1978 NFL season
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16 games, which it remained in place until 2021 when it was increased to 17 games. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference. The wild card teams played each other, with the winner advancing to the playoff round of eight teams.
| Regular season | |
|---|---|
| Duration | September 2 – December 18, 1978 |
| Playoffs | |
| Start date | December 24, 1978 |
| AFC Champions | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| NFC Champions | Dallas Cowboys |
| Super Bowl XIII | |
| Date | January 21, 1979 |
| Site | Orange Bowl, Miami |
| Champions | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Pro Bowl | |
| Date | January 29, 1979 |
| Site | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
The season ended with Super Bowl XIII when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
The average salary for a player in 1978 was under $62,600, up 13.2 percent over the previous year. Fran Tarkenton was the highest-paid quarterback at $360,000 and running back O. J. Simpson was the highest paid player, at just under $733,400.