1983 Regular Season
Atlantic Division
Philadelphia Stars 15-3
Boston Breakers 11-7
New Jersey Generals 6-12
Washington Sentinels 4-14
Central Division
Michigan Panthers 12-6
Chicago Fire 12-6
Tampa Bay Bandits 11-7
Birmingham Maulers 9-9
Pacific Division
Arizona Wranglers 9-9
Los Angeles Action 8-10
Denver Gold 7-11
Oakland Condors 4-14
Playoff teams in BOLD.
John Elway would ultimately spurn the USFL in favor of the established NFL when the Denver Broncos matched the Maulers' offer sheet. After that punch to the gut, the Maulers would have to scramble quickly before the kickoff of the '83 season, signing former LSU quarterback Alan Risher to guide the Mauler attack.
Warren Moon would ultimately elevate the Wranglers to a playoff berth, but his squad would come up a game short of the championship.
Dan Marino would never suit up for the Boston Breakers, going instead to the NFL and the Miami Dolphins. Marino's decision would pour cold water over the Breaker organization. WFL veteran Johnny Walton was brought in to fill the void, but his performance wasn't enough to secure the Breakers' viability in Boston. After the '83 season, the Breakers would pack up the moving vans and head west to Portland, Oregon.
Jim Kelly would eventually take over for the beat-up veteran John Reaves in Tampa Bay. But Kelly's promotion to starting QB would come too late to get the Bandits into the postseason.
Michigan and Chicago finished with identical records. But the Panthers doused the Fire on a perfect 2-0 tiebreaker.
Washington and Oakland will flip a coin for the fifth overall pick in the 1984 Collegiate Draft, as the four expansion teams will have a lottery for the first four spots.
