View source for Michigan Panthers

{{Short description|Former professional American football team}}
{{About|the team in the original edition of the USFL|the team in the second USFL|Michigan Panthers (2022)}}
{{lead too short|date=November 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox USFL team
| name = Michigan Panthers
| current =
| logo = 
| helmet = 
| founded = 1982
| folded = 1984
| city = [[Pontiac Silverdome]]<br>in [[Pontiac, Michigan]]
| misc = 
| uniform =
| colors = Royal Plum, Champagne Silver, Light Blue, White<br>{{color box|#6F2C3E}} {{color box|#B3B38C}} {{color box|#4B92DB}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}}
| coach = 1983–1984 [[Jim Stanley (American football)|Jim Stanley]] (24–15)
| owner = 1983–1984 [[A. Alfred Taubman]]
| chairman =
| president = 
| general manager = 
| mascot =
| nicknames =
| league =
[[United States Football League]] (1983–1985)
* Western Conference (1984)
** Central Division (1983–1984)
| team_history =
* Michigan Panthers (1983–1984)
* merged with [[Oakland Invaders]] (1985) 
| no_league_champs = 1
| no_conf_champs = 0
| no_div_champs = 1
| league_champs = 1983
| conf_champs =
| div_champs = 1983
| playoff_appearances = 1983, 1984
| no_playoff_appearances = 2
| stadium_years =
* [[Pontiac Silverdome]] (1983–1984)
}}

The '''Michigan Panthers''' were a professional [[American football]] team based in [[Metro Detroit]]. The Panthers competed in the [[United States Football League]] (USFL) as a member of the Western Conference and Central Division. The team played its home games at the [[Pontiac Silverdome]] in [[Pontiac, Michigan]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

Amid financial struggles following the 1984 season, the team was [[relocation of professional sports teams|merged]] with the [[Oakland Invaders]] in 1985, where they would operate under the Invaders name.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

The Panthers won the inaugural USFL Championship, 24–22 over the [[Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars|Philadelphia Stars]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

==Team history==
The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League (USFL) on May 11, 1982. [[A. Alfred Taubman]], one of the nation's leading real estate developers, headed the ownership group that included Judge [[Peter B. Spivak]] and [[Max M. Fisher]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

The Panthers named [[Jim Spavital]], general manager of the [[Canadian Football League]]'s [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]], as their General Manager on August 26, 1982. Michigan then hired [[Jim Stanley (American football)|Jim Stanley]] as their Head Coach on November 18, 1982, after [[George Perles]] decided to coach at [[Michigan State Spartans football|Michigan State]].  Stanley brought a wealth of coaching experience, with stops at [[SMU Mustangs football|SMU]], [[UTEP Miners football|UTEP]], [[Oklahoma State Cowboys football|Oklahoma State]], [[Navy Midshipmen football|Navy]], and on the professional level with the [[Canadian Football League|CFL]]'s [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]], and NFL's [[New York Giants]] and [[Atlanta Falcons]], mainly as an assistant coach.  Stanley would be the club's only head coach. The coaching staff was rounded out by [[Larry Coyer]], [[Pete Rodriguez (American football)|Pete Rodriguez]], and Dick Roach (Defensive coaches). George Dickson, Bob Leahy, and Kent Stephenson were the offensive coaches.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

The [[Pontiac Silverdome]] was the home of the Panthers. In the 1980s, most NFL teams did not have complete schedule control over their stadiums, which became common practice in the aftermath of the original USFL, so the [[Detroit Lions]] could not have blocked the Panthers (publicly, the Lions avoided discussion of the USFL). C. Bruce Martin, the ideologue behind Godstock, was the first male cheerleader for a professional football team when he cheered for the Michigan Panthers.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

The USFL's first collegiate draft was held on January 4, 1983. The Panthers selected Wisconsin SS [[David Greenwood (American football)|David Greenwood]] with their first round (10th overall) selection.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

They also tabbed Michigan WR [[Anthony Carter (American football)|Anthony Carter]] in the USFL Territorial Draft – a process whereby USFL teams could protect up to 25 graduating seniors from a series of local universities. The Panthers had territorial rights to the [[University of Michigan]], [[Michigan State]], [[Eastern Michigan]], [[Central Michigan University|Central Michigan]] and [[Western Michigan University|Western Michigan]]. The Panthers used this draft to select two placekickers. One was [[Novo Bojovic]], and the other was Michigan's [[Ali Haji-Sheikh]]. Sheikh spurned the Panthers to sign with the New York Giants of the NFL.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

Michigan made a splash in signing some of the top young NCAA prospects in 1983 in Michigan WR [[Anthony Carter (American football)|Anthony Carter]], Tulsa RB [[Ken Lacy]], Wisconsin SS David Greenwood  and QB [[Bobby Hebert]] of Northwestern State (La.). The Panthers also had a few key players with NFL experience. Tackle [[Ray Pinney]] and [[Tyrone McGriff]] had played for the [[Super Bowl]] [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] teams. Linebacker [[John Corker]] had played three seasons for the [[Houston Oilers]]. The Panthers also landed three former [[Cleveland Browns]] starters in running back [[Cleo Miller]], defensive back [[Oliver Davis (American football)|Oliver Davis]], and quarterback [[Mark Miller (quarterback, born 1956)|Mark Miller]]. The team also had former All-Pro punter [[Bob Grupp]], who had played for the NFL's [[Kansas City Chiefs]]. However, Grupp had been a one-season wonder in Kansas City, and after a few inconsistent weeks, he was released, and safety David Greenwood did double duty taking over as the team's punter. Future [[Buffalo Bills]] linebacker and children's book author [[Ray Bentley]] was also a Michigan Panther.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

===1983 season highlights===
{{main|1983 Michigan Panthers season}}

Michigan held its first training camp at [[City Island Stadium]] in [[Daytona Beach, Florida]], sifting through over 75 players.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

On Monday, March 7, 1983; the Panthers opened the season with a 9–7 win over the [[Birmingham Stallions]] at [[Legion Field]] in [[Birmingham, Alabama]]. This was the first professional football game ever broadcast on [[ESPN]]. Serbian kicker (via Central Michigan) [[Novo Bojovic]] kicked the winning field goal from 48 yards out in the waning moments.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

The Panthers then dropped their next four contests, losing on March 12 to the [[Tampa Bay Bandits]] (19–7); Mar. 19 at home to the [[Oakland Invaders]] (33–27); Mar. 27 at the [[1983 Washington Federals season|Washington Federals]] (22–16 in OT) and April 4 at home to the [[Denver Gold]] (29–21). Their slow start was attributed mostly due to a very porous offensive line that struggled to create holes or time for their offensive stars.  Management addressed the issue by signing a bevy of experienced offensive linemen in OT [[Ray Pinney]] ([[Pittsburgh Steelers]]), OG [[Tyrone McGriff]] ([[Pittsburgh Steelers]]) and OG [[Thom Dornbrook]] ([[NY Giants]]). Dornbrook and McGriff would both make USFL all-league teams in 1983.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

The Panthers had a six-game winning streak. Then, on May 23, they and the [[Birmingham Stallions]] were tied 20–20 in the fourth quarter. Michigan would have had the lead, but the extra point attempt was blocked. The game went into overtime and was won by Birmingham thanks to a 46-yard field goal by Stallions kicker [[Scott Norwood]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

The Panthers would bounce back with a 42–7 thrashing of the stellar [[Tampa Bay Bandits]], coached by future [[Florida Gators]] head coach [[Steve Spurrier]]. The additions on the offensive line, combined with installing rookie [[Bobby Hebert]] as quarterback, helped the Panthers win 11 of their next 13 contests to finish with a 12–6 record. They actually tied the [[Chicago Blitz]] for the best record in the Central Division, but were awarded the division title after sweeping the Blitz in the regular season.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

In the playoffs, the Panthers hosted the Western Division champion [[Oakland Invaders]] before a USFL-record crowd of 60,237. The Panthers' decisive 37–21 victory vaulted them to the inaugural [[USFL championship game]] in [[Denver, Colorado]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

On July 17, 1983, the Panthers captured the USFL's first championship with a 24–22 win over the Atlantic Division champion [[1983 Philadelphia Stars season|Philadelphia Stars]]. QB Bobby Hebert hit WR Anthony Carter on a 48-yard touchdown strike with 3:11 left in the fourth quarter for what proved to be the deciding score. Hebert was named MVP of the game, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

The Panthers' late season surge (counting the playoffs, they went 13–2 to finish the season) was fueled by the addition of NFL-comparable talent at several positions. Indeed, they were one of three USFL teams, along with the Stars and Blitz, that observers believed could have made a good account of themselves in the NFL. It came at a high price, however; they spent $6 million during the season—three times what USFL founder [[David Dixon (founder of USFL)|David Dixon]] recommended that a team spend in a single season.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

===1984 season highlights===
The Panthers were expected to roll to another Central Division title in 1984.  Due to expansion, they were now in a Central Division with three expansion teams and a Blitz squad that had swapped nearly all of its players with the last place [[Arizona Wranglers]].  They initially didn't disappoint, sweeping their first six games. However, in the sixth game, a win over the expansion [[San Antonio Gunslingers (USFL team)|San Antonio Gunslingers]], star receiver [[Anthony Carter (American football)|Anthony Carter]] broke his arm and was lost for the season. Without their chief offensive weapon the Panthers promptly went into a tailspin, losing eight of their next ten games (the Panthers' only wins in this stretch both came in overtime) to sink to an 8–8 record. Needing to win their last two games against Oklahoma and Chicago just to make the playoffs, Michigan did just that, finishing 10–8.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

The first round playoff game against the [[Los Angeles Express (USFL)|Los Angeles Express]] (in a less-than-tenth-filled [[Los Angeles Coliseum]]) turned out to be longest professional football game in history. The Panthers took a 21–13 lead in the fourth quarter, only to have future Hall of Famer [[Steve Young (American football)|Steve Young]] throw a touchdown pass, then personally score the two-point conversion to tie the game at 21 with 52 seconds remaining. The Panthers had chances to win the game in both the first and second overtimes, but normally reliable kicker [[Novo Bojovic]] missed field goals each time. Finally, in the third overtime, rookie [[Mel Gray (return specialist)|Mel Gray]] (who would later play for the [[Detroit Lions]]) ran 24 yards to give LA a 27–21 victory, ending pro football's longest day after 93 minutes and 33 seconds of play time. (Gray's touchdown would prove to be painful for the young star—the force of the tackle at the end of the play broke his arm.)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-05-19 |title=Remember the USFL - USFL's Greatest Game |url=http://www.remembertheusfl.8m.com/greatestgame.html |access-date=2023-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519104207/http://www.remembertheusfl.8m.com/greatestgame.html |archive-date=2012-05-19 }}</ref>

It turned out to be the Panthers' last game. After the 1984 season was over USFL owners, largely under the influence of [[New Jersey Generals]] owner [[Donald Trump]] and Chicago franchise owner [[Eddie Einhorn]] began talking seriously about moving to a fall schedule in 1986. While the Panthers had developed a loyal following, Taubman was a strong believer in the original spring football concept. He also had no desire to compete with the [[Detroit Lions]]. Not only was he a decades-long Lions fan, but he was a longtime friend of Lions owner [[William Clay Ford Sr.|William Clay Ford]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

The Panthers had been far more successful on the field than the Lions; at the time of the USFL's founding, the Lions had tallied only three winning seasons since the [[NFL-AFL merger]], and had only made the playoffs once in a non-strike year since winning their last league title in 1957. However, Taubman knew that he wouldn't have even begun to be able to go head-to-head with the Lions even if he'd been inclined to do so. According to personnel director Mike Keller, the only colleges within reasonable driving distance of Detroit would not even consider opening their doors to a Panthers team playing in the fall, meaning that they would have had to play home games on Wednesdays or Thursdays. However, Taubman believed the Panthers would not have been able to get a lease for the Silverdome in the fall.<ref name=Reeths>{{cite book|title=The United States Football League, 1982–1986|last=Reeths|first=Paul|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|date=2017|isbn=978-1476667447}}</ref> Even before then, a study of market conditions concluded that despite having a decent following by USFL standards, the Panthers would have been "better off moving out of the Michigan market" due to exorbitant advertising rates and a fan base with little tolerance for losing.<ref name=Buck>{{cite book|title=Football For A Buck: The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL|last=Pearlman|first=Jeff|authorlink=Jeff Pearlman|publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]]|date=2018|isbn=978-0544454385}}</ref>

Taubman felt like the move was a foregone conclusion. As a result, after the merger between the [[Oakland Invaders]] and the [[Oklahoma Outlaws]] collapsed, Taubman quietly approached Invaders owner Tad Taube about a possible merger with his Panthers. When the league owners met to vote on moving to the fall, Taubman sent his son, Robert, with a message for the commissioner—if the teams voted to move to the fall, the Panthers would merge with the Invaders, with the Invaders as the surviving team. When the vote to play in the fall passed, the Panthers and Invaders announced their merger, with Taubman as majority owner of the Invaders.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

===Aftermath===

Bolstered by a number of Panthers players, the Invaders made it all the way to the 1984 USFL Championship Game. They lost to the now-Baltimore Stars in a rematch of sorts of the 1983 title game.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

It would be the last down that the merged team would play. After the USFL received only $3 in its [[antitrust]] lawsuit against the NFL, on which it had staked its survival, the league suspended operations and never returned.  The league's abandonment of the Detroit market was a major factor behind the adverse jury award. Even before the trial, the Invaders suspended operations after Taubman pulled out altogether.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

The [[A-11 Football League]] (A11FL), a planned spring football league which had intended to start play in 2015, had announced its intention to revive the Michigan Panthers for one of its charter franchises.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

On November 22, 2021, [[USFL (2022)|a new version of the USFL]] announced that the Michigan Panthers would be one of eight teams in the league's re-launch in the spring of 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2021/11/22/USFL?s=09 | title=New USFL to revive eight original team brands | date=22 November 2021 }}</ref>

==Single season leaders==
*Rushing Yards: 1182 (1983), [[Ken Lacy]]{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
*Receiving Yards: 1220 (1984), [[Derek Holloway]]{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
*Passing Yards: 3368 (1984), [[Bobby Hebert]]{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

== Season by season ==
{{Start NFL SBS}}
|-
|[[1983 Michigan Panthers season|1983]] || 12 || 6 || 0 || 1st Central || Won Divisional ([[Oakland Invaders|Oakland]])<br>'''Won USFL Championship''' ([[Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars|Philadelphia]])
|-
|1984 || 10 || 8 || 0 || 2nd WC Central || Lost Quarterfinal ([[Los Angeles Express (USFL)|Los Angeles]])
|-
!Totals || 24 || 15 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
{{s-end}}

== Game results ==

===1983===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Week
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Day
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Date
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Opponent
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Result
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Record
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| TV
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Venue
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Attendance
|-
! colspan="9" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"|Regular season
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 1
| Monday
| March 7
| at [[Birmingham Stallions]]
| '''W''' 9–7
| 1–0
| [[ESPN]]
| [[Legion Field]]
| 30,305
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 2
| Saturday
| March 12
| at [[Tampa Bay Bandits]]
| '''L''' 7–19
| 1–1
| [[ESPN on ABC|ABC]]
| [[Tampa Stadium]]
| 38,789
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 3
| Saturday
| March 19
| [[Oakland Invaders]]
| '''L''' 27–33
| 1–2
| ESPN
| [[Pontiac Silverdome]]
| 28,952
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 4
| Sunday
| March 27
| at [[1983 Washington Federals season|Washington Federals]]
| '''L''' 16–22 {{Small|(OT)}}
| 1–3
| ABC
| [[RFK Stadium]]
| 11,404
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 5
| Monday
| April 4
| [[Denver Gold]]
| '''L''' 21–29
| 1–4
| ESPN
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 11,279
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 6
| Sunday
| April 10
| at [[1983 New Jersey Generals season|New Jersey Generals]]
| '''W''' 21–6
| 2–4
| ABC
| [[Giants Stadium]]
| 17,648
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 7
| Sunday
| April 17
| [[Chicago Blitz]]
| '''W''' 17–12
| 3–4
| ABC
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 11,634
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 8
| Saturday
| April 23
| [[Los Angeles Express (USFL)|Los Angeles Express]]
| '''W''' 34–24
| 4–4
| ESPN
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 13,184
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 9
| Sunday
| May 1
| at [[1983 Boston Breakers season|Boston Breakers]]
| '''W''' 28–24
| 5–4
| ABC
| [[Nickerson Field]]
| 10,971
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 10
| Saturday
| May 7
| at [[Arizona Wranglers]]
| '''W''' 21–10
| 6–4
|
| [[Sun Devil Stadium]]
| 20,423
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 11
| Monday
| May 16
| [[1983 New Jersey Generals season|New Jersey Generals]]
| '''W''' 31–24
| 7–4
| ESPN
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 32,862
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 12
| Monday
| May 23
| [[Birmingham Stallions]]
| '''L''' 20–23 {{Small|(OT)}}
| 7–5
| ESPN
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 20,042
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 13
| Monday
| May 30
| [[Tampa Bay Bandits]]
| '''W''' 43–7
| 8–5
| ESPN
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 23,976
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 14
| Sunday
| June 5
| at [[1983 Philadelphia Stars season|Philadelphia Stars]]
| '''L''' 20–29
| 8–6
| ABC
| [[Veterans Stadium]]
| 19,727
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 15
| Sunday
| June 12
| at [[Los Angeles Express (USFL)|Los Angeles Express]]
| '''W''' 42–17
| 9–6
|
| [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]]
| 16,023
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 16
| Saturday
| June 18
| [[1983 Washington Federals season|Washington Federals]]
| '''W''' 27–25
| 10–6
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 26,418
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 17
| Sunday
| June 26
| at [[Chicago Blitz]]
| '''W''' 34–19
| 11–6
| ABC
| [[Soldier Field]]
| 25,041
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 18
| Sunday
| July 3
| [[Arizona Wranglers]]
| '''W''' 33–7
| 12–6
| ABC
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 31,905
|-
! colspan="9" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"|Playoffs
|-style="background:#cfc"
! Divisional<br>Playoff
| Sunday
| July 10
| [[Oakland Invaders]]
| '''W''' 37–21
| —
| ABC
| [[Pontiac Silverdome]]
| 60,237
|-style="background:#cfc"
! USFL<br>Championship
| Sunday
| July 17
| vs. [[1983 Philadelphia Stars season|Philadelphia Stars]]
| '''W''' 24–22
| —
| ABC
| [[Mile High Stadium]]
| 50,906
|}

===1984===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Week
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Day
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Date
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Opponent
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Result
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Record
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| TV
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Venue
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"| Attendance
|-
! colspan="9" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"|Preseason
|-
! 1
| colspan=8|Bye
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 2
| Saturday
| February 4
| vs. [[Chicago Blitz]]
| '''W''' 21–20
| 1–0
|
| [[Scottsdale, Arizona]]
|
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 3
| Saturday
| February 11
| vs. [[Los Angeles Express (USFL)|Los Angeles Express]]
| '''W''' 10–0 
| 2–0
|
| [[Tempe, Arizona]]
|
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 4
| Saturday
| February 18
| vs. [[Oakland Invaders]]
|'''L''' 6–7
| 2–1
|
| [[Mesa, Arizona]]
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
! colspan="9" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"|Regular season
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 1
| Monday
| February 27
| [[Chicago Blitz]]
| '''W''' 20–18
| 1–0
| [[ESPN]]
| [[Pontiac Silverdome]]
| 22,428
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 2
| Saturday
| March 3
| [[Pittsburgh Maulers (1984)|Pittsburgh Maulers]]
| '''W''' 27–24
| 2–0
| ESPN
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 44,485
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 3
| Sunday
| March 11
| at [[Denver Gold]]
| '''W''' 28–0
| 3–0
| [[ESPN on ABC|ABC]]
| [[Mile High Stadium]]
| 41,623
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 4
| Sunday
| March 18
| [[Arizona Wranglers]]
| '''W''' 31–26
| 4–0
| ABC
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 43,130
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 5
| Monday
| March 26
| at [[Houston Gamblers]]
| '''W''' 52–34
| 5–0
| ESPN
| [[Houston Astrodome]]
| 38,754
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 6
| Sunday
| April 1
| [[San Antonio Gunslingers (USFL team)|San Antonio Gunslingers]]
| '''W''' 26–10
| 6–0
| ABC
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 42,692
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 7
| Saturday
| April 7
| at [[Oklahoma Outlaws]]
| '''L''' 17–20
| 6–1
| 
| [[Skelly Stadium]]
| 21,510
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 8
| Sunday
| April 15
| [[Birmingham Stallions]]
| '''L''' 17–28
| 6–2
| ABC
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 42,655
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 9
| Monday
| April 23
| [[Tampa Bay Bandits]]
| '''L''' 7–20
| 6–3
| ESPN
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 31,433
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 10
| Sunday
| April 29
| at [[New Jersey Generals]]
| '''L''' 21–31
| 6–4
| ABC
| [[Giants Stadium]]
| 50,908
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 11
| Sunday
| May 6
| [[Houston Gamblers]]
| '''W''' 31–28 {{Small|(OT)}}
| 7–4
| ABC
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 29,068
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 12
| Sunday
| May 13
| at [[New Orleans Breakers (1984)|New Orleans Breakers]]
|'''L''' 3–10
| 7–5
| ABC
| [[Louisiana Superdome]]
| 21,053
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 13
| Sunday
| May 20
| at [[Los Angeles Express (USFL)|Los Angeles Express]]
| '''L''' 17–24
| 7–6
| ABC
| [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]]
| 10,193
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 14
| Sunday
| May 27
| [[Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars|Philadelphia Stars]]
| '''L''' 13–31
| 7–7
| ABC
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 20,387
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 15
| Friday
| June 1
| at [[San Antonio Gunslingers (USFL team)|San Antonio Gunslingers]]
| '''W''' 23–17 {{Small|(OT)}}
| 8–7
| 
| [[Alamo Stadium]]
| 16,384
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 16
| Saturday
| June 9
| at [[Oakland Invaders]]
| '''L''' 13–20
| 8–8
| ESPN
| [[Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum]]
| 23,918
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 17
| Monday
| June 18
| [[Oklahoma Outlaws]]
| '''W''' 34–24
| 9–8
| 
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 15,838
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 18
| Sunday
| June 24
| at [[Chicago Blitz]]
| '''W''' 20–17
| 10–8
| 
| [[Soldier Field]]
| 5,557
|-
! colspan="9" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Michigan Panthers|border=2}}"|Playoffs
|-style="background:#fcc"
! Divisional<br>Playoff{{Small|(1)}}
| Saturday
| June 30
| at [[Los Angeles Express (USFL)|Los Angeles Express]]
| '''L''' 21–27 {{Small|(3OT)}}
| —
| ABC
| [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]]
| 7,409
|}
{{Small|(1)}} – Longest game in professional football history.

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [https://www.usflsite.com/panthers.php USFL.info – Michigan Panthers]
*https://web.archive.org/web/20050315214543/http://www.remembertheusfl.8m.com/teams/michigan.html

{{USFL}}

[[Category:Michigan Panthers| ]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:1984 disestablishments in Michigan]]