The Bears making a rushing play in the end zone against the Patriots during Super Bowl XX.
Whenever a team time out is called after the two-minute warning of each half or overtime, it should only last a minute instead of 90 seconds.
A play is immediately dead anytime the quarterback performs a kneel-down (the quarterback immediately kneels down after receiving the snap) after the two-minute warning of each half, or whenever the player declares himself down by sliding feet first on the ground. The ball is then spotted at the point where the player touches the ground first.
Pass interference is not to be called when a pass is clearly uncatchable.
Both "Roughing the kicker" and "Running into the kicker" fouls are not to be called if the defensive player was blocked into the kicker.
The definition of a valid fair catch signal is clearly defined as one arm that is fully extended above the head and waved from side to side.
Goaltending (leaping up to deflect a kick as it passes through the goal posts) is illegal.
The officials' uniform changed slightly. Instead of wearing black stirrups with two white stripes over white sanitary hose, the officials began wearing a one-piece sock similar to those worn by players, black with two white stripes on top and solid white on the bottom. These were first worn the previous season in Super Bowl XIX.
Defensive backs were ruled to have an "equal right to the ball", meaning that pass interference would not be called if the defensive player was looking back attempting to intercept the ball, and that any contact with the receiver did not materially affect the receiver's ability to catch the ball.
1985 deaths
Denver Broncos tight ends coach Fran Polsfoot died on April 5, 1985, after suffering from brain cancer.[2]
Thanksgiving: Two games were played on Thursday, November 28, featuring the New York Jets at Detroit and the St. Louis Cardinals at Dallas, with Detroit and Dallas winning.
Indianapolis Colts: Rod Dowhower was named as head coach. Frank Kush resigned after the team went 4–11 to start the 1984 season. Offensive line coach Hal Hunter served as interim for the team's final 1984 game.
Houston Oilers: Hugh Campbell was fired after 14 games. Defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville took over for the final two games, then was given the job permanently for 1986.
Due to their unpopularity, the Cleveland Browns removed the three-stripe sleeve pattern and number outlines that they introduced in 1984. They returned to their five-stripe sleeve pattern brown and white jerseys, and white pants combination used prior to 1975. The face masks remained white.
The Philadelphia Eagles replace the sleeve stripes with their "eagle in flight" logo, and changed the shade of Kelly green on their uniforms to the lighter, more saturated shade that they had last worn in 1973.
The San Diego Chargers switched from dark royal blue to navy blue jerseys, and from gold to white pants.
