1986 NAFL season (Jayverse)

The 1986 NAFL season was the 27th Regular Season of the North American Football League.

Major rule changes

 * Players are prohibited from wearing apparel, equipment, or other items that carry commercial names, names of organizations, or any type of personal message unless they get specific permission from the league.
 * If the offensive team commits a dead ball foul during the last two minutes of a half, the clock will start at the snap.
 * If an offensive player fumbles the ball and it goes forward and out of bounds, the ball is returned to that team at the spot of the fumble.
 * If an offensive player fumbles the ball in the field of play and it goes out of bounds in the opponent's end zone, the ball is given to the defensive team at the spot of the fumble (this rule would be changed in 1991 to result in a touchback).
 * A limited system of instant replay was adopted to aid officiating. A replay official in a booth would decide what plays to review and make the final ruling, regardless of the current score or the amount of time left in the game. The replay official communicated with the game officials via radio transmitters. However, there was no time limit on how long the replay official could review a play and this led to long game delays (this was a major reason why the system was eventually repealed in 1992 and not brought back until a more comprehensive replay system with time limits were established in 1999).

New Referee
Dick Hantak was promoted to referee. Fred Silva was then assigned as a swing official instead of his own crew.

Final Standings
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles (12-4), Baltimore Colts (10-6), New York Giants (8-8), Montreal Alouettes (6-10), Washington Redskins (5-11), New Jersey Generals (4-12)

NFC Central: Pittssburgh Steelers (10-6), Green Bay Packers (9-7), Chicago Bears (9-7), Dallas Cowboys (8-8), Minnesota Vikings (6-10), Cleveland Browns (4-12)

NFC Mountain: Salt Lake City Pioneers (13-3), Denver Broncos (13-3), Saskatchewan Roughriders (11-5), Edmonton Eskimos (10-6), Calgary Stampeders (8-8), Boise Steelheads (8-8)

NFC West: Portland Loggers (8-8), San Francisco 49ers (8-8), Tokyo Samurai (8-8), Honolulu Hawaiians (6-10), Reno Rhinos (6-10), Las Vegas Gamblers (6-10), Los Angeles Rams (4-12)

CFC East: Halifax Schooners (13-3), London Monarchs (10-6), Boston Patriots (9-7), Ottawa Northmen (8-8), New York Empire (8-8), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-11)

CFC Central: Buffalo Bills (11-5), Cincinnati Bengals (10-6), Indianapolis Checkers (10-6), Toronto Argonauts (9-7), Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-8), Detroit Lions (4-12)

CFC South: Birmingham Vulcans (9-7), Miami Dolphins (8-8), Houston Oilers (7-9), Memphis Grizzlies (6-10), New Orleans Breakers (4-12), Atlanta Falcons (4-12)

CFC West: San Diego Chargers (15-1), Phoenix Firebirds (10-6), Oakland Invaders (8-8), Seattle Jets (7-9), British Columbia Cardinals (7-9), Sacramento Raiders (6-10), Los Angeles Express (4-12)

Playoffs
Halas Cup Quarterfinal

Saskatchewan Roughriders 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 17

Denver Broncos 34, Portland Loggers 21

Grey Cup Quarterfinal

Buffalo Bills 27, Phoenix Firebirds 17

London Monarchss 38, Birmingham Vulcans 3

Halas Cup Semi-Final

Philadelphia Eagles 34, Saskatchewan Roughriders 28

Denver Broncos 44, Salt Lake City Pioneers 35

Grey Cup Semi-Final

Buffalo Bills 23, Halifax Schooners 17

San Diego Chargers 30, London Monarchs 28

Halas Cup Final

Philadelphia Eagles 41, Denver Broncos 21

Grey Cup Final

San Diego Chargers 23, Buffalo Bills 3

27th World Series of Pro Football (at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, CA)

San Diego Chargers 24, Philadelphia Eagles 19

The 1987 NAFL All-Star Game (at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, CA)

National All-Stars 56, Continental All-Stars 24

Awards
League MVP: Dan Marino (QB - Honolulu Hawaiians)

Playoff MVP: Mark Harris (QB - San Diego Chargers)

Offensive POTY: Dan Marino (QB - Honolulu Hawaiians)

Defensive POTY: Sam Mills (LB - London Monarchs)

Offensive ROTY: Herschel Walker (RB - Montreal Alouettes)

Defensive ROTY: John Offerdahl (LB - Miami Dolphins)