​​Regular Season Awards


Most Valuable Player​

1980 - Brian Sipe (QB)

Cleveland Browns

1981 - Ken Anderson (QB)

Cincinnati Bengals

1982 - Mark Moseley (K)

Washinton Redskins

* Only kicker to win MVP Award

1983 - Joe Theismann (QB)

Washington Redskins

1984 - Dan Marino (QB)

Miami Dolphins

1985 - Marcus Allen (RB)

Los Angeles Raiders

1986 - Lawrence Taylor (LB)

New York Giants

1987 - John Elway (QB)

Denver Broncos

1988 - Boomer Esiason (QB)

Cincinnati Bengals

1989 - Joe Montana (QB)

San Francisco 49ers​  (Quarterback)


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 Defensive Player of the Year


  1980 - Lester Hayes

  Oakland Raiders  (Defensive Back)
  1981 - Lawrence Taylor

  New York Giants  (Linebacker)
  1982 - Lawrence Taylor

  New York Giants  (Linebacker)
  1983 - Doug Betters

  Miami Dolphins  (Defensive End)
  1984 - Kenny Easley

  Seattle Seahawks  (Safety)
  1985 - Mike Singletary

  Chicago Bears  (Linebacker)
  1986 - Lawrence Taylor

  New York Giants  (Linebacker)
  1987 - Reggie White

  Philadelphia Eagles  (Defensive End)
  1988 - Mike Singletary

  Chicago Bears  (Linebacker)
  1989 - Keith Millard

  MinnesotaVikings  (Defensive End)


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  Rookie of the Year


  Offense

  1980 - Billy Simms

  Detroit Lions  (Running Back)
  1981 - George Rogers

  New Orleans Saints  (Running Back)
  1982 - Marcus Allen

  Los Angeles Raiders  (Running Back)
  1983 - Dan Marino

  Miami Dolphins  (Quarterback)
  1984 - Louis Lipps

  Pittsburgh Steelers  (Wide Receiver)
  1985 - Eddie Brown

  Cincinnati Bengals  (Wide Receiver)
  1986 - Rueben Mayes

  New Orleans Saints  (Running Back)
  1987 - Troy Stradford

  Miami Dolphins  (Running Back)
  1988 - John Stephens

  New England Patriots  (Running Back)
  1989 - Barry Sanders

  Detroit Lions  (Running Back)


  Defense
  1980 - Buddy Curry and Al Richardson

  Atlanta Falcons  (Linebackers)
  1981 - Lawrence Taylor

  New York Giants  (Linebacker)
  1982 - Chip Banks

  Cleveland Browns  (Linebacker)
  1983 - Vernon Maxwell

  Baltimore Colts  (Linebacker)
  1984 - Bill Maas

  Kansas City Chiefs  (Defensive Tackle)
  1985 - Duane Bickett

  Baltimore Colts  (Linebacker)
  1986 - Leslie O'Neil

  San Diego Chargers  (Defensive End)
  1987 - Shane Conlan

  Buffalo Bills  (Linebacker)
  1988 - Erik McMillan

  New York Jets  (Safety)
  1989 - Derrick Thomas

  Kansas City Chiefs  (Linebacker)


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 Coach of the Year
  1980 - Chuck Knox

  Pittsburgh Steelers
  1981 - Bill Walsh

  San Francisco 49ers
  1982 - Joe Gibbs

  Washington Redskins
  1983 - Joe Gibbs

  Washington Redskins
  1984 - Chuck Knox

  Pittsburgh Steelers
  1985 - Mike Ditka

  Chicago Bears
  1986 - Bill Parcells

  New York Giants
  1987 - Jim Mora

  New Orleans Saints
  1988 - Mike Ditka

  Chicago Bears
  1989 - Lindy Infante

  Green Bay Packers

Super Bowl Winners

 

1980 - Oakland Raiders

Losing Team:  Philadelphia Eagles

Score:  27-10

MVP:  Jim Plunkett    Coach:  Tom Flores


1981 - San Francisco 49ers

Losing Team:  Cincinnati Bengals

Score:  26-21

MVP:  Joe Montana   Coach: Bill Walsh


1982 - Washington Redskins

Losing Team:  Miami Dolphins

Score:  27-17

MVP:  John Riggins    Coach:  Joe Gibbs


1983 - Los Angeles Raiders

Losing Team:  Washington Redskins

Score:  38-9

MVP:  Marcus Allen​    Coach:  Tom Flores


1984 - San Francisco 49ers

Losing Team:  Miami Dolphina

Score:  38-16

MVP:  Joe Montana    Coach:  Bill Walsh


​1985 - Chicago Bears

​Losing Team:  New England Patriots

Score:  46-10

MVP:  Richard Dent    Coach:  Mike Ditka


1986 - New York Giants

Losing Team:  Denver Broncos

Score:  39-20

MVP:  Otis Anderson    Coach:  Bill Parcells


1987  Washington Redskins

Losing Team:  Denver Broncos

Score:  42-10

MVP:  Doug Williams    Winning Coach:  Joe Gibbs​


1988  San Francisco 49ers

Losing Team:  Cincinnati Bengals

Score:  20-16

MVP:  Jerry Rice​    Winning Coach:  Bill Walsh


​1989  San Francisco 49ers 55 Denver Broncos 10

Losing Team:  Denver Broncos

Score:  55-10

MVP:  Joe Montana​​    Winning Coach:  George Seifert

The Los Angeles Raiders beat the Washington Redskins 38-9 in Super Bowl XVIII at Tampa Stadium.


Super Bowl MVP Marcus Allen capped off the victory with a  74-yard touchdown run in the 3rd quarter.


Marcus Allen finished the game with 191 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns.

Joe Montana

First 80s Touchdown


On January 6, 1980 Houston Oilers defensive back Vernon Perry scored the first touchdown of the 80s with a  75-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 1st quarter


* The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Houston Oilers 27-13 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship Game to advance to the Super Bowl


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Last 80s Touchdown

On December 31, 1989 Pittsburgh Steelers running back Merril Hoge scored the last touchdown of the 80s


* Hoge scored a touchdown to tie the game 23-23 in the 4th quarter of the Wild Card Game against the Houston Oilers


The Steelers won 26-23 (OT) on a Gary Anderson 50-yard field goal
​​

Marcus Allen Won the Super Bowl XVII MVP

Leading Passers


1980 - Dan Fouts  4715

San Diego Chargers

1981 - Dan Fouts  4802

San Diego Chargers

1982 - Dan Fouts  2883

San Diego Chargers (strike season)

1983 - Lynn Dickey  4458

Green Bay Packers

1984 - Dan Marino  5084

Miami Dolphins

1985 - Dan Marino  4137

Miami Dolphins

1986 - Dan Marino  4746

Miami Dolphins

1987 - Neol Lomax  3387

St. Louis Cardinals

1988 - Dan Marino  4434

Miami Dolphins

1989 - Don Majkowski  4318

Green Bay Packers 


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Leading Rushers


1980 - Earl Campbell  1934

Houston Oilers
1981 - George Rogers  1674

New Orleans Saints
1982 - Freeman McNeil  786

New York Jets  (strike season)
1983 - Eric Dickerson  1808

Los Angeles Rams
1984 - Eric Dickerson  2105

Los Angeles Rams
1985 - Marcus Allen  1759

Los Angeles Raiders
1986 - Eric Dickerson  1821

Los Angeles Rams
1987 - Charles White  1374

Los Angeles Rams
1988 - Eric Dickerson  1659

Indianapolis Colts
1989 - Christian Okoye  1480

Kansas City Chiefs


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Leading Receivers


1980 - John Jefferson  1340

San Diego Chargers

1981 - Alfred Jenkins  1358

Atlanta Falcons

1982 - Wes Chandler  1032

San Diego Chargers  (strike season)

1983 - Mike Quick  1409

Philadelphia Eagles

1984 - Roy Green  1555

St. Louis Cardinals

1985 - Steve Largent  1287

Seattle Seahawks

1986 - Jerry Rice  1570

San Francisco 49ers

1987 - J.T. Smith  1117

St. Louis Cardinals

1988 - Henry Ellard  1414

Los Angeles Rams

1989 - Jerry Rice  1483

San Francisco 49ers


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  Sack Leaders


  1982 - Doug Martin  11.5

  Minnesota Vikings  (strike season)

  1983 - Mark Gastineau  19

  New York Jets

  1984 - Mark Gastineau  22

  New York Jets

  1985 - Richard Dent  17

  Chicago Bears

  1986 - Lawrence Taylor  20.5

  New York Giants

  1987 - Reggie White  21

  Philadelphia Eagles

  1988 - Reggie White  18

  Philadelphia Eagles

  1989 - Chris Doleman  21

  Minnesota Vikings

Marcus Allen

In Super Bowl XXIII Joe Montana drove the 49ers 92-yards to beat the Bengals 20 - 16 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida.


Joe Montana threw for 357 yards and 2 touchdowns and Super Bowl MVP Jerry Rice had 11 catches for 251 yards and a touchdown.


​This was the highest rated Super Bowl of all time.

80s Football

College FootballNational Champions

1980 - Georgia

Coach:  Vince Dooley
1981 - Clemson

Coach:  Danny Ford
1982 - Penn State

Coach:  Joe Paterno
1983 - Miami (FL)

Coach:  Howard Schnellenberger
1984 - BYU

Coach:  LaVell Edwards
1985 - Oklahoma

Coach:  Barry Switzer
1986 - Penn State

Coach:  Joe Paterno
1987 - Miami (FL)

Coach:  Jimmy Johnson
1988 - Notre Dame

Coach:  Lou Holtz
1989 - Miami (FL)

Coach:  Dennis Erickson


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Heisman Trophy Winners


1980 – George Rogers  RB

South Carolina
1981 – Marcus Allen  RB

USC
1981 – Herschel Walker  RB

Georgia
1983 – Mike Rozier  RB

Nebraska
1984 – Doug Flutie  QB

Boston College
1985 – Bo Jackson  RB

Auburn
1986 – Vinny Testaverde  QB

Miami
1987 – Tim Brown  WR

Notre Dame
1988 – Barry Sanders  RB

Oklahoma St.
1989 – Andre Ware  QB

Houston