Rare Photos from the 1987 NFL Season

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Oct 15, 2010

Rare Photos from the 1987 NFL Season

The NFL Players' Union went on strike midway through the 1987 season to lobby for a collective bargaining agreement, leaving many teams without complete rosters. Owners hastily picked up replacement players to fill the void, one such player being Sean Payton, a reserve quarterback for the Chicago "Spare Bears." Though he completed just eight of 23 passes during his brief stint in the league, Payton later found success in the NFL, coaching the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl XLIV championship. Send comments to siwriters@simail.com

Dan Marino was one of the many stars who participated in the 1987 players' strike, forcing him to miss three of Miami's early season contests. His replacement, Kyle Mackey, was not as effective, throwing three touchdowns to five interceptions while steering Miami to a 1-2 record in Marino's absence.

Amid the 1987 players' strike, Giants' safety Kenny Hill pretends to unleash his dog on a nearby group of photographers. The players' voted to strike on Sept. 22, a protest that would continue for 24 days. That lost time would be quite costly for Hill and Co., as the Giants' replacements lost all three contests they participated in, and New York failed to make the playoffs to defend its 1986 Super Bowl title.

Jokingly dubbed the San Francisco "Phoney-Niners," replacements Mike Varajon (48), Michael Durrette (64) and Tony Cherry (23) prepare to take the field before a game against the New York Giants in Week 3. The replacements fared well in their Monday Night contest, knocking off what remained of the defending champs 41-21. San Francisco didn't miss a beat during the 1987 players' strike, winning all three games that its stars missed.

Redskins' quarterback Jay Schroeder stands with a placard during the 1987 players' strike. Washington's leading man had an up-and-down season for the team, starting only 10 games because of a shoulder injury that nagged him throughout the year. That opened the door for Doug Williams to become the starter before the team's eventual Super Bowl run, and a discarded Schroeder was traded to the Raiders in the subsequent offseason.

A bevy of fans who supported the players in the strike protested as other fans headed into RFK Stadium for a game between the Redskins and Cardinals.

Two geniuses of the gridiron, head coaches Bill Walsh and Bill Parcells talk things over before their Monday Night contest on Oct. 5. Walsh's play-calling proved to be superior in this one, as the 49ers defeated the Giants 41-21. The game took place during the 24-day players' strike.

With four Super Bowl titles, three MVP awards and a reputation for coming through in the clutch, Joe Montana was beloved in the San Francisco area. So much so, in fact, that during the 1987 players' strike, Montana was asked by replacement players to sign autographs. He does so here, before flinging four touchdowns in a 34-28 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

An essential member of the 49ers' vaunted defense, Ronnie Lott had five interceptions for San Francisco during their terrific 13-2 campaign in 1987. The 49ers rolled into the playoffs as favorites, only to be upset by the streaking Vikings 36-24 in the Divisional Round on Jan. 9.

Hall-of-Famers Ronnie Lott and John Stallworth share a moment after their Sept. 13 game in Pittsburgh. The exchange can be viewed as a passing of the guard: Stallworth would retire after 1987, while Lott's 49ers would go 13-2 before winning the Super Bowl the following two seasons.

Joe Montana gets carted off the field during a Dec. 14 game against the Chicago Bears. Montana tortured defenses throughout his 11 games that year, accumulating 31 touchdowns while leading the 49ers to a 10-1 mark. His injury forced him to miss the NFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Vikings, and a Steve Young-led San Francisco squad was defeated 36-24.

In his first game in the NFL, Seahawks' linebacker Brian Bosworth recorded nine tackles during the team's 40-17 loss to the Denver Broncos. The Boz generated all sorts of hype entering the season, landing a first-year contract of $10 million, then the biggest in NFL rookie history. He would never live up to the billing. After sustaining a shoulder injury, Bosworth was bounced from the league by 1989.

Broncos quarterback John Elway and Brian Bosworth had this run-in during the Sept. 13 opener in Denver.

jerry-rice-edward-j.-debartolo-jr.jpg — Michael Zagaris/Getty Images

San Francisco owner Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. embraces Jerry Rice during the team's 48-0 rout of the Los Angeles Rams. He had reason to celebrate with his star receiver, as Rice pulled in an astonishing 22 touchdowns over the course of the 1987 campaign. That would remain an NFL record until 2007, when then-Patriot Randy Moss finished with 23.

Raider greats Marcus Allen (left) and Todd Christensen march onto the field during Los Angeles' Sept. 20 matchup with New England. Quite the duo, Allen and Christensen combined for 1,817 yards from scrimmage in only 12 regular season games. Despite their success, the Raiders flopped to 5-10 and a fourth-place AFC West finish.

Regarded by some as the greatest center in NFL history, "Iron Mike" Webster takes a seat on the bench during a Nov. 12 game against San Francisco. The Steelers finished 8-7 record, a game out of playoff contention.

One of the revered "Monsters of the Midway," linebacker Mike Singletary readies himself during their Dec. 27 showdown with the Los Angeles Raiders. Singletary's defense would key a 6-3 Chicago win, propelling the Bears into a divisional playoff game against the Washington Redskins on Jan. 10. The Bears weren't as fortunate in that contest, losing 21-17.

Two years after guiding "Da Bears" to one of the most storied seasons in NFL history, Mike Ditka led Chicago back to the playoffs during their gritty 1987 campaign. They'd come up short in a divisional matchup with Washington, though, and would fail to make the Super Bowl for the second year in a row. Ditka led the Bears to the postseason seven times throughout his coaching tenure, but he only hoisted the Lombardi Trophy once.

Rich Karlis attempts a field goal barefooted during a 17-10 win over Seattle in Mile High Stadium. He made 18 of 25 that season.

Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images

Mouthing off before a Dec. 20 game against the New York Jets is Eagles' defensive end Reggie White. White was truly unstoppable during the 1987 season, accumulating 21 sacks, tops in the NFL. The "Minister of Defense" was virtually unblockable during his eight years for the Eagles, registering 124 sacks, an alltime Philadelphia record. He remains the NFL's second all-time sacks leader with 198.

The Giants were riding high entering the 1987 season, celebrating a Super Bowl XXI drubbing of the Denver Broncos the previous January. The good times didn't last too long. New York, and linebacker Carl Banks, dropped its first five games en route to a disappointing 6-9 season.

Walter Payton thrusts the football over his head in celebration during the Chicago Bears 1987 season, his last in the NFL. Payton added 533 rushing yards to his then-record setting 16,726 total, and his Chicago Bears cruised to an 11-4 mark.

Robert Rosamilio/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

A Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Georgia, running back Herschel Walker was dynamic in the NFL as well, breaking past defenses for 19 touchdowns in his first two years for the Dallas Cowboys. He didn't do any scoring during this Sept. 21 game against the New York Giants, though, as a diving Walker was stifled by a similarly airborne Lawrence Taylor. Despite the stand, Dallas prevailed 16-14.

Running back Bo Jackson breaks free of a Bruce Smith tackle during a Dec. 6 matchup in Los Angeles. Jackson dominated the headlines during his rookie season, racking up 554 rushing yards despite splitting time with the MLB's Kansas City Royals. Most memorably, Jackson scampered for 229 yards during a Monday Night game against the Seahawks, including a historic 91-yard run that humiliated fellow newcomer Brian Bosworth.

Tight end Kellen Winslow and the Chargers sprinted out the gates in 1987, winning eight of their first nine games to take a comfortable lead atop the AFC West. Too comfortable, perhaps, as they'd lose their next six, including this 31-17 contest to the Denver Broncos, to finish a disappointing third in the division.

Before he became a Super Bowl-winning coach with the Indianapolis Colts, Tony Dungy worked his way up as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A defensive force during his 13 years on the line for the Raiders, Howie Long barrels upfield during a Week 15 matchup with Chicago. The Oakland defense proved to be a formidable test for the explosive Bears' offense, holding Walter Payton, Mike Tomczak and Co. to a measly six points. Unfortunately for Long, the Los Angeles offense could only muster a field goal in response as Chicago triumphed 6-3.

Offensive tackle Anthony Munoz (78) was a quarterback's best friend during his 14 seasons in the NFL, making the Pro-Bowl a staggering 11 consecutive years from 1981 to 1991. Even he couldn't stop the Bengals' 1987 season from sinking, though, as Cincinnati slipped to an underwhelming 4-11.

An 1,000 yard rusher in each of his first three seasons with the Colts, running back Eric Dickerson stiff-arms Jets' defender Harry Hamilton during their Nov. 1 showdown. The ex-Los Angeles Rams running back was traded to Indianapolis three weeks into the season because of contract disputes, and propelled the franchise to its first playoff appearance in 10 years by winning four of the team's final five games.

The sure-handed Steve Largent makes one of his eight touchdown catches during a Nov. 7 matchup with the Giants. The definition of consistency at the wideout position, Largent hauled in 100 touchdown grabs over his prolific 14-year career, earning him induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995. In 1987, his Seahawks finished 9-6.

Raiders' defensive tackle Sean Jones torpedoes Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly during their Dec. 6 contest in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Though Kelly led the Bills' to four Super Bowl appearances, he was not as successful in 1987, guiding his team to a pedestrian 7-8 record. The Raiders won this game 34-21.

Steelers' safety Donnie Shell eyes down Joe Montana during their Week 1 matchup. The vaunted Pittsburgh defense got the best of Montana, forcing him to throw three interceptions in a 30-17 San Francisco defeat. It was the 49ers who got the last laugh, though, as they won 13 of their final 14 to finish a league best 13-2 during the regular season.

The greatest quarterback never to win a Super Bowl, Dan Marino barks out play calls to his team during a Nov. 8 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Hall of Fame signal-caller tossed for 3,245 yards in 1987, a total that ranked fourth in the NFL.

New York linebacker Harry Carson smothers New England quarterback Steve Grogan during the Giants' 17-10 victory in Week 9. Though New York stumbled to a 6-9 record in 1987, Carson delivered an impressive campaign, notching a sack and a fumble recovery in the strike-plauged season. Carson was also named to the Pro-Bowl for the ninth and final time in his illustrious career.

Known for his field awareness and ability to jump receivers' routes, Seattle safety Kenny Easley tallied 32 interceptions during his seven-year career. One of those came during a Sept. 13 contest against the Broncos, when Easley snagged an errant John Elway pass. It wasn't enough, however, as Denver thumped Seattle 40-17.

Saints' kicker Morten Andersen watches as his kick sails through the uprights during a Nov. 29 matchup with the Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium. Then 27, Andersen played for a New Orleans' squad that claimed an NFC Wild Card playoff berth. Though they'd drop their first round game with Minnesota 44-10, Andersen would play another 20 years, retiring as a member of the Atlanta Falcons at 47.

The Bears were just one of the many victims of the 49ers' 1987 campaign as Bill Walsh's boys finished 13-2 heading into the playoffs. Their offense was prolific -- scoring an NFL leading 459 points -- and featured big names such as Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Roger Craig.

Browns' quarterback Bernie Kosar gets set to deliver a pass during their Week 7 matchup with the San Diego Chargers. He was more accurate than not over the course of the season, completing 62 percent of his passes while firing a career-high 24 touchdown passes. Kosar pioneered the Browns to 10-5 and an AFC Central Division crown, though they dropped this one 27-24.

Throughout his 15-year NFL tenure, Dan Fouts decimated opposing defenses. The quarterback accrued over 43,000 passing yards and 254 touchdowns, earning him MVP honors twice. In 1987, however, Fouts' final season went out with more of a whimper than a bang. The Chargers lost their final six games to miss out on playoff action.

Known for his free-spirit personality as much as his on-field triumphs, Bears' quarterback Jim McMahon sets to pass during the 1987 season. McMahon played well during his six starts, going 5-1 while tossing 12 touchdowns, but had to sit out for most of the year due to a lingering shoulder injury. He would remain only one more season in Chicago, as conflicts with head coach Mike Ditka prompted a trade to San Diego in 1989. Send comments to siwriters@simail.com

Rare Photos from the 1987 NFL Season

Rare Photos from the 1987 NFL Season

Latest NFL News

Lions to Sign Amik Robertson

New Orleans Saints Defensive Tackle Reuniting With Sean Payton In Denver

Packers 2024 Free Agent Tracker: Aaron Jones Released, Joins Vikings

Morse Says Farewell, Thanks Bills For 'Blessings'

Tulane's Former Speedy Receiver Signs With New Orleans Saints' Division Rival To Provide Kirk Cousins Offensive Firepower