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: Toronto Huskies (12-4), New York Giants (9-7), Washington Sentinels (7-9), Baltimore Colts (6-10), Montreal Beavers (4-12), Philadelphia Eagles (4-12)

NFC North: Indianapolis Racers (14-2), Green Bay Packers (11-5), St. Louis Gunners (8-8), Milwaukee Mustangs (7-9), Chicago Bears (7-9), Detroit Lions (5-11)

NFC South: Dallas Texans (11-5), Kentucky Bourbons (10-6), Jacksonville Sharks (9-7), Mexico City Diablos (8-8), New Orleans Saints (8-8), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)

NFC West: Seattle Orcas (13-3), Portland Storm (10-6), Sacramento Condors (9-7), Denver Broncos (8-8), San Francisco 49ers (7-9), Las Vegas Gamblers (6-10), Los Angeles Rams (3-13)

AFC East: Brooklyn Barons (12-4), Ottawa Canadians (9-7), Boston Patriots (9-7), Buffalo Bills (7-9), New York Jets (5-11), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-11)

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

AFC South: Birmingham Vulcans (14-2), San Antonio Wings (10-6), Memphis Steamers (9-7), Atlanta Falcons (8-8), Houston Oilers (7-9), Miami Dolphins (5-11)

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

Playoffs
AFC Wildcard: Southern California def. San Antonio 18-14, Oakland def. Pittsburgh 17-13

NFC Wildcard: Portland def. Toronto 31-7, Green Bay def. Dallas 9-3

AFC Divisional: Southern California def. Brooklyn 44-23, Birmingham def. Oakland 33-14

NFC Divisional: Seattle def. Portland 16-3, Green Bay def. Indianapolis 28-14

AFC Championship: Birmingham def. Southern California 17-12

NFC Championship: Seattle def. Green Bay 20-10

Super Bowl XIII (at Stade Olympique in Montreal, Quebec): Seattle def. Birmingham 13-10

NAFL All-Star Game (at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA): AFC def. NFC 38-21

League Leaders
Passing Yards: Andrew Camarillo (Brooklyn) 4,804

Passing Touchdowns: Dan Fouts (Birmingham) 55

Passing Rating: Dan Fouts (Birmingham) 130.1

Rushing Yards: Chuck Foreman (Minnesota) 1,552

Receiving Yards: Gary Barry (Seattle) 1,815

Total Points: Rudy Steadman (Southern California) 150

Tackles: John Barbosa (Hamilton) 134

Sacks: Brian Shafer (Oakland) 21

Interceptions: Emmitt Thomas (Houston) 8