The year the NFL played without its stars
In short: In 1987, the NFL faced a crisis of legitimacy. A 24-day players' strike forced the league to field teams of replacement players—often called "scabs"—who faced public scorn and plummeting attendance. It remains the last time a labor conflict fundamentally disrupted the regular season.
The 1987 season was defined by a 24-day strike by the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) starting after week 2. This conflict led to the cancellation of week 3 and the use of replacement players for weeks 4, 5, and 6. Roughly 15% of union members opted to play across the picket, whereas the substitute squad mainly featured people unemployed following the 1986 United States Football League's collapse and the Montreal Alouettes' closure in the Canadian Football League.
The public and press reaction was harsh, with replacement players facing name-calling and accusations of being "scabs." The games suffered a significant loss of legitimacy; in some smaller markets with strong union presence, attendance plummeted to under 10,000 fans, reaching a low of 4,074 in Philadelphia. Despite the turmoil, these games were counted as official regular-season contests. The league also saw a roughly 20% drop in final television revenues during this period.
Beyond the labor strife, the season marked significant structural shifts. The league signed a three-year deal with ESPN to become its first cable television broadcaster, debuting "ESPN Sunday Night NFL" on November 8, 1987. Additionally, the league adjusted revenue sharing so players received a portion of ticket revenue while owners kept skybox earnings, a move that prompted teams to prioritize high-priced suites over general admission seating. In Super Bowl XXII, a 42–10 victory for the Washington Redskins marked the season's finale against the Denver Broncos.
The year also saw notable coaching and branding changes. Marv Levy began his first full season with the Buffalo Bills, while Ron Meyer led the Indianapolis Colts to a 3–13 finish. The Miami Dolphins moved into their new home, Joe Robbie Stadium, and the Atlanta Falcons moved their jersey emblem downward. On the broadcast side, Gayle Sierens made history as the first woman to provide play-by-play for an NFL regular season game on NBC.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 1987 NFL season
- Also: Wikidata — 1987 NFL season · CC0
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