (K)

Kansas City Kings draft Sylvester Hicks (DE)

Philadelphia Eagles draft Reggie Wilkes (LB)

Oakland Raiders draft Dave Browning (DE)

Cincinnati Chargers draft Russ Browner (DE)

Seattle Orcas draft Keith Simpson (CB)

Houston Oilers draft Earl Campbell (RB)

Dallas Texans draft Larry Bethea (DT)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft Doug Williams (QB)

Ottawa Canadians draft Bruce Walker (WR)

Green Bay Packers draft James Lofton (WR)

San Francisco 49ers draft Dwight Hicks (FS)

Detroit Lions draft Al Baker (DE)

Miami Dolphins draft Doug Betters (DE)

Boston Patriots draft Mosi Tatupu (RB)

Washington Sentinels draft Tony Green (RB)

Edmonton Elks draft Warren Moon (QB)

Memphis Steamers draft Ozzie Newsome (TE)

New York Jets draft Gary Spani (LB)

Toronto Huskies draft Ken Clarke (DT)

Los Angeles Rams draft Doug Smith (C)

Kansas City Kings draft Bill Kenney (QB)

Oakland Raiders draft Todd Christensen (TE)

Houston Oilers draft Guido Merkens (WR)

Dallas Texans draft Dennis Thurman (FS)

Green Bay Packers draft Paul Coffman (TE)

San Francisco 49ers draft Fred Quillan (C)

Seattle Orcas draft Steve Courson (G)

Pittsburgh Steelers draft Ben Zambiasi (LB)

Standings
NFC East: Baltimore Colts (13-5), Philadelphia Eagles (12-6), New York Giants (12-6), Montreal Alouettes (7-11), Washington Redskins (6-12)

NFC Central: Pittsburgh Steelers (12-6), Minnesota Vikings (9-9), Chicago Bears (9-9), Cleveland Browns (7-11), Green Bay Packers (3-13)

NFC Mountain: Salt Lake City Pioneers (13-5), Denver Broncos (11-7), Calgary Stampeders (10-8), Saskatchewan Roughriders (7-11) Edmonton Eskimos (7-11)

NFC West: Portland Loggers (10-8), San Francisco 49ers (9-9), Dallas Cowboys (8-10), Los Angeles Rams (7-11), Las Vegas Gamblers (5-13)

CFC East: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (14-4), New York Empire (12-6), Ottawa Northmen (10-8), Boston Patriots (7-11), Halifax Schooners (5-13)

CFC Central: Buffalo Bills (12-6), Winnipeg Blue Bombers (11-7), Toronto Argonauts (11-7), Detroit Lions (8-10), Cincinnati Bengals (7-11)

CFC South: Atlanta Falcons (11-7), Birmingham Vulcans (9-9), Houston Oilers (8-10), Memphis Grizzlies (7-11), Miami Dolphins (7-11)

CFC West: Los Angeles Chargers (13-5), Seattle Jets (11-7), Sacramento Raiders (9-9), Phoenix Firebirds (7-11), British Columbia Cardinals (4-14)

Playoffs
Halas Cup Quarterfinals

New York Giants 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 17

Philadelphia Eagles 28, Portland Loggers 21

Grey Cup Quarterfinals

Toronto Argonauts 40, Buffalo Bills 28

New York Empire 14, Atlanta Falcons 7

Halas Cup Semi-Finals

New York Giants 35, Baltimore Colts 13

Philadelphia Eagles 45, Salt Lake City Pioneers 33

Grey Cup Semi-Finals

Los Angeles Chargers 31, Toronto Argonauts 21

Hamilton Tiger-Cats 38, New York Empire 14

Halas Cup Final

Philadelphia Eagles 42, New York Giants 17

Grey Cup Final

Hamilton Tiger-Cats 34, Los Angeles Chargers 20

19th World Series of Pro Football (at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, ON)

Philadelphia Eagles 30, Hamilton Tiger-Cats 20

NAFL All-Star Game (at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA)

National All-Stars 26, Continental All-Stars 10

Awards
League MVP: Derek Jackson (QB - Seattle Jets)

Playoff MVP: Leon McQuay (RB - Philadelphia Eagles)

Offensive POTY: Derek Jackson (QB - Seattle Jets)

Defensive POTY: Bill Bergey (LB - Philadelphia Eagles)

Offensive ROTY: James Lofton (WR - Salt Lake City Pioneers)

Defensive ROTY: Ralph Alicea (DE - Washington Redskins)