1985 Chicago Blitz Season Recap

The 1985 Chicago Blitz entered the season determined to avenge their previous playoff disappointment, and they did so in dominant fashion, finishing 13-5 and securing another second-place finish in the Central Division behind the high-powered Houston Gamblers. Quarterback Tim Landry orchestrated a potent offense, throwing for 4,392 yards and 28 touchdowns, while the backfield duo of Marcus Spencer (1,636 yards, 19 TDs) and Kevin Long (407 yards, 6 TDs) kept defenses honest. The receiving corps, led by Greg Willis (1,041 yards, 4 TDs) and Cedric Anderson (668 yards, 6 TDs), provided explosive plays, helping the Blitz average over 28 points per game. Despite a midseason stumble against Houston (a 45-20 loss) and back-to-back defeats to Birmingham late in the year, Chicago closed the regular season strong with a 35-16 thrashing of Michigan, proving they were peaking at the right time.

Defensively, the Blitz were relentless, ranking among the league’s best in sacks (61) and interceptions (37). Defensive end Don Lee (21 sacks, 11 forced fumbles) terrorized opposing quarterbacks, while linebacker John Minniefield (118 tackles, 8 INTs) and cornerback Bruce Allen (6 INTs, 2 TDs) anchored a ball-hawking secondary. The unit’s ability to create turnovers was pivotal in key wins, including a hard-fought 23-13 victory over San Antonio and a 36-13 dismantling of Oklahoma. Though Houston remained their Achilles’ heel—twice blowing them out—Chicago’s defense stifled most other opponents, setting the stage for a deep playoff run.

The postseason was where the Blitz truly shined. After avenging their regular-season loss to Michigan with a 35-24 wild-card win, they edged past Arizona 34-27 in a thrilling divisional round. The Western Conference Finals saw an offensive explosion as Chicago routed Denver 52-35, powered by Spencer’s three touchdowns. In the USFL Championship at Giants Stadium, the Blitz delivered their finest performance, crushing Steve Spurrier’s Tampa Bay Bandits 42-21 behind Landry’s three TD passes and a suffocating defensive effort. The title capped a remarkable three-year run for George Allen’s squad, cementing the 1985 Blitz as one of the USFL’s greatest teams.

1985 Chicago Blitz Roster

OFFENSE
Quarterbacks (QB)

• Landry
• Risher

Running Backs (RB)

• Boatner
• Jonnson
• Long
• Spencer

Wide Receivers (WR)

• Buggs
• Johnson, T
• Willis

Tight Ends (TE)

• Douglas
• Ricker

Offensive Line
Center (C)

• Levelis

Guards (G)

• Norman
• Pesuit
• Thomas

Tackles (T)

• Eyre
• Kersten
• Robinson
• Yil-Renko

Special Teams
Kicker/Punter (K-P)

• Coral

Return Specialists (RET)

• Brown
• Clark, A
• Dennison (RB-WR/KR)
• Tolbert (DB/KR)

DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Defensive Ends (DE)

• Buben
• Lee
• Lorch

Defensive Linemen (DL)

• Ehrman
• Hickman
• Lathrop
• Marshall

Linebackers (LB)

• Brown
• Fanhorst
• Ray
• Smith, E
• Smith, O
• Young

Defensive Backs
Cornerbacks (CB)

• Allen
• Minniefiel
• Sanchez

Safeties (S)

• Bradley
• Laird
• White