Rare Photos from the 1980 NFL Season

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
May 15, 2013

Rare Photos from the 1980 NFL Season

Future Hall of Fame running backs Earl Campbell (right) and Walter Payton share a laugh following the Houston Oilers game against the Chicago Bears on Nov. 16. Campbell led the league with 1,934 rushing yards in 1980, while Payton finished second with 1,460.

Bill Amatucci Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images

Amid his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl campaign, feared Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jack Lambert watches from the sideline during a Sept. 14 game against the Baltimore Colts. During his Hall of Fame career, Lambert participated in the Pro Bowl nine straight times and won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award twice.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning speaks with St. Louis Cardinals quarterback Jim Hart following their Oct. 5 game in the Superdome. Manning threw for only 49 yards in the team's 40-7 defeat, one of New Orleans' league-worst 15 losses that season.

Denver Broncos quarterbacks Craig Morton (left) and Matt Robinson chat before their game against the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 1. Morton got the start, but the two split time throughout the 1980 season, with Morton starting nine games and Robinson seven.

San Diego Chargers receiving targets Charlie Joiner, John Jefferson and Kellen Winslow pose for a photo during an Oct. 12 game against the Oakland Raiders. The trio combined for 340 receiving yards on the day in a 38-24 loss. San Diego met the Raiders again in the AFC Championship Game, losing a closer 34-27 contest.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris rumbles into the secondary for big yardage against the Houston Oilers. Though the Steelers won the game 31-17, they finished two games behind the Oilers in the AFC Central and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1971-72 season.

bob-Griese.2.jpg — Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Bob Griese focuses on stretching through his thick, signature eyeglasses. After it was revealed he was legally blind in one eye, Griese started wearing the spectacles during the 1977 season.

bob-griese.0.jpg — Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

A backup at the start of the season, Miami Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese won back his starting role after leading the team to comeback wins against the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. A shoulder injury sidelined Griese for the rest of the season though, and eventually forced his retirement on June 25, 1981.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Lee Roy Selmon stretches before a Week 8 game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Bucs first draft pick in 1976, Selmon compiled 78 1/2 sacks over his professional career. Though he didn't have any in this one, Tampa Bay beat San Francisco 24-23.

Houston Oilers placekicker Toni Fritsch watches as his field goal attempt is blocked by Oakland Raider John Matuszak and recovered by defensive back Lester Hayes (37) during their playoff matchup on Dec. 28. Hayes also added two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, in the Raiders 27-7 win.

Only a second-year player in 1980, San Francisco 49er Joe Montana alternated at quarterback with incumbent Steve DeBerg. In a sign of things to come, Montana threw for 1,795 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions; his 64.6 completion percentage led the NFL.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Lyle Alzado (77) congratulates defensive back Clinton Burrell during a Dec. 7 game against the New York Jets. Though their defense ranked 23rd in the NFL in yards allowed, the Browns won the AFC Central and made the playoffs for the first time since the 1972-73 season.

bart-starr.3.jpg — Tony Tomsic/Getty Images

Head coaches Bart Starr of the Green Bay Packers (left) and Chuck Noll of the Pittsburgh Steelers shake hands after their teams collided in Three Rivers Stadium. The coaches faced off three times over the course of their careers, with Noll's Steelers emerging victorious in all three.

Derrick Ramsey of the Oakland Raiders celebrates teammate Lester Hayes' pass coverage during their playoff matchup with the Houston Oilers on Dec. 28. Ramsey and the Raiders did a lot of celebrating in the 1980-81 season, winning the franchise's second Super Bowl title.

Traded from the Houston Oilers to the Oakland Raiders before the 1980 season, injured quarterback Dan Pastorini gave Oilers coach Bum Phillips a piece of his mind prior to the AFC Wild Card game on Dec. 27. Even with Pastorini sidelined with a broken leg, the Raiders defeated the Oilers 27-7.

Oakland Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett warms up before a 10-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 23. Plunkett would later defeat the Eagles to win Super Bowl XV.

ron-Jaworski.82906459_10.jpg — Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski loosens up before one of his 16 starts during the 1980 season. Jaworski started 116 consecutive games for the Eagles between 1977-1984, a mark that has only been eclipsed by Brett Favre and Peyton Manning.

Broadcaster Don Meredith interviews legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry. Landry's squad finished 12-4 that year and lost in the NFC Championship Game to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Actor Bob Hope interviews San Diego Chargers president Eugene V. Klein. Behind the strength of quarterback Dan Fouts 4,715 passing yards, Klein's Chargers went 11-5 before losing to the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship Game.

bill-walsh.2.jpg — Michael Zagaris/Getty Images

San Francisco head coach Bill Walsh mans the sidelines during a preseason matchup with the Oakland Raiders. The 49ers would finish 6-10 that year, but would improve to 13-3 in 1981 with new starting quarterback Joe Montana under center.

One of two quarterbacks to win four Super Bowls, Terry Bradshaw gets ready for a midseason matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bradshaw was on his back quite often during the 1980 season. He was sacked a career-high 33 times.

Houston Oilers quarterback Ken Stabler (right) talks to Oakland Raiders defensive end John Matuszak before their AFC playoff matchup. The Raiders all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns and completions, Stabler was traded to the Oilers before the 1980 season, following a lengthy contract dispute.

Oakland Raiders kicker Ray Guy punts during the team's 27-7 playoff win over the Oilers. The first punter ever selected in the first round, Guy averaged under 40 yards per punt only once during his 14 years in the league and had only three of his 1,049 career punts blocked.

A member of the famed "Steel Curtain" defense, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end L.C. Greenwood towels off during a Nov. 9 game in Tampa Bay. Greenwood played 15 games for the Steelers in what would be his second-to-last season in his 13-year career.

Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann sets to pass. After starting the season 3-9 as a starter, Theismann led Washington to three straight victories to end the year. The success didn't translate to next season though, as the Redskins began their 1981 campaign 0-5.

Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images

Head Coach Bart Starr prepares his Green Bay Packers before they take on the Chicago Bears on Sept. 7. Starr, a two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback for the Packers, was less impressive in his sideline role, going a lowly 52-76 in nine seasons as head coach. Green Bay won this game 12-6.

Rare Photos from the 1980 NFL Season

Rare Photos from the 1980 NFL Season

Latest NFL News

Saquon to Eagles? 'Keep An Eye' on Philly

Bears Stadium Proposal for Lakefront Revealed in Report

Jets Re-Sign Free Agent for Aaron Rodgers Offense

Jack Jones Has Quickly Embraced the Las Vegas Raiders

Commanders 'Have All The Resources' to Build Around Franchise QB