Offensive football as we know it today employs a pass-first approach, and that is true across the NFL. But during the 1970s, that was not the case, especially before 1978, when all the new rules that greatly benefited the pro-passing strategies came about.
I wondered which team from the 1970s might be able to fit in and exist in 2024, based on the offensive plays that they used in the 1970s? I approached this topic on my Facebook page, The NFL in the 1970s. I received so many positive responses from my post on that page, that I felt that discussing the topic here on my podcast would be worthwhile.
So, what team and their offense from the 1970s would best be able to exist and perhaps even excel in 2024? It would probably have to be a team that made strong use of throwing the football because that is what we see most of these days. Based on that major aspect of the pro game, I’m going to have to go with the 1979 San Diego Chargers and the 1975 Dallas Cowboys.
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1979 San Diego Chargers
Let’s discuss those Chargers first. They had one of the best pass-oriented head coaches in the NFL during that time in Hall of Famer Don Coryell. They also had three other vital members of their team which permitted them to rack up major yards and first downs via the passing game.
San Diego quarterback Dan Fouts was beginning his seventh pro season in 1979, so he had plenty of experience under his belt. He learned a little bit about quality signal calling from Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas when both were teammates during Fouts’ rookie season in 1973.
Then when Don Coryell became San Diego’s head coach in 1978, Fouts’ career really took off. By 1979, Fouts would throw for 4,082 yards, and the Chargers would post an impressive 12-4 record, which was good enough for an AFC Western Division championship.
The 1979 Chargers also enjoyed having some of the best talent in the league at other positions, namely at wide receiver and tight end. Their receivers were the dynamic John Jefferson, and the reliable future Hall of Famer, Charlie Joiner. Their tight end was another future Hall of Famer, Kellen Winslow.
Jefferson caught 1,090 yards worth of passes and 10 touchdowns. Joiner pulled in 72 passes to lead the team. His receptions equated to 1,008 yards. Winslow rounded out this super trio. His 10.2 yards-per-reception average was one of the highest marks in the NFL.
The 1979 San Diego team did not have much of a running attack, but they didn’t need one. They made no bones about it…they were a pass-first and pass-often team. By the end of the year, they scored 411 points and racked up a total of 5,583 yards.
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1975 Dallas Cowboys
In contrast, the 1975 Dallas Cowboys were futuristic in design. Head coach Tom Landry had decided to resurrect the old Shotgun Formation prior to the beginning of that year. He wanted to give his quarterback Roger Staubach more time to read the opposing defenses, and the Shotgun afforded Staubach that luxury.
By the end of the 1975 season, Staubach’s passing statistics improved in virtually every important category, including completions, yards, and touchdowns. The Dallas offense likewise improved in 1975, thanks largely to the inclusion of their Shotgun strategies.
The 1975 Cowboys offense was a look into the future, where gadget plays, shovel passes, and multiple men in motion were common. Today’s pro offenses feature all these things; hence the 1975 Dallas offense would certainly not look out of place if it was transposed out of 1975 and into 2024.
The idea was to fool their opponents, but it was also to place their best weapons in the most profitable places on the field. It was a yardage-gaining offense, and it produced positive results right from the get-go. After a year’s absence from the playoffs, Dallas won the NFC’s Wild Card berth in 1975, and would ride their momentum all the way to the NFC Championship that year.
There may also have been other prominent offenses during the 1970s that would have fitted in quite nicely into what we are seeing in the current day.
The 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers come to mind. Like the 1975 Cowboys, the 1978 Steelers featured a solid blend of both running and passing the ball. But to me, the 1979 San Diego Chargers and the 1975 Dallas Cowboys would be two teams whose offenses would obtain the most amount of success in 2024.
Trivia Question:
What player led the 1979 San Diego Chargers in rushing?
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Host of Pro Football in the 1970s - Joe Zagorski
Throughout his days, Joe spent some time as a sportswriter and has been a member of the Pro Football Researchers Association since the mid-1980s. Joe is also a proud member of the Pro Football Writers of America.
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