1985 USFL season

The 1985 USFL season was the third and final season of the United States Football League (USFL), and the last by a league using that name until the 2022 USFL season.

Rule changes
Adopted instant replay for the 1985 season. Under the instant-replay rule, a team may have one appeal per half in three situations: The team asking for the replay would lose a time out if they were wrong. The replay was available only in games televised by ABC.
 * A fumble or no-fumble situation.
 * Whether a pass is complete, incomplete or intercepted.
 * Whether the ball has penetrated the goal line.

Franchise changes

 * Pittsburgh Maulers fold.
 * Chicago Blitz suspend operations.
 * Michigan Panthers merge with the Oakland Invaders.
 * Arizona Wranglers and the Oklahoma Outlaws merge and create the Arizona Outlaws.
 * New Orleans Breakers relocate to Portland, Oregon as the Portland Breakers.
 * Philadelphia Stars move games to College Park, Maryland, with plans to move to Baltimore in 1986, team is renamed the Baltimore Stars.
 * Washington Federals are sold and relocate to Orlando, Florida, as the Orlando Renegades.

General news
August 22, 1984, the owners voted to move to a fall schedule starting in 1986.

Harry Usher became the new commissioner of the USFL in January 1985.

The USFL and the United States Football League Players Association (USFLPA) agreed on a four-year agreement in March 1985.

On April 29, 1985, the league's owners voted 13–2 to reaffirm their decision to begin playing a fall season in 1986.

Regular season
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

 = Division Champion, = Wild Card

New Jersey finished ahead of Memphis based on a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage (2-0-0).

Awards
 Second Team
 * WR Richard Johnson, HOU
 * WR Jim Smith, BIRM
 * TE Marvin Harvey, TB
 * T Irv Eatman, BAL
 * T Ray Pinney, OAKL
 * G Buddy Aydelette, BIRM
 * G Pat Saindon, BIRM
 * C Kent Hull, NJ
 * QB Jim Kelly, HOU
 * HB Herschel Walker, NJ
 * HB Gary Anderson, TB
 * DE James Lockette, NJ
 * DE Bruce Thornton, DENV
 * DT Reggie White, MEM
 * DT Dave Tipton, AZ
 * LB Sam Mills, BAL
 * LB Kiki DeAyala, HOU
 * CB Kerry Justin, NJ
 * CB David Martin, DENV/AZ
 * S Chuck Clanton, BIRM
 * S Mike Lush, BAL
 * K Brian Franco, JACK
 * KR Clarence Verdin, HOU
 * P Stan Talley, OAKL
 * PR Gerald McNeil, HOU
 * MVP – HB Herschel Walker, NJ
 * Coach of the year – Rollie Dotsch, BIRM
 * Special Teams Player of the year – WR Clarence Verdin, HOU
 * WR Anthony Carter, OAKL
 * WR Leonard Harris, DENV
 * TE Dan Ross, PORT
 * T Pat Phenix, BIRM
 * T Dan Fike, TB
 * G Alvin Powell, AZ
 * G Chuck Commusky, BAL
 * C Jim Leonard, OAKL
 * QB Cliff Stoudt, BIRM
 * RB Bill Johnson, DENV
 * RB Mike Rozier, JACK
 * DE Keith Millard, JACK
 * DE Pete Catan, HOU
 * LB Bill Roe, BIRM
 * LB Herb Spencer, BIRM
 * LB Ray Bentley, OAKL
 * CB Vito McKeever, OAKL
 * CB Jonathan Sutton, BAL
 * S Luther Bradley, HOU
 * S Vic Monor, SA
 * K Toni Fritsch, HOU
 * P Greg Carter, ORL
 * KR Jerry Parish, ORL
 * PR Thad McFadden, BIRM


 * WR Richard Johnson, HOU
 * WR Jim Smith, BIRM
 * WR Anthony Carter, OAKL
 * TE Gordon Hudson, LA
 * T Irv Eatman, BAL
 * T Gary Zimmerman, LA
 * G Buddy Aydelette, BIRM
 * G Pat Saindon, BIRM
 * C Kent Hull, NJ
 * QB Jim Kelly, HOU
 * HB Herschel Walker, NJ
 * HB Gary Anderson, TB
 * DE Reggie White, MEM
 * DE William Fuller, BAL
 * DT Jearld Baylis, PORT
 * DT Doug Smith, BIRM
 * OLB Herb Spencer, BIRM
 * OLB Andy Hawkins, HOU
 * ILB Sam Mills, BAL
 * ILB John Nevens, DENV
 * ILB Howard Carson, LA
 * CB Jerry Holmes, NJ
 * CB David Martin, DENV/AZ
 * S Barney Bussey, MEM
 * S Chuck Clanton, BIRM
 * K Tony Zendejas, LA
 * KR Clarence Verdin, HOU
 * P Stan Talley, OAKL
 * PR Gerald McNeil, HOU
 * Player of the year—HB Herschel Walker, NJ
 * Coach of the year -- Rollie Dotsch, BIRM
 * Executive of the year -- Jerry Sklar, BIRM