The 100th season of the NFL marked a major era shift
In short: The 2019 NFL season was a landmark year for professional football. It served as the league's 100th season and the 54th of the Super Bowl era, while also acting as the final year for a specific playoff format before expansion changed the game forever.
The season officially kicked off on September 5, 2019, with the Green Bay Packers securing a victory over the Chicago Bears. By the time the campaign concluded on February 2, 2020, at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, the Kansas City Chiefs had emerged as champions. They defeated the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 31–20, marking their second Super Bowl title.
Beyond the championship, the year was defined by structural transitions. It was the final season featuring a 12-team playoff format, as the league moved toward adding two additional teams starting in 2020. Additionally, the Oakland Raiders played their final season in Oakland after a 47-year tenure, preparing for a relocation to Las Vegas and the opening of Allegiant Stadium.
Financial and roster dynamics also shifted significantly. The league's salary cap rose to $188.2 million per team, an increase from the $177.2 million recorded in 2018. During the busy trading period that began on March 13, several high-profile moves occurred, such as the New York Giants trading Odell Beckham Jr. and Olivier Vernon to the Cleveland Browns for a package including a first-round pick.
The complexity of roster management was evident in the 'Top 51' salary cap rule, which requires teams to account for their 51 highest-paid players. This administrative rigor, combined with a flurry of trades and free agency moves involving players like Ryan Tannehill and Joe Flacco, underscored the high-stakes business of the NFL's centennial year.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2019 NFL season
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