1989 NAFL season (Jayverse)

The 1989 NAFL season was the 70th regular season of the North American Football League. Before the season, NAFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement. Paul Tagliabue was eventually chosen to succeed him, taking over on November 5.

Rookie Draft
The Washington Sentinels took the Top Draft Choice to Select Florida State SS Deion Sanders, LSU LB Eric Hill was chosen as the 2nd pick in the NAFL Draft to the Arizona Firebirds, Winnipeg Bombers draft Moustafa Ali (FS) from Oklahoma State as the 3rd pick chosen in the Rookie Draft, Florida State RB Sammie Smith is Chosen to the Miami Dolphins as the 4th Pick Chosen in the Draft and Miami (FL) DE Bill Hawkins selected to the LA Rams as the 5th Pick Chosen.

Other Selections Taken were

Calgary Stampeders draft Carnell Lake (CB)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft Broderick Thomas (LB)

New York Jets draft Jeff Lageman (DE)

Edmonton Elks draft Michael Soles (FB)

Denver Broncos draft Steve Atwater (CB)

San Diego Destroyers draft Burt Grossman (DE)

Philadelphia Eagles draft Jessie Small (LB)

Pittsburgh Steelers draft Tim Worley (RB)

Buffalo Bills draft Don Beebe (WR)

Baltimore Ravens draft Andy Heck (T)

Dallas Cowboys draft Troy Aikman (QB)

Saskatchewan Roughriders draft Dan Payne (T)

Atlanta Falcons draft Keith Henderson (RB)

Vancouver Lumberjacks draft Derek MacCready (DE)

Portland Storm draft Scott Kozak (LB)

Cleveland Browns draft Eric Metcalf (RB)

Las Vegas Gamblers draft Cedric Davis (TE)

Detroit Lions draft Tony Mandarich (T)

Hamilton Tiger-Cats draft Wayne Drinkwalter (DT)

Cincinnati Chargers draft Eric Ball (RB)

Birmingham Vulcans draft Bobby Humphrey (RB)

Chicago Bears draft Donnell Woolford (CB)

Honolulu Raiders draft Jeff Francis (QB)

Toronto Huskies draft Mike Campbell (DT)

San Francisco 49ers draft Keith DeLong (LB)

Green Bay Packers draft Barry Sanders (RB)

Houston Oilers draft David Williams (T)

Kansas City Colts draft Derrick Thomas (LB)

New Orleans Saints draft Wayne Martin (DE)

New York Giants draft Brian Williams (C)

Ottawa Canadianas draft Gerald Wilcox (WR)

Jacksonville Sharks draft Steve Wisniewski (G)

Minnesota Vikings draft David Braxton (LB)

Indianapolis Racers draft Andre Rison (WR)

Boston Patriots draft Hart Lee Dykes (WR)

Washington Sentinels draft Mark Schlereth (G)

Denver Broncos draft David Treadwell (K)

San Diego Destroyers draft Marion Butts (RB)

Dallas Cowboys draft Daryl Johnston (FB)

San Francisco 49ers draft Wesley Walls (TE)

Green Bay Packers draft Chris Jacke (K)

New Orleans Saints draft Robert Massey (FS)

New York GIants draft Dave Meggett (RB)

Boston Patriots draft Marv Cook (TE)

Dallas Texans draft Mark Stepnoski (C)

New Orleans Saints draft Bennie Thompson (CB)

Mexico City Diablos draft Tony Tolbert (DE)

Final Standings
NFC East: New York Giants (8-8), Montreal Alouettes (7-9), Philadelphia Eagles (7-9), Toronto Huskies (6-10), Baltimore Ravens (4-12), Washington Sentinels (3-13)

NFC North: Indianapolis Racers (12-4), Detroit Lions (11-5), Chicago Bears (11-5), Kansas CIty Colts (10-6), Kentucky Bourbons (9-7), Green Bay Packers (7-9)

NFC South: Jacksonville Sharks (11-5), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5), Mexico City Diablos (10-6), New Orleans Saints (7-9), Dallas Texans (6-10), Arizona Firebirds (6-10)

NFC West: San Francisco 49ers (11-5), Sacramento Condors (10-6), Denver Broncos (8-8), Las Vegas Gamblers (8-8), Portland Storm (8-8), Seattle Orcas (6-10), Los Angeles Rams (3-13)

AFC East: Brooklyn Barons (9-7), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (9-7), Buffalo Bills (8-8), New York Jets (8-8), Boston Patriots (6-10), Ottawa Canadians (5-11)

AFC North: Saskatchewan Roughriderrs (10-6), Cleveland Browns (10-6), Minnesota Vikings (9-7), Cincinnati Chargers (8-8), Winnipeg Bombers (5-11), Pittsburgh Steelers (4-12)

AFC South: Memphis Steamers (12-4), San Antonio Gunslingers (11-5), Houston Oilers (9-7), Miami Dolphins (9-7), Atlanta Falcons (6-10), Birmingham Vulcans (3-13)

AFC West: Honolulu Raiders (12-4), Oakland Invaders (10-6), Calgary Stampeders (9-7), Vancouver Lumberjacks (9-7), Edmonton Elks (8-8), Southern California Sun (6-10), San Diego Destroyers (5-11)

Playoffs
AFC Wildcard: Cleveland def. Saskatchewan 24-9, Brooklyn def. San Antonio 37-10

NFC Wildcard: San Francico def. Tampa Bay 10-7, NY Giants def. Detroit 21-16

AFC Divisional: Honolulu def. Cleveland 24-20, Memphis def. Brooklyn 34-13

NFC Divisional: Jacksonville def. San Francisco 38-31, Indianapolis def. NY Giants 10-6

AFC Championship: Memphis def. Honolulu 35-3

NFC Championship: Jacksonville def. Indianapolis 34-21

Super Bowl XXIV (at The Superdome in New Orleans, LA): Jacksonville def. Memphis 31-24

NAFL All-Star Game (at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PA): NFC def. AFC 38-31

League Leaders
Passing Yards - Grant Alvarez (Edmonton) 5,457

Passing TD's - Ron Sally (Jacksonville) 45

Passing Rating - Boomer Esiason (Minnesota) 115.9

Rushing Yards - Warren Hudson (Philadelphia) 1,691

Receiving Yards - Andre Reed (Boston) 1,916

Total Points - Ryan Cantwell (Jacksonville) 153

Tackles - Andre Tippett (Saskatchewan) 141

Sacks - Christopher Duckworth (Chicago) 17

Interceptions - James Francis (Dallas) 7