List of disgorged NFL regular-season games

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The NFL's television contracts worked in such a way that they awarded the networks coverage of all games that aired in certain time windows. However, considerations such as local weather and stadium conflicts and especially the World Series, which NBC held the rights to telecast, caused networks to "disgorge" games from their contracts. These games became available for telecast by any other local station, at least in the visiting team market, with a home telecast possible after 1973 (as with any other NFL game) if the game sold out. Disgorged games were called by locally hired announcer teams and in a number of cases used the same station and announcing team that produced preseason telecasts. In some cases, games were disgorged but no telecast was produced; those are not listed here.

Most of the time, disgorged games aired on other network affiliates, but independent stations were sometimes in the mix. In 1969, Philadelphia's WPHL-TV aired an Eagles game disgorged by a time conflict with the World Series after WCAU-TV passed it up and became the first UHF independent station to air a regular-season pro football game.

Notable causes of disgorged games include:

  • In the 1960s and early 1970s, the Steelers annually played on a Saturday night in Cleveland.
  • Games that were played on Friday, Saturday, or Monday due to a stadium or event conflict.
  • Early-season night games, pre-1970 in a number of NFL cities and after that in San Francisco, San Diego, and especially Tampa.
  • The World Series, aired by NBC. This becomes prevalent after the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. Some games were also moved due to the Series, causing them to be disgorged.
  • The 1972 IBEW strike against CBS. The network disgorged games because its supervisors could not staff telecasts. Teams arranged their own telecasts with independent production staffs. The games CBS disgorged in the strike were the only post-merger disgorged games with telecasts played after October.

There were 53 disgorged games played between 1970 and 1984, of which 15 aired at least in part on an independent station.

1964

Disgorged games in 1964
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Saturday, Sep 12 9:00 Cardinals Cowboys KTVI
  • Jack Drees
  • Bill Fischer
Saturday, Sep 19 11:00 Lions Rams WJBK
  • Van Patrick
  • Jim Morse
Friday, Sep 25 8:30 Bills Giants WTOP
  • Bill McColgan
  • Joe Walton
WPIX[a]
  • Chris Schenkel
  • Pat Summerall
Monday, Sep 28 8:00 Packers Lions WBAY/WISN
  • Earl Gillespie
  • Tony Canadeo
Saturday, Oct 10 8:00 Steelers Browns WIIC[b]
  • Joe Tucker
  • Ken Coleman
  • Johnny Sauer
Monday, Oct 12 8:00 Cardinals Colts KMOX
  • Jack Drees
  • Bill Fischer
 Moved from St. Louis due to the World Series.
  1. ↑ Delayed to the next day.
  2. ↑ Plus WHP, WLYH, WSTV

1965

Disgorged games in 1965
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Monday, Oct 4 8:00 Cowboys Cardinals KRLD[a]
  • Frank Glieber
  • John Roach
Saturday, Oct 9 8:00 Steelers Browns WIIC[b]
  • Ken Coleman
  • Warren Lahr
Saturday, Oct 9 9:30 Giants Vikings WCBS[c]
  • Bob Fouts
  • Gordie Soltau
 Twins in the World Series
  1. ↑ Joined in progress.
  2. ↑ Sports Network Inc. (presumably) syndicated the telecast to at least these stations: Ohio: WBNS (Columbus) 11:15 p.m. Pennsylvania: WHP (Harrisburg); WLYH (Lebanon); WSBA (York); WTAJ (Altoona). West Virginia: WTRF (Wheeling). Washington, D.C.: WTTG.
  3. ↑ Joined in progress at 11:00 to avoid pre-empting CBS prime time.

1966

Disgorged games in 1966
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Friday, Sep 16 11:15 Bears Rams WBBM
  • Bruce Roberts
  • George Connor
Friday, Sep 30 11:00 49ers Rams KTVU
  • Bob Fouts
  • Gordie Soltau
Saturday, Oct 8 8:00 Steelers Browns WIIC[a]
  • Joe Tucker
  • Lowell Perry
Monday, Nov 14 1:30 Redskins Eagles WTOP
  • Jim Gibbons
  • Pat Summerall
  • Tom Brookshier
  1. ↑ Sports Network Inc. syndicated the telecast to these stations: New York:: WOKR (Rochester). Ohio: WHIO (Dayton), WSTV (Steubenville), WTOL (Toledo). Pennsylvania: WHP (Harrisburg); WLYH (Lebanon); WSBA (York). West Virginia: WCHS (Charleston), WBOY (Clarksburg), WTAP (Parkersburg).

1967

Disgorged games in 1967
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Saturday, Oct 7 8:00 Steelers Browns KDKA
  • Joe Tucker
  • Frank Glieber
  • Bill Burns

1968

Disgorged games in 1968
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Saturday, Sep 14 7:30 Falcons Vikings WAGA
  • Hal Scott
  • Norm Van Brocklin
Saturday, Oct 5 8:00 Steelers Browns KDKA
  • Stu Nahan
  • Dick Stockton

1969

Disgorged games in 1969
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Monday, Oct 13 7:30 Eagles Colts WPHL
  • Al Meltzer
  • Tom Brookshier
 Moved due to the World Series in Baltimore. WPHL was the first UHF independent to air a regular-season NFL game.
Saturday, Oct 18 8:00 Steelers Browns KDKA
  • Dick Stockton
  • Jack Butler

1970

Disgorged games in 1970
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Friday, Sep 18 11:00 Cardinals Rams KMOX
  • Bob Wilson
  • Ollie Raymond
  • Jim Bolen
Saturday, Sep 19 8:00 Bears Giants WBBM
  • Brent Musburger
  • Jerry Kramer
Saturday, Oct 3 8:00 Raiders Dolphins KTVU
  • Bob Fouts
  • Dave Kocourek
[1]		 Don Klein had been announced for this game in preseason.[2]
Saturday, Oct 3 9:00 Steelers Browns WIIC
  • Red Donley
  • Dave Hart
  • Sam Nover
Saturday, Oct 10 8:45 Dolphins Jets WCKT
  • Morris McLemore
 Late start due to Jewish high holidays.[3]
Sunday, Oct 11 1:00 Bills Steelers WBEN
  • Chuck Healy
  • Dick Rifenberg
Sunday, Oct 11 1:00 Bengals Browns WCPO
  • Jack Moran
  • Otto Graham

1971

Disgorged games in 1971
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Sunday, Oct 3 4:00 Chiefs Broncos WDAF[a]
  • Ross Porter
  • Dave Kocourek
Sunday, Oct 10 1:00 Colts Bills WBFF
  • Jim Karvellas
  • Kyle Rote
Sunday, Oct 10 1:00 Oilers Redskins KTRK
  • Bill Enis
  • Paul Maguire
Sunday, Oct 10 1:00 Dolphins Bengals WPLG
  • Joe Croghan
  • Dave Kocourek
Sunday, Oct 10 1:00 Steelers Browns WTAE
  • Jay Randolph
  • Ed Conway
Sunday, Oct 10 2:00 Chargers Chiefs KCST
  • Bob Chandler
  • Sam Gruneisen
Sunday, Oct 17 1:00 Colts Giants WBFF
  • Jim Karvellas
  • Kyle Rote
Sunday, Oct 10 1:00 Bills Jets WKBW
  • Al Michaels
  • Rick Azar
Sunday, Oct 10 1:00 Patriots Dolphins WNAC
  • Bill Enis
  • George Ratterman
Friday, Oct 23 12:00 Bills Chargers WKBW
  • Rick Azar
  • Ed Rutkowski
 The NFL granted the Chargers a guaranteed night game a season because they traditionally drew better at night.[4]
  1. ↑ Also: KTSB Topeka

1972

Disgorged games in 1972
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Sunday, Oct 15 1:00 Oilers Steelers KTRK
  • Dan Lovett
  • Jim Norton
Sunday, Oct 15 1:00 Chargers Dolphins KCST
  • Jerry Gross
  • Mike Smith
Sunday, Oct 22 1:00 Colts Jets WBFF/WJZ
  • Jim Karvellas
  • Dave Kocourek
Sunday, Oct 22 1:00 Bills Dolphins WKBW
  • Rick Azar
  • Paul Maguire
Sunday, Oct 22 1:00 Patriots Steelers WCVB
  • Jay Randolph
  • Alan Miller
Sunday, Oct 22 2:00 Browns Oilers WKBF
  • Ken Coleman
  • Willie Davis
Sunday, Oct 22 2:00 Chargers Lions KCST
  • Bill Enis
  • Kyle Rote
Sunday, Nov 5 1:00 Cardinals Eagles KSD
  • Jay Randolph
  • Ron Jacober
 Disgorged due to the IBEW strike.[5] CBS determined it did not have enough supervisors to telecast all of its planned games.
Sunday, Nov 5 4:00 Cowboys Chargers KDFW
  • Frank Glieber
  • Dick Risenhoover
 Disgorged due to the IBEW strike.[6] The game was fed to stations throughout Texas, mostly CBS affiliates, including KENS, KZTV, and KHOU. A "California UHF" station (almost certainly KCST) provided production.
Sunday, Nov 12 2:00 Packers Bears WBAY/WISN
  • Roy Broyles
  • Chuck Lane
 Disgorged due to the IBEW strike. The game was fed to CBS affiliates in Wisconsin after WISN in Milwaukee agreed to co-originate the telecast.[7]

1973

Disgorged games in 1973
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Sunday, Oct 14 4:00 Raiders Chargers KTVU
  • Don Klein
  • Gary Park
Sunday, Oct 21 2:00 Patriots Bears WLVI, WGN
  • Ken Coleman
  • Sam DeLuca
Sunday, Oct 21 4:00 Chiefs Bengals KMBC
  • Bill Enis
  • Kyle Rote

1974

Disgorged games in 1974
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Sunday, Oct 13 2:00 Bills Colts WKBW
  • Bill O'Donnell
  • Paul Maguire
Sunday, Oct 13 2:00 Steelers Chiefs KDKA
  • Dick Stockton
  • Bill Currie
Sunday, Oct 13 4:00 Raiders Chargers KBHK
  • Don Klein
  • Al LoCasale

1975

Disgorged games in 1975
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Sunday, Oct 5 4:00 Colts Rams WJZ
  • Stu Nahan
  • Paul Maguire
Sunday, Oct 5 4:00 Raiders Chargers KBHK
  • Don Klein
  • Al LoCasale
Sunday, Oct 12 1:00 Broncos Steelers KBTV
  • John Rayburn
  • Bob Kurtz
  • Fred Gehrke
Sunday, Oct 12 1:00 Oilers Browns KDOG
  • Charlie Jones
  • Sam DeLuca
Sunday, Oct 12 1:00 Jets Vikings WCBS, WCCO
  • Gary Bender
  • Johnny Unitas
Sunday, Oct 12 2:00 Bills Colts WKBW
  • Rick Azar
  • Paul Maguire
Saturday, Oct 25 1:00 Cardinals Giants KSD
  • Jay Randolph
  • Ron Jacober
 Shared tenancy of Shea Stadium. Giants had a Saturday game on Nov. 1 with no telecast to San Diego.

1976

Disgorged games in 1976
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Saturday, Oct 23 10:00 Falcons 49ers WAGA
  • Bill Hartman
  • Wayne Walker

1977

Disgorged games in 1977
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Saturday, Sep 24 8:30 Vikings Buccaneers WTCN
  • Roger Buxton
  • Johnny Sauer
 Shown on tape delay 24 hours later.

1978

Disgorged games in 1978
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Saturday, Sep 2 8:00 Giants Buccaneers WCBS
  • Steve Albert
  • Nick Buoniconti
Saturday, Sep 9 8:00 Lions Buccaneers WJBK
  • Ray Lane
  • Charlie Neal
Sunday, Oct 15 2:00 Bills Oilers WKBW
  • Rick Azar
  • Ed Podolak
Sunday, Oct 15 4:00 Chiefs Raiders KMBC
  • Jay Randolph
  • Mike Haffner
Sunday, Oct 15 4:00 Dolphins Chargers WCKT
  • Marv Albert
  • John Brodie

1979

Disgorged games in 1979
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Saturday, Sep 1 8:00 Lions Buccaneers WJBK
  • Ray Lane
  • Ron Kramer
  • Charlie Neal
Sunday, Oct 7 1:00 Chiefs Bengals KCMO
  • Jack Harry
  • Ed Budde
  • Nick Monroe

1980

Disgorged games in 1980
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Sunday, Oct 19 4:00 Chiefs Broncos KCMO
  • Don Fortune
  • Paul Maguire
KOA
  • Larry Zimmer
  • Ron Zappolo

1981

Disgorged games in 1981
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Saturday, Sep 5 8:00 Vikings Buccaneers KSTP, WTOG
  • Jim Thacker
  • John Dockery
  • Bob Bruce
 KSTP and WTOG were co-owned.

1982

No games were disgorged.

1983

Disgorged games in 1983
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Sunday, Oct 9 4:00 Chiefs Raiders KCTV
  • Don Fortune
  • Len Dawson

1984

Disgorged games in 1980
Date Time (ET) Away Home Channel Announcers Notes
Monday, Sep 3 4:00 Browns Seahawks WKYC
  • Phil Stone
  • Reggie Rucker
 Date conflict with the Mariners at the Kingdome.
KING
  • Charlie Jones
  • Gene Washington
  • Lou Gellos
Sunday, Oct 14 4:00 Bills Seahawks WKBW, WOKR
  • Rick Azar
  • Marv Levy
KING
  • Phil Stone
  • Norris Weese

References

  1. ↑ "Dolphins Next Raider Foe". Contra Costa Times. Walnut Creek, California. October 2, 1970. p. 2C. Retrieved September 5, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "3 Raider Games To Be Aired". News Register. Fremont, California. July 18, 1970. p. 7. Retrieved September 5, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Braucher, Bill (October 10, 1970). "Dolphins Aiming To End Jet Reign". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 1-D. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Felser, Larry (October 23, 1971). "Pregame Warmup to Determine Shaw's Status for Game Tonight". Buffalo Evening News. Buffalo, New York. p. C-2. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Cards-Eagles Contest To Be Seen On KSD-TV". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. November 5, 1972. p. 2C. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Coffey, Jerry (November 4, 1972). "Cowboys Telecast Overcomes Strike". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, Texas. p. 17-A. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Trower, Chuck (November 12, 1972). "Sports Spectrum". The Journal Times. Racine, Wisconsin. p. 4B. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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