2003 NFL season

The 2003 NFL season was the 84th regular season of the National Football League.

Regular season play was held from September 4, 2003 to December 28. Due to damage caused by the Cedar Fire, Qualcomm Stadium was used as an emergency shelter, and thus the Miami Dolphins–San Diego Chargers regular season match on October 27 was instead played at Sun Devil Stadium, the home field of the Arizona Cardinals.

The playoffs began on January 3, 2004. The NFL title was eventually won by the New England Patriots when they defeated the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas on February 1.

Major rule changes

 * If an onside kick inside the final five minutes of the game does not go 10 yards, goes out of bounds, or is touched illegally, the receiving team will have the option of accepting the penalty and getting the ball immediately. Previously, the kicking team was penalized, but had another chance to kick again from five yards back.
 * League officials encouraged networks to immediately cut to a commercial break if an instant replay challenge review was initiated. Previously networks rarely utilized those stoppages for their prescribed commercial periods.

Coaching changes

 * Cincinnati Bengals – Marvin Lewis; replaced Dick LeBeau who was fired following the 2002 season.
 * Dallas Cowboys – Bill Parcells; replaced Dave Campo who was fired following the 2002 season.
 * Detroit Lions – Steve Mariucci; replaced Marty Mornhinweg who was fired following the 2002 season.
 * Jacksonville Jaguars – Jack Del Rio; replaced Tom Coughlin who was fired following the 2002 season.
 * San Francisco 49ers – Dennis Erickson; replaced Steve Mariucci who was fired following the 2002 season.

Final regular season standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT = Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

Clinched playoff seeds are marked in parentheses and shaded in green

Tiebreakers

 * Indianapolis finished ahead of Tennessee in the AFC South based on better head-to-head record (2–0).
 * Denver clinched the AFC 6 seed instead of Miami based on better conference record (9–3 to 7–5).
 * Buffalo finished ahead of N.Y. Jets in the AFC East based on better division record (2–4 to 1–5).
 * Jacksonville finished ahead of Houston in the AFC South based on better division record (2–4 to 1–5).
 * Oakland finished ahead of San Diego in the AFC West based on better conference record (3–9 to 2–10).
 * Philadelphia clinched the NFC 1 seed instead of St. Louis based on better conference record (9–3 to 8–4).
 * Seattle clinched the NFC 5 seed instead of Dallas based on strength of victory (.406 to .388).

2003 Changes

 * New Orleans Saints – New AstroPlay home turf by midseason.
 * Atlanta Falcons – New Logo. New Uniforms. New FieldTurf surface.
 * Green Bay Packers – New remodel Lambeau Field.
 * Detroit Lions – New Uniforms. added black trim on logo and numbers.
 * Chicago Bears – New remodel Soldier Field.
 * Buffalo Bills – New AstroPlay home turf.
 * Philadelphia Eagles – New stadium; Lincoln Financial Field. And added silver trim to numbers on uniforms. Introduce new home alternative uniforms. black uniforms with white numbers with midnight green shadow in numbers.
 * San Diego Chargers – White pants with road uniforms.
 * New England Patriots – Added third alternative uniforms. Silver uniforms.
 * Miami Dolphins – Added third alternative uniforms. Orange uniforms.
 * Houston Texans – Added third alternative uniforms. Red Uniforms.
 * Cleveland Browns – Added new alternative orange pants last worn in the Kardiac Kids era of coach Sam Rutigliano.
 * Tennessee Titans – Added third alternative uniforms. powder blue.

Milestones
The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season: