document_title: Hairspray (musical)

question_text: when did hairspray first come out on broadway

text: Hairspray (musical)

text: Background[edit]

text: According to interviews included as an extra feature on the 2007 film's DVD release, theatre producer Margo Lion first conceived of Hairspray as a stage musical in 1998 after seeing the original film on television. "I was home looking at a lot of movies, and one of those movies was Hairspray." She contacted John Waters, who gave her his blessing, then acquired the rights from New Line Cinema.  Lion contacted Marc Shaiman, who expressed interest in the project only if his partner Scott Wittman could participate, and Lion agreed. The two enlisted the help of actress and singer Annie Golden to produce a demo recording containing three songs, one of which, "Good Morning Baltimore," eventually became the show's opening number.  Based on their initial work, Lion felt confident that she had hired the right team.[3]

text: Lion contacted Rob Marshall about directing the musical.  At the time he was involved in negotiations to direct the screen adaptation of Chicago, but he agreed to become involved in the early development stages of Hairspray with the stipulation he would drop out if assigned the film.  Marshall remembered Marissa Jaret Winokur from her brief appearance in the film American Beauty and arranged a meeting with Shaiman and Wittman.  The two immediately felt she was right for the role of Tracy Turnblad but hesitated to commit without seeing any other auditions.  They hired Winokur to work with them on the project with the understanding she might be replaced later.  One year later, Winokur was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Certain she would lose the role if the creative team learned about her condition, she underwent a hysterectomy without telling anyone but her immediate family.  The treatment and surgery succeeded, and Winokur returned to the project.[4]  Meanwhile, Marshall had started work on Chicago, and Lion hired Jack O'Brien and Jerry Mitchell to direct and to choreograph, respectively. Winokur was one of the first to audition for the role of Tracy Turnblad and spent two years preparing with voice and dance lessons.[5] Tracy's mother had been portrayed by Divine in the original film, and Shaiman liked the idea of maintaining the tradition of casting a male as Edna Turnblad.  Harvey Fierstein auditioned for the role with a "half hour vocal audition".  He thought they were "pacifying" him, but he was told "they don't want anyone but you".[6]

text: According to Shaiman, one song, "I Know Where I've Been," became controversial during the genesis of the score:

text:
The civil rights story line is a very important aspect of the musical. This story line and the show is empowering for African Americans as it brings the audience's attention to their stories and the true events that were occurring in the 1960's, and doesn't shy away from exploring and exposing them to audiences all over the world. For example, the Corny Collins Show aspect of the musical, is based on a real show in 1960's Baltimore called The Buddy Deane Show.[8]
Therefore, viewer's can see the real socio-cultural issues that were occurring in America during this time such as segregation, and events surrounding the Buddy Deane Show, which otherwise may have been forgotten.[9]

text: Productions[edit]

text: Original Broadway production[edit]

text: After a successful tryout at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, Hairspray opened on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre on August 15, 2002.[10] Jack O'Brien directed the production, which Jerry Mitchell choreographed, with set design by David Rockwell, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, sound design by Steve C. Kennedy, and the many distinctive wigs in the show by Paul Huntley. The original Broadway cast included Marissa Jaret Winokur and Harvey Fierstein in the lead roles of Tracy and Edna respectively. The cast also featured Matthew Morrison as Link, Laura Bell Bundy as Amber, Kerry Butler as Penny, Linda Hart as Velma, Mary Bond Davis as Motormouth Maybelle, Corey Reynolds as Seaweed, Jackie Hoffman as Matron, Dick Latessa as Wilbur, and Clarke Thorell as Corny Collins. Kamilah Marshall, Shayna Steele, and Judine Richard played the Dynamites.

text: Hairspray received Tony Award nominations in 13 categories, winning eight, including for best musical, book, score and direction.  Winokur, Fierstein and Latessa received awards for their performances.  The production ran for more than six years, closing on January 4, 2009 after 2,642 performances.[2] Thorell returned to the cast for the final ten months. Fierstein and Winokur returned to the cast for the final performances.[11][12]

text: Original London production[edit]

text: The West End production opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre on October 11, 2007 for previews before its official opening on October 30. Michael Ball played Edna, with Mel Smith as Wilbur Turnblad, newcomer Leanne Jones as Tracy, Tracie Bennett as Velma, Paul Manuel as Corny Collins, Rachael Wooding as Amber, Elinor Collett as Penny, and Ben James-Ellis as Link.  The original creative team of the Broadway production, with director Jack O'Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, reunited for the London production.[13]  The show garnered a record-setting eleven Olivier Award nominations[14] and won for Best New Musical, as well as acting awards for Best Actress and Actor in a musical (Jones and Ball).[15] The production closed on March 28, 2010 after a run of nearly two-and-a-half years and over 1,000 performances.[16]

text: Original Australian production[edit]

text: An Australian production of Hairspray opened in Melbourne at the Princess Theatre on October 2, 2010 to critical acclaim.[17]  It was directed by David Atkins and choreographed by So You Think You Can Dance Australia judge Jason Coleman.[18]  The show moved to Sydney from June 23, 2011.  The cast included Jaz Flowers as Tracy, Trevor Ashley as Edna, Jack Chambers as Link, and Tevin Campbell reprising his role from the Broadway production as Seaweed J. Stubbs.  Atkins redesigned the production using new technologies.[19]  The set used enormous LED screens, which moved around the stage in various combinations, as the characters interacted with animated landscapes generated across the screens.[20] The musical opened at Sydney's Lyric Theatre at The Star Casino on 11 June 2011 and closed on 25 September 2011, two weeks earlier than anticipated, ending its Australian run.

text: Tours[edit]

text: The first U.S. national tour started a run in September 2003 in Baltimore and ended in June 2006.[21]  It starred Carly Jibson as Tracy, Bruce Vilanch as Edna, Terron Brooks as Seaweed, Sandra DeNise as Penny, Susan Cella as Velma, and Ramona Cole (soon replaced by Charlotte Crossley) as Motormouth Maybelle.[22]  When the tour stopped in Los Angeles, Winokur reprised her role as Tracy, together with the original Broadway Link, Matthew Morrison. The same creative team of Jack O'Brien (dir.) and Jerry Mitchell (chor) were at the helm. Lon Hoyt served as music supervisor. Jim Vukovich served as music director for the entire 33 months on the road.[23]

text:
In July 2006, a non-Equity U.S. and Asian tour opened in Atlantic City's Harrah's Casino.[24] The shorter "casino version" was used for a six-week run, but when the tour moved on,[25] it continued with the full version of the show minus the character of Lorraine. The production starred Brooklynn Pulver as Tracy, Jerry O'Boyle as Edna, Dan Ferretti as Wilbur, Constantine Rousouli as Link, Christian Dante White as Seaweed, Alyssa Malgeri as Penny, Jarret Mallon as Corny, Happy McPartlin as Velma, Pearl Thomas as Amber, and Yvette Clark as Motormouth Maybelle.[26]
The tour played sit down engagements in Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. It played its final performance on April 25, 2010 at the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside, California.

text: After the West End production closed, Hairspray began touring the UK and Ireland, starting at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff on April 7, 2010, following previews from March 30. The tour stars Michael Ball as Edna,  alternating with Michael Starke and Brian Conley; Les Dennis, Nigel Planer and Micky Dolenz alternating as Wilbur and Laurie Scarth as Tracy.[27]

text: Hairspray toured the UK and Ireland in 2013. The show opened on February 13 in The Lowry Theatre in Manchester with Mark Benton playing Edna Turnblad, Lucy Benjamin playing Velma Von Tussle, Marcus Collins as Seaweed Stubbs and Freya Sutton as Tracy Turnblad, respectively.[28] MM Musicals presented the show at FairfieldHalls, Croydon, in the Ashcroft Theatre, from 19–22 November 2014, with Corin Miller as Tracy, Andy Lingfield as Edna, and Natalie Cave as Penny.[29]

text: Mark Goucher produced a Hairspray tour in the UK from September 2015, starting in Leicester at the Curve.[30]

text: A new production of Hairspray will return at the end of summer 2017 to once again tour the UK, starring Norman Pace as Wilbur, Brenda Edwards as Motormouth, Layton Williams and newcomer Rebecca Mendoza as Tracy.[31]

text: Other productions[edit]

text: A Las Vegas production ran at the Luxor Hotel in 2006 starring Katrina Rose Dideriksen as Tracy, Austin Miller as Link, and Fierstein and Latessa reprising their roles as Edna and Wilbur.  This ninety-minute version was played in one act.  Cut songs included "The Big Dollhouse", "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs", "Velma's Revenge", "Good Morning Baltimore (Reprise)", and "Cooties".[32]

text: Royal Caribbean International presents the show on their new ship MS Oasis of the Seas, which made its maiden voyage in December 2009. The show is performed in the ship's 1350 seat Opal Theater three times on each seven-night cruise.

text: In 2018 the MS Symphony of the Seas made its maiden voyage, performing Hairspray. The show is performed in one act, restoring "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs" but like the Las Vegas version omitting "The Big Dollhouse", "Velma's Revenge", "Good Morning Baltimore (Reprise)", and "Cooties". The second verse of "It Takes Two" was also omitted.

text: U.S. regional premiere[edit]

text: The Riverton Arts Council in Riverton, Utah, performed the U.S. regional premiere at the Sandra N. Lloyd Performing Arts Center from July 30 to August 21, 2010.

text: A production at the Hollywood Bowl ran from August 5–7, 2011, directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.[33] Original Broadway cast members Fierstein and Winokur reprised their roles as Edna and Tracy Turnblad. The cast also featured Corbin Bleu (Seaweed J. Stubbs), Drew Carey (Wilbur), Diana DeGarmo (Penny), Mo Gaffney (Prudy and others), Nick Jonas (Link Larkin), Darlene Love (Motormouth Maybelle), Susan Anton (Velma Von Tussle), and John Stamos (Corny Collins).[34][35]

text: International productions[edit]

text: The first international production opened in Toronto at the Princess of Wales Theatre in April 2004 and ran for 245 performances. Vanessa Olivarez, a former American Idol contestant, starred as Tracy, and Jay Brazeau starred as Edna.[36] Stephanie Pitsiladis, cast as the standby for Vanessa, is the first Canadian to have portrayed the role of Tracy Turnblad.

text: A South African production opened in Johannesburg in October 2007 with the original direction and choreography recreated by Matt Lenz and Greg Graham.  New set and costume designs were by Michael Bottari and Ronald Case.[37][38]  A production in Buenos Aires, Argentina, opened on July 16, 2008 starring Enrique Pinti as Edna.  The role of Tracy was cast through a reality-competition show called Yo Quiero Ser la Protagonista de Hairspray' (I Want to Be Hairspray's Protagonist).[39]

text: On November 14, 2008, a production of Hairspray in Manila in the Philippines, starring Madel Ching as Tracy and Michael de Mesa as Edna.  The production closed on December 7, 2008.[40]  On July 10, 2009, a Brazilian production opened in Rio de Janeiro, starring Simone Gutierrez as Tracy and Edson Celulari as Edna. A 2010 Brazilian tour stopped in São Paulo, Brasilia, Curitiba and Porto Alegre.[citation needed]

text: A Dutch production ran during the 2009/2010 season. Edna Turnblad was played by Arjan Ederveen and Link was Jim Bakkum (runner-up in the first season of the Dutch American Idol).[citation needed]  On December 6, 2009 a German production opened in Cologne. Edna is played alternately by Uwe Ochsenknecht and comedian Tetje Mierendorf. Tracy is played by Maite Kelly, former member of The Kelly Family and Penny is Jana Stelley. The first production of Hairspray in the German language, however, took place at the Theater St. Gallen, Switzerland.[citation needed]  A re-creation of the Broadway/Wast End production of the show opened in Dubai in July 2010 with Leanne Jones, from the West End production, reprising her role as Tracy and Antony Stuart-Hicks as Edna.[41]

text: Other productions opened in Canada, Finland, Japan, South Korea,[42] Italy, St. Gallen, Switzerland (in German) and Brazil.[43]  The musical also played in Shanghai, China, at the Shanghai Grand Theatre in July 2008[44] and Stockholm, Sweden in September 2008.[citation needed]  Other productions are planned for France, Israel, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Mexico.[45] Hairspray has been translated into German, Finnish, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Italian, Portuguese, French and Hebrew.

text: There was a production which was performed in the Hong Kong Cultural Center, by a performing arts company called Face Production. They won a HK Heckler Award for Best Musical, Best Actress and Best Set Design.

text: School adaptation[edit]

text: In August 2008, the British television channel Sky 1 began broadcasting Hairspray: The School Musical, which followed the development of a North London comprehensive school's production of Hairspray from audition to performance, with input from various actors and creatives, including members of the Broadway production team and the West End cast.[46]

text: The first amateur MTI production was produced at the French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts in the summer of 2008. The Junior version was released by MTI on December 9, 2013. This version excludes the musical numbers "I Can Hear the Bells", "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs", "Velma's Revenge", "You're Timeless to Me", and "Big, Blonde, and Beautiful".

text: NBC Live Television[edit]

text: Hairspray was the next live musical to be produced by NBC, and was broadcast on December 7, 2016.[47] Newcomer Maddie Baillio was chosen to play Tracy Turnblad.[48] Jennifer Hudson and Harvey Fierstein starred as Motormouth Maybelle and Edna Turnblad, respectively.[49] Martin Short portrayed Wilbur Turnblad and Derek Hough played Corny Collins.[50] Kristin Chenoweth starred as Velma Von Tussle, and Ariana Grande played the role of Penny Pingleton.[51][52] The roles of Amber Von Tussle, Link Larkin, and Seaweed J. Stubbs  were played by Dove Cameron, Garrett Clayton, and Ephraim Sykes, respectively.[53] Sean Hayes portrayed Mr. Pinky, and Rosie O'Donnell played the gym teacher.[54]

text: Synopsis[edit]

text: Act I[edit]

text: It is June 1962 in Baltimore. Tracy Turnblad, an overweight high school student, wakes up ("Good Morning Baltimore") and goes to school, where she receives a warning for "inappropriate hair height". After school, Tracy rushes home with her best friend, Penny, to catch the local teenage dance show, The Corny Collins Show ("The Nicest Kids in Town"). Edna, Tracy's shy and overweight mother, is ironing and complains about the noise of the music coming from the television, while Penny's mother, Prudy, complains about it being race music. After an announcement that auditions for a place on the show will be held due to the fact that Brenda (one of the Corny Collins Council Members) has taken a leave of absence from the show for "9 months", Tracy begs her mother for permission to audition. Edna, fearing that Tracy will be laughed at due to her weight, refuses. Penny and Amber (the main dancer on The Corny Collins Show) have similar arguments with their mothers ("Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now").

text:
After gaining permission and support from her father, Wilbur, Tracy auditions for the show and bumps into teenage heartthrob, Link Larkin, which leads into a dream sequence ("I Can Hear the Bells"). Velma Von Tussle, the racist producer of The Corny Collins Show, rejects Tracy from the audition because of her size ("(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs"), as well as refusing a black girl, Little Inez.
Back at school, Tracy is sent to detention for her "monumental hair-don't". There she meets black dancer Seaweed J. Stubbs (the son of the hostess of "Negro Day" on The Corny Collins Show, Motormouth Maybelle), who teaches her several dance moves. She uses the new dance steps at the Sophomore Hop the following day to introduce herself to Corny Collins ("The Madison"). When Corny sees how well Tracy can dance, he gives her a place on the show ("The Nicest Kids in Town" (Reprise)). During the broadcast, Link, following Corny's suggestion, sings "It Takes Two" to Tracy, much to Amber's dismay. After the show, Mr. Spritzer, the show's worrisome sponsor, appeals to Velma over Tracy's appointment to the Council. Velma, threatening to fire Corny from the show, is eventually left distraught and determines to ruin Tracy ("Velma's Revenge").

text:
At the Turnblad house, Edna is receiving calls from fans who saw Tracy on the show. A call comes in from Mr. Pinky, the owner of a plus-size dress shop, for an endorsement. Tracy pleads with her mother to come with her and to act as her agent although Edna has not left their apartment in years. Finally making it outside, Edna is given a huge makeover ("Welcome to the 60's") and Tracy becomes the spokes-girl for the shop. At school, signs of Tracy's fame are evident in the schoolyard, with graffiti on the walls and Shelly, another Council Member sporting Tracy's signature hairdo. During a game of dodge ball, a jealous Amber knocks Tracy out, and Link rushes to her side. Penny and Seaweed, who have developed a liking for each other, rush to fetch the school nurse, only to find her out sick. Seaweed, suggesting that some fun would make Tracy feel better, invites all of them to his mother's record shop for a platter party ("Run and Tell That").
At the shop, Tracy rallies everyone to march against the station on the following day's Mother-Daughter Day, as blacks are not allowed on the show except for the monthly Negro Day. Before they start, Motormouth Maybelle convinces the initially reluctant Edna and Wilbur to march as well. Link declined to participate for the sake of his contract with the show. During the protest, led by Motormouth, Velma calls the police and fights break out. When the police arrive on the scene, almost everyone is arrested ("Big, Blonde and Beautiful").

text: Act II[edit]

text:
After the march, most of the women are locked up in a women's penitentiary ("The Big Dollhouse"). Because of Velma's dirty tactics, the governor pardons and releases both her and Amber. Wilbur bails out the remaining people, excluding Tracy who is forced to remain in jail through another one of Velma's manipulations.  Tracy is alone and wishes that Link could be with her ("Good Morning Baltimore" (Reprise)). Back at the Har-De-Har Hut (Wilbur's joke shop), Wilbur and Edna are left destitute because of the money it cost them to bail everyone out and with Tracy still in prison. Edna sympathizes with her daughter's dream – she had dreamt of making her "own line of queen-sized dress patterns". Edna and Wilbur reminisce about their past and how they can never be parted from each other ("(You're) Timeless to Me").
During the night, Link sneaks into the jail where he finds Tracy in solitary confinement. As Link and Tracy reunite, Penny's mother, Prudy, punishes Penny for "going to jail without her permission" and ties her up in her bedroom where Seaweed comes to her rescue.  Both couples declare their love for one another ("Without Love"). After escaping from their respective prisons, the couples seek refuge at Motormouth Maybelle's Record Shop. Tracy thinks that it is unfair that after all of their hard work, The Corny Collins Show is still segregated. They devise a plan to help integrate the show, and Motormouth remembers their long fight for equality ("I Know Where I've Been").

text: On the day of the Miss Teenage Hairspray competition, Corny Collins starts the show with a song ("(It's) Hairspray"). Amber shows off her talents in a bid to get more votes from the viewers ("Cooties"). Just as the results are about to be announced, Tracy stuns Amber as she makes her entrance in a magenta dress without any petticoat underneath, taking over the stage, and is joined by Link, Penny, Seaweed, Edna, Wilbur, Little Inez, and Motormouth. Tracy is declared the winner of the competition. Amber and Velma protest the results, claiming that it is all wrong. Little Inez then tries to take the crown by force when Amber refuses to hand it over, but Tracy stops her, claiming that her heart is set on something more important, which is Link and her future. She then proclaims the Corny Collins show is "now and forevermore" racially integrated, to much applause. When all is announced, Mr. Spritzer runs onstage thrilled with the public's response to the telecast and announces that the governor has pardoned Tracy and gave her a full college scholarship and he offers Link a recording contract and Velma the position of vice president of Ultra Glow – beauty products for women of color, much to the latter's chagrin. Prudy arrives at the station and, seeing how happy Penny is with Seaweed, accepts her daughter for who she is. At the height of the moment, the company invites Amber and Velma to join the celebration. With the station in joyous celebration, Tracy and Link cement their love with a kiss ("You Can't Stop the Beat").

text: Characters[edit]

text: Principal roles and casts of major productions of stage productions of Hairspray

text:
Character

Description

Original Broadway Actor/Actress

Notable Broadway Replacements

2007 Film Adaptation

2011 Hollywood Bowl

Original West End Actor/Actress

Notable West End Replacements

Original Australian Actor/Actress

Original Danish Cast

2016 Live Television Adaptation

Tracy Turnblad
The female lead of Hairspray. A "pleasantly plump" teenager, who dreams of fame and fights to racially integrate The Corny Collins Show.
Marissa Jaret Winokur
Kathy BrierCarly JibsonShannon DurigMarissa Perry
Nikki Blonsky
Marissa Jaret Winokur
Leanne Jones
Chloe Hart
Jaz FlowersKirby Lunn

Nanna Rossen

Maddie Baillio

Edna Turnblad
Tracy's kind, plus-sized mother – a drag role.  Edna runs a laundry business out of her home.
Harvey Fierstein
Michael McKeanBruce VilanchJohn PinetteBlake HammondPaul VogtGeorge Wendt
John Travolta
Harvey Fierstein
Michael Ball
Brian Conley  Phill Jupitus
Trevor Ashley

Martin Brygmann

Harvey Fierstein

Velma Von Tussle
The villainess of Hairspray. Amber's scheming mother and producer of The Corny Collins Show, who pushes her daughter to seek the stardom that she never had.
Linda Hart
 Leah Hocking Liz LarsenBarbara WalshIsabel KeatingMichele PawkMary BirdsongKaren Mason
Michelle Pfeiffer
Susan Anton
Tracie Bennett
Liz RobertsonBelinda CarlisleSiobhán McCarthy
Marney McQueen

Lene Nystrøm

Kristin Chenoweth

Penny Pingleton
Tracy's slightly dorky, devoted and perky best friend.
Kerry Butler
Jennifer GambateseTracy MillerDiana DeGarmoCaissie LevyAlexa Vega
Amanda Bynes
Diana DeGarmo
Elinor Collett
Verity Rushworth
Esther Hannaford

Karin Nordly-Holst

Ariana Grande

Motormouth Maybelle
The sassy, strong-willed and friendly owner of a downtown record shop and the host of "Negro Day" on The Corny Collins Show, self-described as "big, blonde and beautiful".
Mary Bond Davis
Darlene LoveJenifer Lewis Charlotte Crossley
Queen Latifah
Darlene Love
Johnnie Fiori
Sandra MarvinSharon D Clarke
Cle Morgan

Caroline Henderson

Jennifer Hudson

Amber Von Tussle
Bratty, selfish resident princess of The Corny Collins Show, despite her lack of talent.  She is willing to do anything to win the Miss Teenage Hairspray pageant.
Laura Bell Bundy
Becky GulsvigJordan BallardHaylie DuffTara MacriAshley SpencerAubrey O'DayBrynn O'Malley
Brittany Snow
Tara Macri
Rachael Wooding
Zoe RaineyNicola Brazil
Renee Armstrong

Julie Zangenberg

Dove Cameron

Link Larkin
A teenage heartthrob and one of The Corny Collins Show Council Members, who unexpectedly  falls in love with Tracy.
Matthew Morrison
Richard H. BlakeAndrew RannellsAshley Parker AngelAaron Tveit
Zac Efron
Nick Jonas
Ben James-Ellis
Liam Tamne
Jack Chambers

Johannes Nymark

Garrett Clayton

Seaweed J. Stubbs
A hip and kind-hearted "Negro Day" dancer and the son of Motormouth Maybelle who falls in love with Penny.
Corey Reynolds
Chester Gregory IITevin Campbell
Elijah Kelley
Corbin Bleu
Adrian Hansel

Tevin Campbell

Jean Michel

Ephraim Sykes

Wilbur Turnblad
Tracy's goofy, loving and encouraging father, who owns the Har-De-Har Hut joke shop and is still madly in love with his wife, Edna.  He encourages Tracy to follow her dreams.
Dick Latessa
Jere BurnsJerry MathersJim J. BullockStephen DeRosa
Christopher Walken
Drew Carey
Mel Smith
Ian Talbot Nigel Planer Micky Dolenz
Grant Piro

Jesper Lohmann

Martin Short

Corny Collins
The glib, polished host of The Corny Collins Show, with one eye on social progress and another on his hair.
Clarke Thorell
Lance BassJonathan Dokuchitz
James Marsden
John Stamos
Paul Manuel
Gavin Alex
Scott Irwin

Silas Holst

Derek Hough

Little Inez
Seaweed's talented younger sister.
Danielle Eugenia Wilson
Naturi Naughton
Taylor Parks
Chyka Jackson
Natalie Best
Raquel Jones
Nancy Denis

Maimona Bruun Ndiaye

Shahadi Wright Joseph

Female Authority Figure
Prudy Pingleton, Penny's overprotective and bigoted mother, and The Matron guarding The Big Dollhouse; the Gym Teacher.
Jackie Hoffman
Julie HalstonSusan Mosher
Allison Janney
Mo Gaffney
Wendy Somerville

Jacqui Rae

Rosie O'Donnell (Gym Teacher)Andrea Martin (Prudy)

Male Authority Figure
Mr. Pinky, owner of Mr. Pinky's Hefty Hideaway who gives Tracy and Edna a makeover; Principal of Patterson Park High School; and Mr. Harriman F. Spritzer, the President of Ultra Clutch
Joel Vig
Blake HammondJim J. BullockKevin Meaney
Jerry StillerPaul Dooley
Michael McDonald
Dermot Canavan

Sean Hayes (Mr Pinky)Paul Vogt (Mr. Spritzer)

text: Musical numbers[edit]

text:
Act I
"Good Morning Baltimore" – Tracy and Ensemble
"The Nicest Kids in Town" – Corny and Council Members
"Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now" – Edna, Tracy, Prudy, Penny, Velma, Amber, and Female Ensemble
"I Can Hear the Bells" – Tracy and Council Members
"(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs" – Velma and Council Members with Tracy, Penny, and Little Inez
"The Madison"† – Council Members
"The Nicest Kids in Town (Reprise)"† – Corny, Council Members
"It Takes Two" – Link, Tracy, and Council Guys
"Velma's Revenge"† – Velma
"Welcome to the 60's" – Tracy, Edna, The Dynamites, Mr. Pinky, and Ensemble
"Run and Tell That!" – Seaweed, Little Inez, and Motormouth Kids
"Big, Blonde and Beautiful" – Motormouth, Little Inez, Tracy, Edna, Wilbur, and Company

Act II
"The Big Dollhouse" – Matron, Edna, Velma, Tracy, Amber, Penny, Motormouth, Little Inez, and Female Ensemble
"Good Morning Baltimore (Reprise)" – Tracy
"You're Timeless to Me" – Edna and Wilbur
"You're Timeless to Me (Reprise)"† - Edna and Wilbur
"Without Love" – Tracy, Link, Penny, Seaweed, and Ensemble
"I Know Where I've Been" – Motormouth and Ensemble
"(It's) Hairspray" – Corny and Council Members
"Cooties" – Amber and Council Members
"You Can't Stop the Beat" – Tracy, Link, Penny, Seaweed, Edna, Wilbur, Motormouth, Velma, Amber and Company
†Not on the cast recording.

text: Score revisions and additional songs[edit]

text: Hairspray went through several revisions before and during its pre-Broadway run in Seattle, in the process eliminating and replacing several musical numbers.  In Seattle, an infomercial about safety on the road titled "Blood on the Pavement" followed "The Nicest Kids in Town", and is included on the cast album, following "You Can't Stop the Beat". In early revisions, various songs, including "The Status Quo" and "Velma's Cha-Cha" (its short reprise replaced by "Rage," in turn dropped in favor of "Velma's Revenge"), were used during Tracy's audition and dismissal, but the team instead opted for "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs", as the audience did not like seeing Tracy being verbally attacked after "I Can Hear the Bells".[55] After the auditions, there was a scene in the Har-De-Har Hut in which Wilbur tried to cheer up Tracy after her rejection,[56] singing that "It Doesn't Get Better than This". Later replaced by the similar "Positivity", the scene was later cut early in the Seattle tryout as it was deemed emotionally redundant.

text: After Tracy eventually made it on the show, there was a song "The New Girl in Town", which was sung first by the Council girls and later by the black Girls. Although later cut early during the Seattle tryout, it was included in the 2007 film and appears in the show's instrumental score.[57] "The Mother-Daughter Cha-Cha-Cha" was another cut number that originally followed "Big, Blonde, and Beautiful".  Later, the writers absorbed the protest rally and Mother-Daughter Day into the number, thus deleting the song and folding the sequence into a single scene.[58] A song called "Step on Up" was also cut in favor of "I Know Where I've Been".[59] Early on in the genesis of the show, the plot involved a "Miss Auto Show" competition, as in the 1988 film, instead of "Miss Teenage Hairspray". For this competition, later revised due to the cost of cars onstage, there was a song called "Take a Spin" sung by Corny in the place where "(It's) Hairspray" is now.[60] After Amber's rendition of "Cooties", Tracy had a song before the finale called "It Ain't Over 'Til the Fat Lady Sings," though it was cut after the third reading of the show; it was included as a track on the Special Edition of the 2007 motion picture's soundtrack.[61]

text: Instrumentation[edit]

text: Hairspray's orchestration calls for fifteen musicians: three keyboards, the first of which is played by the conductor, bass guitar, two guitars, drums, percussion, trumpet, trombone, two woodwind players, two violins, and cello.  The guitarists both double on acoustic and electric guitars, and the trumpet doubles on flugelhorn; the original Broadway production also featured a piccolo trumpet double.  The first woodwind player doubles on tenor and alto saxophones, flute and clarinet.  The second woodwind player doubles on tenor, alto and baritone saxophones, flute and clarinet.

text: In the original Broadway production, a few of the actors mimed on musical instruments in order to fulfil a minimum musician requirement at the Neil Simon Theatre.[citation needed]

text: Themes[edit]

text: Hairspray explores the themes of racial prejudice and freedom of expression. It highlights individuality, and the importance of everyone working together for something to become revolutionary. The musical is empowering, as although it touches on racial issues that were prevalent in 1960s America, it focuses more on the attitudes that are associated with it, and the power that we have to change discrimination.[62] The musical encourages individuality, acceptance and freedom. It is a musical that can be applied to any social context and time, as it highlights ongoing issues such as fat-shaming, racism and discrimination.[63] It also explores femininity in terms of the female characters. Notably, Tracy’s mother, Edna Turnblad, is performed in drag during the shows. Allowing a drag role for Edna adds a queerness to the musical as it does not include any gay characters.[64] Edna is considered to be the non-racialised other that is part of the story in Hairspray.[65] The musical also challenges the societal norms of a female. The body size of Edna also adds emphasis to the diva roles that are present in the show.[64] Thus, the musical highlights female characters that are strong and associated with diva characteristics.

text: ‘Hairspray’ the musical emphasises on issues of acceptance and discrimination within society.[66] Being set in the 1960s, the musical highlights the struggles of racial discrimination of African-Americans during the civil rights movement, with a focus on the world of popular culture. It is empowering by acknowledging the challenges and limitations enforced on African Americans during this time, and also reminds audiences of the progress made as a result of the civil rights movement. Its message can also be used to empower change for other forms of discrimination that are still relevant in today’s society.[67]

text: Response[edit]

text: Critics[edit]

text: According to Variety, Hairspray received thirteen favorable and four mixed reviews.[68]  Charles Isherwood, in his Variety review wrote: "...this sweet, infinitely spirited, bubblegum-flavored confection won't be lacking for buyers any time soon. Arriving in an aerosol fog of advance hype, it more than lives up to its promise."[69] Ben Brantley wrote: "So what if it's more than a little pushy in its social preaching? Stocked with canny, deliriously tuneful songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and directed by Jack O'Brien with a common touch that stops short of vulgarity, 'Hairspray' is as sweet as a show can be without promoting tooth decay. ...[it] succeeds in recreating the pleasures of the old-fashioned musical comedy without seeming old-fashioned.  ...Shaiman... is taking the infectious hooks and rhythms from period pop and R&B and translating them into the big, bouncy sound that Broadway demands.... And while the savvy arrangements... nod happily to Motown, Elvis, Lesley Gore ballads and standards like "Higher and Higher," the score's appeal isn't nostalgic.  It's music that builds its own self-contained, improbably symmetrical world...."[70] New York's Daily News wrote, "As Tracy, Marissa Jaret Winokur has the heft, the pipes and an enormously appealing stage presence. Her dancing may not be as special as the plot suggests, but she wins your heart... With this role, Fierstein places himself in the great line of Broadway divas."[71]

text: Box office and business[edit]

text: Hairspray opened with a $12 million advance; after the Tony Awards show (in June 2003), it was expected to do five times the business it normally did on a Monday.[72] The entire $10.5 million investment was recouped by May 2003 (approximately 9 months after its Broadway opening).[73] For 2002-03 it averaged 99% capacity; for 2007 it averaged 86%.[74]

text: Adaptations[edit]

text: A film version was released in July 2007. The film was directed and choreographed by Adam Shankman and starred John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, Christopher Walken as Wilbur Turnblad, Queen Latifah as Maybelle, Michelle Pfeiffer as Velma Von Tussle, James Marsden as Corny Collins, and Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad. Hugh Jackman and Joey McIntyre were both considered to play the role of Corny Collins, but lost to Jackman's X-Men co-star Marsden.[75] NBC's Hairspray Live!, directed by Kenny Leon and Alex Rudzinski, aired in December 2016 to mostly positive reviews.[76]

text: Awards and honors[edit]

text: Original Broadway production[edit]

text: Sources: PlaybillVault;[77] Internet Broadway Database;[78] Playbill;[79] Playbill[80]

text:
Year

Award Ceremony

Category

Nominee

Result

2003

Tony Award

Best Musical

Won

Best Original Score

Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman

Won

Best Direction of a Musical

Jack O'Brien

Won

Best Book of a Musical

Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan

Won

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

Harvey Fierstein

Won

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

Marissa Jaret Winokur

Won

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

Dick Latessa

Won

Corey Reynolds

Nominated

Best Choreography

Jerry Mitchell

Nominated

Best Orchestrations

Harold Wheeler

Nominated

Best Scenic Design

David Rockwell

Nominated

Best Costume Design

William Ivey Long

Won

Best Lighting Design

Kenneth Posner

Nominated

Drama Desk Award

Outstanding Musical

Won

Outstanding Book of a Musical

Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan

Won

Outstanding Orchestrations

Harold Wheeler

Nominated

Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Harvey Fierstein

Won

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Marissa Jaret Winokur

Won

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Dick Latessa

Won

Corey Reynolds

Nominated

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

Kerry Butler

Nominated

Outstanding Lyrics

Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman

Won

Outstanding Music

Marc Shaiman

Won

Outstanding Director

Jack O'Brien

Won

Outstanding Choreography

Jerry Mitchell

Nominated

Outstanding Set Design

David Rockwell

Nominated

Outstanding Costume Design

William Ivey Long

Won

Theatre World Award

Jackie Hoffman

Won

Marissa Jaret Winokur

Won

text: Original London production[edit]

text: Sources: Playbill;[81] Playbill;[82] Olivier Awards[83] The Telegraph[84]

text:
Year

Award Ceremony

Category

Nominee

Result

2008

Laurence Olivier Award

Best New Musical

Won

Best Actor in a Musical

Michael Ball

Won

Best Actress in a Musical

Leanne Jones

Won

Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Tracie Bennett

Won

Elinor Collett

Nominated

Best Director

Jack O'Brien

Nominated

Best Theatre Choreographer

Jerry Mitchell

Nominated

Best Set Design

David Rockwell

Nominated

Best Costume Design

William Ivey Long

Nominated

Best Lighting Design

Kenneth Posner

Nominated

Best Sound Design

Steve C. Kennedy

Nominated


document_title: List of stock market crashes and bear markets

question_text: when did the stock market crash most recent

root

text: Table[edit]

tag: p

text:
Name
Date
Country
Causes
Ref

Kipper und Wipper
000000001623-01-01-00001623

A financial crisis caused by debased (fraudulent) foreign coins minted in the Holy Roman Empire from 1621–1623, done to raise funds at the start of the Thirty Years' War
[1]

Tulip mania Bubble
000000001637-01-01-00001637

A bubble (1633–37) in the Netherlands during which contracts for bulbs of tulips reached extraordinarily high prices, and suddenly collapsed
[2]

The Mississippi Bubble
000000001720-01-01-00001720

Banque Royale by John Law stopped payments of its note in exchange for specie and as result caused economic collapse in France.

South Sea Bubble of 1720
000000001720-01-01-00001720

Affected early European stock markets, during early days of chartered joint stock companies

Bengal Bubble of 1769
000000001769-01-01-00001769

Primarily caused by the British East India Company, whose shares fell from £276 in December 1768 to £122 in 1784

Credit crisis of 1772
000000001772-01-01-00001772

Financial Crisis of 1791–92
000000001791-01-01-00001791

Shares of First bank of US boom and bust in Aug and Sept 1791. Groundwork of Alexander Hamilton's cooperation with the Bank of New York to end this event would be crucial in ending the Panic of 1792 next year.

Panic of 1796–97
000000001796-01-01-00001796

A series of downturns in Atlantic credit markets led to broader commercial downturns in Great Britain and the United States.

Panic of 1819
000000001819-01-01-00001819

Panic of 1825
000000001825-01-01-00001825

Panic of 1837
000000001837-05-10-000010 May 1837

Panic of 1847
000000001847-01-01-00001847

Panic of 1857
000000001857-01-01-00001857

Panic of 1866
000000001866-01-01-00001866

Black Friday
000000001869-09-24-000024 Sep 1869

Panic of 1873
000000001873-05-09-00009 May 1873

Initiated the Long Depression in the United States and much of Europe

Paris Bourse crash of 1882
000000001882-01-19-000019 Jan 1882

Panic of 1884
000000001884-01-01-00001884

Encilhamento
000000001890-01-01-00001890

Lasting 3 years, 1890–1893, a boom and bust process that boomed in late 1880s and burst on early 1890s, causing a collapse in the Brazilian economy and aggravating an already unstable political situation.
[3] [4] [5] [6]

Panic of 1893
000000001893-01-01-00001893

Panic of 1896
000000001896-01-01-00001896

Panic of 1901
000000001901-05-17-000017 May 1901

Lasting 3 years, the market was spooked by the assassination of President McKinley in 1901, coupled with a severe drought later the same year.

Panic of 1907
000000001907-10-01-0000Oct 1907

Lasting over a year, markets took fright after U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt had threatened to rein in the monopolies that flourished in various industrial sectors, notably railways.

Wall Street Crash of 1929
000000001929-10-24-000024 Oct 1929

Lasting over 4 years, the bursting of the speculative bubble in shares led to further selling as people who had borrowed money to buy shares had to cash them in, when their loans were called in. Also called the Great Crash or the Wall Street Crash, leading to the Great Depression.

Recession of 1937–38
000000001937-01-01-00001937

Lasting around a year, this share price fall was triggered by an economic recession within the Great Depression and doubts about the effectiveness of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal policy.

Kennedy Slide of 1962
000000001962-05-28-000028 May 1962

Also known as the 'Flash Crash of 1962'
[7]

Brazilian Markets Crash of 1971
000000001971-07-01-0000July 1971

Lasting through the 1970s and early-1980s, this was the end of a boom that started in 1969, compounded by the 1970s energy crisis coupled with early 1980s Latin American debt crisis.
[8] [9] [10]

1973–74 stock market crash
000000001973-01-01-0000Jan 1973

Lasting 23 months, dramatic rise in oil prices, the miners' strike and the downfall of the Heath government.

Souk Al-Manakh stock market crash
000000001982-08-01-0000Aug 1982

Black Monday
000000001987-10-19-000019 Oct 1987

Rio de Janeiro Stock Exchange Crash
000000001989-06-01-0000June 1989

Rio de Janeiro Stock Exchange Crash, due to its weak internal controls and absence of credit discipline, that led to its collapse, and of which it never recovered
[11] [12] [13]

Friday the 13th mini-crash
000000001989-10-13-000013 Oct 1989

Failed leveraged buyout of United Airlines causes crash

Early 1990s recession
000000001990-07-01-0000July 1990

Iraq invaded Kuwait in July 1990, causing oil prices to increase. The Dow dropped 18% in three months, from 2,911.63 on July 3 to 2,381.99 on October 16,1990. This recession lasted approximately 8 months.

Japanese asset price bubble
000000001991-01-01-00001991

Lasting approximately twenty years, through at least the end of 2011, share and property price bubble bursts and turns into a long deflationary recession. Some of the key economic events during the collapse of the Japanese asset price bubble include the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the Dot-com bubble. In addition, more recent economic events, such as the late-2000s financial crisis and August 2011 stock markets fall have prolonged this period.

Black Wednesday
000000001992-09-16-000016 Sep 1992

The Conservative government was forced to withdraw the pound sterling from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) after they were unable to keep sterling above its agreed lower limit.

1997 Asian financial crisis
000000001997-07-02-00002 July 1997

Investors deserted emerging Asian shares, including an overheated Hong Kong stock market. Crashes occur in Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, Philippines, and elsewhere, reaching a climax in the October 27, 1997 mini-crash.

October 27, 1997, mini-crash
000000001997-10-27-000027 Oct 1997

Global stock market crash that was caused by an economic crisis in Asia.

1998 Russian financial crisis
000000001998-08-17-000017 Aug 1998

The Russian government devalues the ruble, defaults on domestic debt, and declares a moratorium on payment to foreign creditors.

Dot-com bubble
000000002000-03-10-000010 March 2000

Collapse of a technology bubble.

Economic effects arising from the September 11 attacks
000000002001-09-11-000011 Sep 2001

The September 11 attacks caused global stock markets to drop sharply. The attacks themselves caused approximately $40 billion in insurance losses, making it one of the largest insured events ever. See world economic effects arising from the September 11 attacks.

Stock market downturn of 2002
000000002002-10-09-00009 Oct 2002

Downturn in stock prices during 2002 in stock exchanges across the United States, Canada, Asia, and Europe. After recovering from lows reached following the September 11 attacks, indices slid steadily starting in March 2002, with dramatic declines in July and September leading to lows last reached in 1997 and 1998. See stock market downturn of 2002.

Chinese stock bubble of 2007
000000002007-02-27-000027 Feb 2007

The SSE Composite Index of the Shanghai Stock Exchange tumbles 9% from unexpected selloffs, the largest drop in 10 years, triggering major drops in worldwide stock markets.
[14] [15] [16]

United States bear market of 2007–09
000000002007-10-11-000011 Oct 2007

Till June 2009, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 all experienced declines of greater than 20% from their peaks in late 2007.
[17] [18]

Financial crisis of 2007–08
000000002008-09-16-000016 Sep 2008

On September 16, 2008, failures of large financial institutions in the United States, due primarily to exposure of securities of packaged subprime loans and credit default swaps issued to insure these loans and their issuers, rapidly devolved into a global crisis resulting in a number of bank failures in Europe and sharp reductions in the value of equities (stock) and commodities worldwide. The failure of banks in Iceland resulted in a devaluation of the Icelandic króna and threatened the government with bankruptcy. Iceland was able to secure an emergency loan from the IMF in November. Later on, U.S. President George W. Bush signs the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act into law, creating a Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to purchase failing bank assets. Had disastrous effects on the world economy along with world trade.
[19] [20]

2009 Dubai debt standstill
000000002009-11-27-000027 Nov 2009

Dubai requests a debt deferment following its massive renovation and development projects, as well as the Great Recession. The announcement causes global stock markets to drop.
[21]

European sovereign debt crisis
000000002010-04-27-000027 April 2010

Standard & Poor's downgrades Greece's sovereign credit rating to junk four days after the activation of a €45-billion EU–IMF bailout, triggering the decline of stock markets worldwide and of the Euro's value, and furthering a European sovereign debt crisis.
[22] [23] [24]

2010 Flash Crash
000000002010-05-06-00006 May 2010

The Dow Jones Industrial Average suffers its worst intra-day point loss, dropping nearly 1,000 points before partially recovering.
[25]

August 2011 stock markets fall
000000002011-08-01-00001 Aug 2011

Stock markets around the world plummet during late July and early August, and are volatile for the rest of the year.

2015–16 Chinese stock market crash
000000002015-06-12-000012 June 2015

China stock market crash starts in June and continues into July and August. In January 2016, Chinese stock market experiences a steep sell-off which sets off a global rout.
[26] [27] [28] [29] [30]

2015–16 stock market selloff
000000002015-08-18-000018 August 2015

The Dow Jones fell 588 points during a two-day period, 1,300 points from August 18–21. On Monday, August 24, world stock markets were down substantially, wiping out all gains made in 2015, with interlinked drops in commodities such as oil, which hit a six-year price low, copper, and most of Asian currencies, but the Japanese yen, losing value against the United States dollar. With this plunge, an estimated ten trillion dollars had been wiped off the books on global markets since June 3.
[31] [32] [33]

tag: table


document_title: 2017 NFL season

question_text: who does the afc east play in 2017

question_tokens: who does the afc east play in 2017

text: 2017 NFL season

text: Player movements and retirements[edit]

text: The 2017 NFL League year began on March 9 at 4:00 p.m. EST. On March 7, clubs were allowed to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the agents of players who became unrestricted free agents upon the expiration of their contracts two days later. On March 9, clubs exercised options for 2017 on players who have option clauses in their contracts, submitted qualifying offers to their restricted free agents with expiring contracts and to whom desire to retain a Right of Refusal/Compensation, submitted a Minimum Salary Tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2016 contracts and who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agent credit, and teams were required to be under the salary cap using the "Top-51" definition (in which the 51 highest paid-players on the team's payroll must have a collected salary cap hit below the actual cap). The 2017 trading period also began the same day.

text: Free agency[edit]

text: A total of 496 players were eligible for some form of free agency at the beginning of the free agency period.[3] Among the high-profile players who changed teams via free agency were cornerbacks A.J. Bouye (from Texans to Jaguars), Logan Ryan (from Patriots to Titans), and Stephon Gilmore (from Bills to Patriots); safeties Barry Church (from Cowboys to Jaguars), Johnathan Cyprien (from Jaguars to Titans), Micah Hyde (from Packers to Bills), and Tony Jefferson (from Cardinals to Ravens); linebackers Jabaal Sheard (from Patriots to Colts), Malcolm Smith (from Raiders to 49ers), and Manti Te'o (from Chargers to Saints); defensive tackles Johnathan Hankins (from Giants to Colts) and Calais Campbell (from Cardinals to Jaguars); offensive tackles Andrew Whitworth (from Bengals to Rams), Kelvin Beachum (from Jaguars to Jets), Matt Kalil (from Vikings to Panthers), Mike Remmers (from Panthers to Vikings), Ricky Wagner (from Ravens to Lions), Riley Reiff (from Lions to Vikings), and Russell Okung (from Broncos to Chargers); offensive guards Kevin Zeitler (from Bengals to Browns), Larry Warford (from Lions to Saints), Ronald Leary (from Cowboys to Broncos), and T.J. Lang (from Packers to Lions); tight ends Martellus Bennett (from Patriots to Packers) and Jared Cook (from Packers to Raiders); wide receivers Alshon Jeffery (from Bears to Eagles), Brandon Marshall (from Jets to Giants), DeSean Jackson (from Redskins to Buccaneers), Kenny Britt (from Rams to Browns), Pierre Garçon (from Redskins to 49ers), Robert Woods (from Bills to Rams), Terrelle Pryor (from Browns to Redskins), and Torrey Smith (from 49ers to Eagles); running backs Latavius Murray (from Raiders to Vikings), Adrian Peterson (from Vikings to Saints), Eddie Lacy (from Packers to Seahawks), and Jamaal Charles (from Chiefs to Broncos); fullbacks Mike Tolbert (from Panthers to Bills) and Patrick DiMarco (from Falcons to Bills); quarterback Mike Glennon (from Buccaneers to Bears).

text: Trades[edit]

text:
On March 9, the Jacksonville Jaguars traded tight end Julius Thomas to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2017 seventh-round draft pick.[4]
On March 9, the Miami Dolphins traded offensive tackle Branden Albert to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a 2018 seventh-round draft pick.[5]
On March 9, the Houston Texans traded quarterback Brock Osweiler, a 2018 second-round draft pick and a 2017 sixth-round draft pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 2017 fourth-round compensatory draft pick.[6]
On March 9, the Indianapolis Colts traded tight end Dwayne Allen and a 2017 sixth-round draft pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2017 fourth-round draft pick.[7]
On March 9, the Los Angeles Rams traded defensive end William Hayes along with a 2017 seventh-round draft pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2017 sixth-round draft pick.[8]
On March 10, the New Orleans Saints traded wide receiver Brandin Cooks and a 4th round draft pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 1st and 3rd round draft pick.[9]
On March 10, the Carolina Panthers traded defensive end Kony Ealy and a 2017 third-round draft pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2017 second-round draft pick.[10]
On March 15, the Baltimore Ravens traded center Jeremy Zuttah and a 2017 sixth-round draft pick to the San Francisco 49ers for their 2017 sixth-round draft pick.[11]
On April 4, the Baltimore Ravens traded defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan and a 2017 third-round draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2017 third-round draft pick.[12]
On April 26, the Seattle Seahawks traded the contract rights of previously retired running back Marshawn Lynch and a 2018 sixth-round draft pick to the Oakland Raiders for a 2018 fifth-round draft pick.[13]
On August 11, the Buffalo Bills traded wide receiver Sammy Watkins and a 2018 sixth-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Rams for cornerback E. J. Gaines and a 2018 second-round draft pick.[14][15] That same day, the Bills traded cornerback Ronald Darby to the Philadelphia Eagles for wide receiver Jordan Matthews and a 2018 third-round draft pick.[14]

tag: ul

text: Notable retirements[edit]

text: This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: Expand on some more notable players by adding details about their retirement. (September 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text:
Anquan Boldin
Josh Cribbs
King Dunlap
Brandon Flowers
Justin Forsett
Doug Free
Chad Greenway
Percy Harvin
A. J. Hawk
Andre Johnson
James Jones
Terrance Knighton
James Laurinaitis
Jake Long
Robert Mathis
Pat McAfee
Lance Moore
Rob Ninkovich
Jerraud Powers
Tony Romo
Steve Smith, Sr.
Stephen Tulloch
John Urschel
Michael Vick
DeMarcus Ware
Roddy White
Vince Wilfork

text: At one point, Jay Cutler had also announced retirement, but later rescinded and signed with the Miami Dolphins. Cutler previously played for the Chicago Bears.

text: Draft[edit]

text: The 2017 NFL Draft was held on April 27–29, 2017 in Philadelphia. The Cleveland Browns selected Myles Garrett with the first overall pick.

text: Preseason[edit]

text: Training camps for the 2017 season were held in late July through August. Teams started training camp no earlier than 15 days before the team's first scheduled preseason game.

text: Prior to the start of the regular season, each team played four preseason exhibition games, beginning on August 10. The preseason began on the evening of August 3 with the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, that featured the Dallas Cowboys (represented in the 2017 Hall of Fame Class by owner Jerry Jones) who hosted Arizona Cardinals (represented by former quarterback Kurt Warner). It was televised nationally on NBC.[16] The 64-game preseason schedule ended on August 31; a 65th game, that of the 2017 Texas Governor's Cup, was canceled due to the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

text: Regular season[edit]

text: The 2017 regular season's 256 games will be played over a 17-week schedule which began on September 7. Each of the league's 32 teams plays a 16-game schedule, with one bye week for each team. The slate also features games on Monday nights. There are games played on Thursday, including the National Football League Kickoff game in prime time on September 7 and games on Thanksgiving Day. The regular season will conclude with a full slate of 16 games on Sunday, December 31, all of which will be intra–division matchups, as it has been since 2010.

text: Under the NFL's current scheduling formula, each team plays the other three teams in its own division twice. In addition a team plays against all four teams in one other division from each conference. The final two games on a team's schedule are against the two teams in the team's own conference in the divisions the team was not set to play which finished the previous season in the same rank in their division (e.g. the team which finished first in its division the previous season would play each other team in its conference that also finished first in its respective division). The preset division pairings for 2017 will be as follows.

text:
Intra-conference
AFC East vs AFC West
AFC North vs AFC South
NFC East vs NFC West
NFC North vs NFC South

   Inter-conference
AFC East vs NFC South
AFC North vs NFC North
AFC South vs NFC West
AFC West vs NFC East

text: Highlights of the 2017 schedule include:

text:
NFL Kickoff Game: The Super Bowl LI champion New England Patriots hosted the Kansas City Chiefs in a primetime NFL Kickoff Game on September 7, 2017, with the Chiefs winning 42–27.
NFL International Series:

NFL London Games: Four games will be played in London in 2017. The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Baltimore Ravens at Wembley Stadium on September 24; Jacksonville won the game by a score of 44–7. The Miami Dolphins hosted the New Orleans Saints at Wembley Stadium on October 1; the Saints won 20–0. The Los Angeles Rams hosted the Arizona Cardinals at Twickenham Stadium on October 22; the Rams won 33–0. The Cleveland Browns will host the Minnesota Vikings at Twickenham Stadium on October 29 at 9:30 a.m. EDT.[17]
NFL Mexico Game: The Oakland Raiders will host the New England Patriots at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, making this the second consecutive year in which the Raiders will host one of their home games in Mexico City; the game will be played on November 19, with a kickoff time of 4:25 p.m. EST.[18][19][20]

Thanksgiving Day: As has been the case since 2006, three games will be played on November 23, beginning with the Detroit Lions hosting the Minnesota Vikings, the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Los Angeles Chargers (in their first Thanksgiving Day game since 1969, and their first Thanksgiving game since they joined the NFL as part of the AFL-NFL merger in 1970), and a primetime game featuring Washington Redskins hosting the New York Giants.[21]
Christmas games: Christmas Day, December 25, falls on a Monday in 2017. Sunday Night Football will move from December 24, Christmas Eve, to Saturday, December 23, with the Green Bay Packers hosting the Minnesota Vikings (alongside a Saturday Thursday Night Football game featuring the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens). Two games will be played on Christmas Day: a late-afternoon game featuring the Houston Texans hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers as a special edition of Thursday Night Football, and the Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Oakland Raiders for Monday Night Football.
New Year's Eve games: The NFL will play a full slate of 16 games on December 31, to conclude the regular season. All of the Week 17 games will be intra-divisional matchups, as they have been since 2010.

text: The entire schedule was released on April 20, 2017.

text: In-season scheduling changes[edit]

text: The following games were moved or canceled because of severe weather, by way of flexible scheduling, or for other reasons:

text:
Preseason Week 4: Due to the effects of Hurricane Harvey in the Houston area, the Cowboys–Texans game was eventually canceled. The 2017 Texas Governor's Cup preseason game, originally scheduled to be played at Houston's NRG Stadium, was initially moved to the Cowboys' AT&T Stadium, before the NFL opted instead to cancel the game altogether in order to allow Texans' players and coaches to reunite with their families as well as to assist with the relief efforts.[22]
Week 1: Due to the threat posed from Hurricane Irma, the Buccaneers–Dolphins game was rescheduled to Week 11 (November 19), when both teams were originally scheduled to have their bye weeks. Both teams had their bye also rescheduled to this week.[23]
Week 7: The Bengals–Steelers game, originally scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. ET, was moved to 4:25 p.m. ET, with the game still on CBS. In addition, the Panthers-Bears game, originally scheduled to be broadcast on Fox, was flexed to CBS, but retained its scheduled start time of 1:00 p.m. ET.[24]

text: Regular season standings[edit]

text: Division[edit]

text:
AFC East

view
talk
edit

W
L
T
PCT
DIV
CONF
PF
PA
STK

New England Patriots
5
2
0
.714
1–0
2–1
195
166
W3

Buffalo Bills
4
2
0
.667
1–0
2–1
119
101
W1

Miami Dolphins
4
3
0
.571
1–1
3–2
93
152
L1

New York Jets
3
4
0
.429
1–3
2–4
137
162
L2

AFC North

view
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edit

W
L
T
PCT
DIV
CONF
PF
PA
STK

Pittsburgh Steelers
5
2
0
.714
3–0
4–1
147
116
W2

Baltimore Ravens
4
4
0
.500
2–1
4–2
170
148
W1

Cincinnati Bengals
2
4
0
.333
1–2
2–3
98
112
L1

Cleveland Browns
0
7
0
.000
0–3
0–7
103
169
L7

AFC South

view
talk
edit

W
L
T
PCT
DIV
CONF
PF
PA
STK

Tennessee Titans
4
3
0
.571
2–1
3–3
158
173
W2

Jacksonville Jaguars
4
3
0
.571
2–1
4–2
183
110
W1

Houston Texans
3
3
0
.500
1–1
3–3
177
147
W1

Indianapolis Colts
2
5
0
.286
0–2
1–2
119
222
L2

AFC West

view
talk
edit

W
L
T
PCT
DIV
CONF
PF
PA
STK

Kansas City Chiefs
5
2
0
.714
1–1
3–2
207
161
L2

Denver Broncos
3
3
0
.500
2–1
2–2
108
118
L2

Los Angeles Chargers
3
4
0
.429
2–2
2–3
137
131
W3

Oakland Raiders
3
4
0
.429
1–2
3–3
155
153
W1

NFC East

view
talk
edit

W
L
T
PCT
DIV
CONF
PF
PA
STK

Philadelphia Eagles
6
1
0
.857
3–0
5–0
199
146
W5

Dallas Cowboys
3
3
0
.500
1–0
3–2
165
142
W1

Washington Redskins
3
3
0
.500
0–2
2–2
141
147
L1

New York Giants
1
6
0
.143
0–2
0–5
112
156
L1

NFC North

view
talk
edit

W
L
T
PCT
DIV
CONF
PF
PA
STK

Minnesota Vikings
5
2
0
.714
2–1
4–1
146
122
W3

Green Bay Packers
4
3
0
.571
1–1
3–3
164
161
L2

Detroit Lions
3
3
0
.500
1–0
3–3
160
149
L2

Chicago Bears
3
4
0
.429
0–2
1–4
122
151
W2

NFC South

view
talk
edit

W
L
T
PCT
DIV
CONF
PF
PA
STK

New Orleans Saints
4
2
0
.667
1–0
3–1
171
143
W4

Carolina Panthers
4
3
0
.571
0–1
2–3
131
139
L2

Atlanta Falcons
3
3
0
.500
0–0
3–0
118
132
L3

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2
4
0
.333
0–0
2–2
142
151
L3

NFC West

view
talk
edit

W
L
T
PCT
DIV
CONF
PF
PA
STK

Los Angeles Rams
5
2
0
.714
2–1
3–2
212
136
W2

Seattle Seahawks
4
2
0
.667
2–0
3–1
134
94
W3

Arizona Cardinals
3
4
0
.429
1–1
2–4
119
191
L1

San Francisco 49ers
0
7
0
.000
0–3
0-6
123
186
L7

text: Conference[edit]

text:
AFC

v
t
e

#
Team
Division
W
L
T
PCT
DIV
CONF
SOS
SOV
STK

Division leaders

1[a]
Pittsburgh Steelers
North
5
2
0
.714
3–0
4–1
.469
.457
W2

2[a][b]
Kansas City Chiefs
West
5
2
0
.714
1–1
3–2
.596
.606
L2

3[a][b]
New England Patriots
East
5
2
0
.714
1–0
2–1
.533
.484
W3

4[c]
Tennessee Titans
South
4
3
0
.571
2–1
3–3
.426
.370
W2

Wild Cards

5
Buffalo Bills
East
4
2
0
.667
1–0
2–1
.447
.440
W1

6[c][d]
Jacksonville Jaguars
South
4
3
0
.571
2–1
4–2
.531
.500
W1

In the hunt

7[d]
Miami Dolphins
East
4
3
0
.571
1–1
3–2
.500
.481
L1

8[e]
Baltimore Ravens
North
4
4
0
.500
2–1
4–2
.473
.333
W1

9[e][f]
Denver Broncos
West
3
3
0
.500
2–1
2–2
.425
.450
L2

10[e][f]
Houston Texans
South
3
3
0
.500
1–1
3–3
.488
.300
W1

11[g]
New York Jets
East
3
4
0
.429
1–3
3–4
.500
.381
L2

12[g][h]
Los Angeles Chargers
West
3
4
0
.429
2–2
2–3
.532
.350
W3

13[h]
Oakland Raiders
West
3
4
0
.429
1–2
3–3
.521
.571
W1

14
Cincinnati Bengals
North
2
4
0
.333
1–2
2–3
.488
.308
W2

15
Indianapolis Colts
South
2
5
0
.286
0–2
1–2
.417
.000
L2

16
Cleveland Browns
North
0
7
0
.000
0–3
0–7
.479
.000
L7

Tiebreakers[i]

^ Jump up to: a b c Pittsburgh wins tie break over New England and Kansas City based on best win percentage in conference games.
^ Jump up to: a b Kansas City wins tie break over New England based on head-to-head win percentage.
^ Jump up to: a b Tennessee wins tie break over Jacksonville based on head-to-head win percentage.
^ Jump up to: a b Jacksonville wins tie break over Miami based on best win percentage in conference games.
^ Jump up to: a b c Baltimore wins tie break over Denver and Houston based on best win percentage in conference games.
^ Jump up to: a b Denver wins tie break over Houston based on strength of victory.
^ Jump up to: a b NY Jets wins tie break over LA Chargers based on best win percentage in conference games. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Oakland (see below).
^ Jump up to: a b LA Chargers wins tie break over Oakland based on head-to-head win percentage.
Jump up ^ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.

text:
NFC

v
t
e

#
Team
Division
W
L
T
PCT
DIV
CONF
SOS
SOV
STK

Division leaders

1
Philadelphia Eagles
East
6
1
0
.857
3–0
5–0
.468
.425
W5

2[a]
Minnesota Vikings
North
5
2
0
.714
2–1
4–1
.532
.500
W3

3[a]
Los Angeles Rams
West
5
2
0
.714
2–1
3–2
.413
.353
W2

4
New Orleans Saints
South
4
2
0
.667
1–0
3–1
.610
.556
W4

Wild Cards

5
Seattle Seahawks
West
4
2
0
.667
2–0
3–1
.381
.286
W3

6[b]
Green Bay Packers
North
4
3
0
.571
1–1
3–3
.545
.480
L2

In the hunt

7[b]
Carolina Panthers
South
4
3
0
.571
0–1
2–3
.543
.462
L2

8[c]
Atlanta Falcons
South
3
3
0
.500
0–0
3–0
.575
.500
L3

9[c][d][e]
Dallas Cowboys
East
3
3
0
.500
1–0
3–2
.390
.190
W1

10[c][d][f]
Detroit Lions
North
3
3
0
.500
1–0
3–3
.500
.429
L2

11[e][f]
Washington Redskins
East
3
3
0
.500
0–2
2–2
.595
.381
L1

12[g]
Arizona Cardinals
West
3
4
0
.429
1–1
2–4
.457
.200
L1

13[g]
Chicago Bears
North
3
4
0
.429
0–2
1–4
.563
.591
W2

14
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
South
2
4
0
.333
0–0
2–2
.512
.286
L3

15
New York Giants
East
1
6
0
.143
0–2
0–5
.545
.500
L1

16
San Francisco 49ers
West
0
7
0
.000
0–3
0–6
.522
.000
L7

Tiebreakers[h]

^ Jump up to: a b Minnesota wins tie break over LA Rams based on best win percentage in conference games.
^ Jump up to: a b Green Bay wins tie break over Carolina based on best win percentage in conference games.
^ Jump up to: a b c Atlanta wins tie break over Dallas and Detroit based on best win percentage in conference games. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Washington (see below).
^ Jump up to: a b Dallas wins tie break over Detroit based on best win percentage in conference games. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Washington (see below).
^ Jump up to: a b Dallas wins tie break over Washington based on best win percentage in division games.
^ Jump up to: a b Detroit wins tie break over Washington based on strength of victory.
^ Jump up to: a b Arizona wins tie break over Chicago based on best win percentage in conference games.
Jump up ^ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.

text: Anthem protests[edit]

text: In week 3 of the season there were numerous anthem protests in response to comments by President Donald Trump stating that those who kneel during the anthem should be fired. Protests included entire teams linking arms or kneeling during the anthem. Three teams - the Steelers, Titans and Seahawks - did not even take to the field for the anthem.[25]

text: Notable deaths[edit]

text: The following people associated with the NFL (or AFL) have died in 2017.[26]

text: Dan Rooney[edit]

text: Dan Rooney was chairman and plurality owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and one of the sons of founding owner Art Rooney, Sr. Having been officially involved with the franchise since 1960, Rooney was a part of all six of the Steelers' Super Bowl victories. In addition to this, Rooney was considered an active and progressive owner in the league's operations, most famously by successfully pushing for the Rooney Rule, an affirmative action policy requiring all NFL franchises to interview persons of color for head coaching vacancies. Concurrently with his role with the Steelers, Rooney also served as United States Ambassador to Ireland from 2009 to 2014. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, making him and his father the second father-son duo in the Hall behind Tim & Wellington Mara. Rooney died on April 13 at the age of 84.

text: Others[edit]

text:
Dave Adolph
Bill Anderson
Ron Billingsley
Dave Brazil
Kevin Cadle
Bernie Casey
Bill Cox
Bill Fischer
Tom Graham
Larry Grantham
Ralph Guglielmi
James Hadnot
James Hardy III
Larry Hayes
Mitchell Henry
Aaron Hernandez
Larry Hickman
John Hilton
Claude Hipps
Michael Jackson
Derrick Jensen
Cortez Kennedy
Ken Kranz
Yale Lary
Bob Lee
Tony Liscio
Eddie Macon
George Maderos
Mickey Marvin
Clay Matthews Sr.
Red Miller
Paul Mitchell
David Modell
Tom Modrak
Rod Monroe
Quentin Moses
Leonard Myers
Tommy Neck
Babe Parilli
Benny Perrin
Hugh Pitts
Sonny Randle
Len Rohde
Max Runager
Jimmy Thomas
Y. A. Tittle
Ted Topor
Rick Tuten
Wayne Walker
Clarence Williams
Ellery Williams

text: Bold indicates members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

text: Rule changes[edit]

text: The following rule changes were approved for the 2017 NFL season at the owners' meeting on March 28, 2017:[27]

text:
Defensive players are now prohibited from running toward the line of scrimmage and leaping or hurdling over offensive linemen on field goal or PAT attempts, similar to a change made in college football for the 2017 season. Previously this action was permitted as long as the leaper or hurdler did not land on other players.
Include in the definition of a "defenseless player" receivers tracking the quarterback or looking back for the ball, including inside the legal contact (5 yards from the line of scrimmage) zone.
Egregious hits to the head (similar to the "targeting" rule in NCAA football) will now result in an automatic ejection.
The replay control center will make the final ruling on reviewed plays instead of the game referee, although the referee can still provide input on reviewable plays.
The sideline replay monitor (the "hood") will be eliminated and replaced with a tablet on the field for the referee to review with the replay control center.
Crackback blocks are now prohibited by a backfield player in motion, even if he is not more than two yards outside the tackle box when the ball is snapped.
Make permanent the rule that players who commit two certain types of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties (throwing punches/forearms/kicking, even if they do not connect, directing abusive, threatening, or insulting language toward opponents, teammates, game officials or league officials, and using baiting or taunting acts or words that may engender ill will between teams) in the same game will be automatically ejected.
Extend for a second season the change in the touchback spot after a kickoff or safety free kick to the 25-yard line.
Make illegal actions that would conserve time penalized by the option for a 10-second runoff inside of the two-minute warning of each half or overtime (previously this only applied in the final minute of each half or overtime).
If a team commits multiple fouls on the same down with the intent of manipulating the game clock, the team will be penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct and the game clock will be reset. This change was made in response to both the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens employing this strategy by intentionally holding the defensive players to allow the game clock to run down or run out (in the case of the Ravens' game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals) during the previous season.
In response to the move of Sarah Thomas from line judge to head linesman for the 2017 season, the NFL renamed the officiating position of the head linesman to "down judge".

text: The following rule changes were approved for the 2017 NFL season at the NFL Spring League meeting on May 23, 2017:[28]

text:
Overtime has been shortened from 15 minutes to 10 minutes for preseason and regular season games. Playoff games will continue to have 15 minutes for overtime periods.
Restrictions on celebrations have been relaxed, removing penalties for group celebrations, going to the ground to celebrate, or using the ball as a prop.
Teams can bring two players back from injured reserve instead of one.
Teams can now cut their preseason rosters from 90 players to 53 on one day, removing the deadline to get the roster down to 75 players before the final preseason game.
Teams will not be required to give candidates for general manager final say over the 53-man roster.

text: The following will be "points of emphasis" for the 2017 season:[29]

text:
Blindside blocks of a defender in the head or neck area while the defender is in a defenseless position
Low hits on quarterbacks at or below the knees
"Launching" at players by leaving both feet to impact a defender anywhere on his body with the helmet
Contact downfield between receivers and defensive players, closely enforcing both offensive and defensive pass interference or illegal contact/holding

text: The ban on teams contacting potential coaching candidates until that candidate's team has been eliminated from the playoffs was tabled.

text: Records, milestones, and notable statistics[edit]

text: Kansas City Chiefs’ running back Kareem Hunt finished with 246 total yards and three touchdowns, setting the record for the most total yards in an NFL debut.[30][31]

text:
Los Angeles Chargers' tight end Antonio Gates scored his 112th career receiving touchdown, breaking a tie with Tony Gonzalez for the most career receiving touchdowns by a tight end in NFL history.[32]
Aaron Rodgers passed for his 300th touchdown, surpassing Peyton Manning as the fastest quarterback to reach that milestone both in attempts and appearances.[33]

text:
Antonio Brown reached 650 receptions in his 104th game, becoming the fastest player since Marvin Harrison to reach that feat.[34]
New York Giants’ wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. broke the record for fastest receiver to reach 300 career receptions, doing so in 45 games.[35]
Matt Prater of the Detroit Lions broke the previous NFL record of three made field goals from more than 55 yards in a season by kicking a 57-yard field goal against the Atlanta Falcons.[36]

text: Larry Fitzgerald became the third player in NFL history to record 200 straight games with a reception, all while playing for the Arizona Cardinals.[37]

text: With his 187th regular season win, Tom Brady surpassed Peyton Manning and Brett Favre for the most regular season wins by a quarterback in NFL history.[38]

text:
Drew Brees became just the fourth player in NFL history to record 500 or more passing touchdowns (including playoffs), joining Tom Brady, Brett Favre, and Peyton Manning.[39]
Eddie Jackson became the first player in NFL history with multiple defensive touchdowns of at least 75 yards in a single game against the Carolina Panthers.[40]

text: Awards[edit]

text: Players of the week/month[edit]

text: The following were named the top performers during the 2017 season:

text:
Week/
Month
Offensive
Player of the Week/Month
Defensive
Player of the Week/Month
Special Teams
Player of the Week/Month

AFC
NFC
AFC
NFC
AFC
NFC

1[41]
Alex Smith
(Chiefs)
Sam Bradford
(Vikings)
Calais Campbell
(Jaguars)
Trumaine Johnson
(Rams)
Giorgio Tavecchio
(Raiders)
Matt Prater
(Lions)

2[42]
Tom Brady
(Patriots)
J. J. Nelson
(Cardinals)
Chris Jones
(Chiefs)
Desmond Trufant
(Falcons)
Cody Parkey
(Dolphins)
Jamal Agnew
(Lions)

3[43]
Tom Brady
(Patriots)
Kirk Cousins
(Redskins)
Terrence Brooks
(Jets)
DeMarcus Lawrence
(Cowboys)
Steven Hauschka
(Bills)
Jake Elliott
(Eagles)

Sept.[44]
Kareem Hunt
(Chiefs)
Todd Gurley
(Rams)
Melvin Ingram
(Chargers)
DeMarcus Lawrence
(Cowboys)
Ryan Succop
(Titans)
Matt Prater
(Lions)

4[45]
Deshaun Watson
(Texans)
Todd Gurley
(Rams)
Cameron Heyward
(Steelers)
Julius Peppers
(Panthers)
Steven Hauschka
(Bills)
Greg Zuerlein
(Rams)

5[46]
Melvin Gordon
(Chargers)
Aaron Rodgers
(Packers)
Telvin Smith
(Jaguars)
Earl Thomas
(Seahawks)
Adam Vinatieri
(Colts)
Kenjon Barner
(Eagles)

6[47]
Le'Veon Bell
(Steelers)
Adrian Peterson
(Cardinals)
Johnathan Joseph
(Texans)
Cameron Jordan
(Saints)
Ryan Succop
(Titans)
Pharoh Cooper
(Rams)

7[48]
Amari Cooper
(Raiders)
Carson Wentz
(Eagles)
Kevin Byard
(Titans)
Eddie Jackson
(Bears)
Travis Benjamin
(Chargers)
Kai Forbath
(Vikings)

text:
Week
FedEx Air
Player of the Week
(Quarterbacks)[49]
FedEx Ground
Player of the Week
(Running backs)[49]
Pepsi
Rookie of the Week[50]
Castrol Edge
Clutch Performer
of the Week[51]

1
Alex Smith
(Chiefs)
Kareem Hunt
(Chiefs)
Kareem Hunt
(Chiefs)
Alex Smith
(Chiefs)

2
Trevor Siemian
(Broncos)
C. J. Anderson
(Broncos)
Tyus Bowser
(Ravens)
Trevor Siemian
(Broncos)

3
Tom Brady
(Patriots)
Kareem Hunt
(Chiefs)
Jake Elliott
(Eagles)
Jake Elliott
(Eagles)

4
Deshaun Watson
(Texans)
Le'Veon Bell
(Steelers)
Alvin Kamara
(Saints)
Deshaun Watson
(Texans)

5
Carson Wentz
(Eagles)
Leonard Fournette
(Jaguars)
Aaron Jones
(Packers)
Aaron Rodgers
(Packers)

6
Carson Wentz
(Eagles)
Adrian Peterson
(Cardinals)
Marshon Lattimore
(Saints)
Mark Ingram
(Saints)

Month
Rookie of the Month

Offensive
Defensive

Sept.[citation needed]
Kareem Hunt
(Chiefs)
Tre'Davious White
(Bills)

text: Head coaching and front office personnel changes[edit]

text: Head coaches[edit]

text: Offseason[edit]

text:
Team
2016 head coach
2016 interim
2017 replacement
Reason for leaving
Story/accomplishments

Buffalo Bills
Rex Ryan
Anthony Lynn
Sean McDermott
Fired
Ryan was fired with one week remaining in the 2016 regular season and a 15–16 record with no playoff appearances in two seasons. His twin brother, assistant head coach Rob Ryan, was also dismissed.[52] Ryan signed on as a commentator for ESPN,[53] replacing Trent Dilfer.[54] Lynn began the 2016 season as running backs coach, then moved to offensive coordinator when Greg Roman was fired in week 3, then interim head coach after the Ryans' dismissal. Lynn lost his one game as interim head coach.[55] Former Carolina Panthers' defensive coordinator Sean McDermott was named as the Bills' new head coach on January 11, 2017.[56] Meanwhile, Lynn was hired as the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Denver Broncos
Gary Kubiak
Vance Joseph
Retired
Kubiak stepped down after two seasons due to health concerns, with a victory in Super Bowl 50 and a 24–10 record, including postseason games.[57] Vance Joseph, who spent the previous season as the Miami Dolphins' defensive coordinator, was hired on January 11, 2017.[58]

Jacksonville Jaguars
Gus Bradley
Doug Marrone
Fired
Bradley was fired with two weeks remaining in the 2016 season and a 14–48 (.226) record with no playoff appearances in four seasons.[59] He is expected to join Anthony Lynn with the Chargers, with Bradley as defensive coordinator.[60] Marrone, the Jaguars' offensive line coach, was previously head coach of the Buffalo Bills from 2013–14; he went 1–1 in his two games as interim head coach of the Jaguars.[61] On January 9, 2017, the Jaguars announced that Marrone would be named permanent head coach.[62]

Los Angeles Chargers
Mike McCoy
Anthony Lynn
McCoy was fired after four seasons, with one playoff appearance and a 27–37 record.[63] He then joined the Denver Broncos, serving as Vance Joseph's offensive coordinator.
Anthony Lynn was hired as the Chargers' new head coach on January 12, 2017.[64]

Los Angeles Rams
Jeff Fisher
John Fassel
Sean McVay
After receiving a two-year contract extension prior to the season, Fisher was fired after going 4–9 through the first 13 games of the 2016 season, and 31–45–1 (.414) in his five-year tenure in St. Louis and Los Angeles. Under his tenure, the Rams never finished better than 7–8–1 (2012) and never reached the playoffs.[65] Fassel, the son of former NFL head coach Jim Fassel, has been the Rams' special teams coach since 2012; he went 0–3 in the interim. On January 12, Washington Redskins Offensive Coordinator Sean McVay was named head coach. Sean McVay is the grandson of former San Francisco 49ers GM John McVay. At the time of his hiring, McVay was age 30, making him the youngest person to become a head coach (excluding the player-coaches of the 1920s) in NFL history.

San Francisco 49ers
Chip Kelly
Kyle Shanahan
Kelly was fired after one season with a 2–14 record.[66][67] Kyle Shanahan, who most recently served as the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator, was named the new coach of the 49ers on February 6, 2017. Due to league anti-tampering rules, the 49ers had to wait until after the completion of the Falcons' playoff run, before formally hiring Shanahan.[68]

text: Front office personnel[edit]

text: Offseason[edit]

text:
Team
Position
2016 office holder
Reason for leaving
2017 office holder
Notes

San Francisco 49ers
GM
Trent Baalke
Fired
John Lynch
Baalke, who spent the past twelve years with the team, informed KNBR-AM in San Francisco on January 1, 2017, that he had been fired.[67][69] On January 29, 2017, Lynch, a former player and broadcaster, was named the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers; it is his first front office position.[70][71]

Jacksonville Jaguars
EVP-FO
position created
Tom Coughlin
Coughlin, the team's inaugural head coach, was rehired as executive vice president of football operations on January 9, 2017. He had spent the 2016 season out of football after several years of coaching the New York Giants.

Indianapolis Colts
GM
Ryan Grigson
Fired
Chris Ballard
Grigson was relieved of his duties as Colts general manager on January 21, 2017.[72] On January 30, 2017, Chris Ballard, who had spent the past four seasons as director of football operations for the Kansas City Chiefs, was named the new GM of the Colts.

Washington Redskins
GM
Scot McCloughan
TBA
McCloughan was fired on March 9, 2017, after two seasons with the Redskins.[73] Doug Williams was named senior vice president of player personnel on June 13, 2017.[74]

Buffalo Bills
GM
Doug Whaley
Brandon Beane
Whaley was fired the morning of April 30, 2017, immediately following the draft. He had spent seven seasons with the Bills, four of them as general manager.[75] Brandon Beane, who had spent the previous 19 seasons with the Carolina Panthers (most recently as assistant general manager), was hired as the new general manager on May 9, 2017.[76]

Kansas City Chiefs
GM
John Dorsey
Brett Veach
Dorsey was unexpectedly fired on June 22, 2017, after four seasons.[77] Brett Veach, who had spent the past four seasons as the Chiefs co-director of player personnel, was promoted to general manager on July 10, 2017.[78]

Carolina Panthers
GM
Dave Gettleman
Marty Hurney
Gettleman was unexpectedly fired after four seasons on July 17, 2017.[79] Marty Hurney, who was the Panthers' GM from 2002 to 2012, was rehired as the interim general manager for the 2017 season. The team plans to conduct a search for a permanent general manager after the season ends.[80]

text: Stadiums[edit]

text: Atlanta Falcons[edit]

text: The Atlanta Falcons will play their first season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, after playing in the Georgia Dome for the previous 25 seasons.

text: Naming rights[edit]

text: Arizona Cardinals[edit]

text: The stadium in which the Arizona Cardinals play their home games is in the process of obtaining a new naming rights agreement. The University of Phoenix, which owns the naming rights to the Cardinals' home field, is planning to terminate the final nine years of a 20-year agreement, but will continue to keep its name on the stadium.[81]

text: Denver Broncos[edit]

text: The stadium in which the Denver Broncos play their home games is in the process of obtaining a new naming rights agreement. Sporting goods retailer Sports Authority, which had owned the naming rights to the Broncos' home field since 2011, filed for bankruptcy in March 2016, and liquidated all of their stores.[82] The Broncos bought out the existing naming rights contract with permission from the Delaware District United States bankruptcy court in August 2016.[83] Three months later, the Broncos selected American talent agency WME-IMG to secure a new naming rights partner for their home field,[84] which, to date, still carries the name Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

text: Relocations[edit]

text: San Diego Chargers' relocation to Los Angeles[edit]

text: On January 12, 2017, the San Diego Chargers exercised their option to relocate to Los Angeles as the Los Angeles Chargers. They will be joining the Los Angeles Rams as tenants in their new stadium, Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California when that stadium is complete in 2020. For the time being, the Chargers will play at the 30,000 seat StubHub Center in Carson, California, the smallest venue (in terms of number of seats) the league has used for a full season since 1956.[2]

text: Oakland Raiders' relocation to Las Vegas[edit]

text: On January 19, 2017, the Oakland Raiders filed paperwork to relocate to Las Vegas, Nevada. The NFL officially approved the Raiders relocation to Las Vegas on March 27. Unlike the Chargers, the Raiders will remain at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum through at least the 2018 season (with the 2019 season to be determined) while Las Vegas Stadium is built, with the team moving to Nevada in 2019 or 2020.[85]

text: Attendance[edit]

text: The Los Angeles Rams, who had capped season ticket sales at 55,000 for the 2017 season, announced to have 60,128 spectators in the first home game on week 1. However, reports estimate that spectators only filled a third of the 93,607 seats of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.[86] The Los Angeles Chargers did not sell out their week 2 game at the StubHub Center, which was never expanded to 30,000 seats as originally stated and has typically had less than 26,000 fans in attendance.[87] When the StubHub Center is at capacity, the majority of the fans present are of the opposing team.[88]

text: The Los Angeles teams were not the only ones with visible attendance problems. The San Francisco 49ers reported a Week 3 attendance total that exceeded the capacity of Levi's Stadium, even as wide swaths of empty seats were visible in the stadium throughout the game.[89] This followed similar sparse attendance for the 49ers' home opener.[90]

text: New uniforms and patches[edit]

text:
Twenty-five teams transitioned to Nike's new uniform template.[91] While most teams have just transitioned to it without any actual changes to the uniforms themselves, the New Orleans Saints,[92] Cincinnati Bengals,[93] and Los Angeles Rams[94] uniforms are the most noticeable in it, fixing their collars in the process.
The Detroit Lions unveiled new uniforms on April 13, 2017, eliminating all black elements from the uniform and logo. They added a new alternate uniform as well as a new Color Rush uniform.[95]
The Los Angeles Rams announced they would be switching their primary helmets to white and blue, similar to their Color Rush helmets. The team had fans vote on the color of their facemask, which would be white, and the design of their pants, which would be white with a blue stripe. The Rams also announced that they would explore a full rebrand in the near future.[96]
The Cincinnati Bengals will wear a patch to commemorate their 50th season.[97]
The San Francisco 49ers have altered their sleeve striping from 3 stripes to 2 stripes.[98]
The Pittsburgh Steelers will wear a patch to honor their former chairman, the late Dan Rooney, who died in April, at the age of 84. The patch will feature a shamrock, with Rooney's initials "DMR". The last time the Steelers wore a jersey patch was when Art Rooney died in 1988. They also donned a helmet decal to honor Chuck Noll, who died in 2014.[99]
The Dallas Cowboys will wear blue jerseys at home on a more regular basis, marking the first time the team has worn blue jerseys at home outside of Thanksgiving games since the NFL allowed teams to wear white jerseys at home in 1964. Despite the team's well-documented blue jersey "jinx", player preference as well as stronger retail sales of the navy blue jerseys over the white ones have prompted the team's decision. The blue jerseys will be worn for "high-profile" games at AT&T Stadium.[100]

text: Media[edit]

text: Broadcast rights[edit]

text: This is the fourth season under the current broadcast contracts with ESPN, CBS, Fox, and NBC. This includes "cross-flexing" (switching) Sunday Afternoon games between CBS and Fox before or during the season (regardless of the conference of the visiting team). NBC will continue to air Sunday Night Football, the annual Kickoff game, and the primetime Thanksgiving game. ESPN will continue to air Monday Night Football and the Pro Bowl. NBC will also serve as the broadcaster of Super Bowl LII. This will also be the second and final year of the current Thursday Night Football contract with CBS, NBC, and NFL Network. Along with ESPN's simulcasted Wild Card game on ABC, ESPN announced on May 24, 2017, that the 2018 Pro Bowl will also be simulcast on ABC, marking the return of the Pro Bowl to the network for the first time since 2003.[101] For the first 9 weeks of the regular season, ESPN2 will simulcast ESPN Deportes' Spanish-language Monday Night Football broadcasts. The simulcast will end after Week 9 due to ESPN2's Monday-night college basketball broadcasts.[102]

text: Although never explicitly announced, the league continued the moratorium on its blackout policy, ensuring all games will be televised in the market of their home teams regardless of ticket sales.[103]

text: In over-the-top rights, Amazon Video acquired non-exclusive streaming rights to the 10 broadcast television Thursday Night Football games for $50 million. These streams will be exclusive to paid Amazon Prime subscribers, in contrast to Twitter, which held the rights to the same package in 2016 and had made those streams free to most of the world.[104][105] This is the final season of the NFL's exclusive mobile streaming contract with Verizon Wireless; the league intends to no longer have a single exclusive partner going forward, citing changes to viewing habits.[106]

text: Verizon Communications acquired international streaming rights to an NFL London Game between the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars, in a similar arrangement to the 2015 game that was streamed by Yahoo!—which was acquired by Verizon in 2017. The game was streamed by Yahoo and other Verizon-owned platforms, including AOL, go90, and Complex.[107][108] NFL Network remains a partner with Twitter for online content, including its new streaming news program NFL Blitz Live.[109][110] The NFL also reached a deal with Facebook in September 2017 to offer video highlights following games, and streaming programs on the service's new Watch platform.[111]

text: This is also the final season of the NFL's current national radio contract with Westwood One.[112]

text: Two new international digital rights deals also led to user criticism over their quality of service. In Canada, NFL Sunday Ticket shifted from distribution through television providers to the over-the-top provider DAZN, while in Europe, Deltatre took over European distribution of NFL Game Pass and launched new mobile apps. Both services faced criticism over their streaming quality, while Delatre's app faced criticism for having bugs and initially lacking features seen in the previous version of the platform. The Independent exposed that Deltatre had also issued an internal e-mail instructing its employees to give the apps 5-star reviews. DAZN subsequently announced that it would return to distributing Sunday Ticket through Canadian television providers in addition to their OTT service.[113][114]

text: Commercials[edit]

text: The league has sought to reduce the number of standard commercial breaks (media timeouts) on its telecasts from 21 to 16, four in each quarter, with each break extended by one additional 30-second commercial. One particular scenario the league sought to eliminate is the "double-up," in which a network cuts to a commercial after a scoring play, then airs the kickoff, and again goes to commercial before play from scrimmage resumes. Under the proposal, the league will allow networks to cut to commercial during instant replay reviews, which it had not been allowed to do before. Commissioner Roger Goodell stated that the changes are being made in an attempt to consolidate downtime between the actual game play so that there are fewer and less noticeable interruptions; he does not expect the changes to have an appreciable impact on the real-time length of a game, which currently clocks in at slightly over three hours.[115]

text: The NFL will also, as a trial, lift its ban on the broadcast of commercials for distilled spirits during its telecasts. However, they are subject to restrictions; a maximum of four liquor ads may be broadcast per-game, along with two per-pregame and postgame show. These ads may not contain football-related themes or target underage viewers, and must contain a "prominent social responsibility message".[116][117]

text: Personnel changes[edit]

text: Tony Romo, who announced his retirement as a player on April 4, 2017, joined CBS, where he replaced Phil Simms as lead color commentator. Simms and Nate Burleson, who comes over from NFL Network, will replace Tony Gonzalez and Bart Scott on CBS's pregame show, The NFL Today.[118][119] Jay Cutler also announced his retirement from professional football on May 5 and was slated to join Fox as a color analyst for its NFL coverage; he later rescinded that announcement in August and joined the Miami Dolphins.[120] Gonzalez will move to Fox, where he will join Fox NFL Kickoff; upon his departure, Gonzalez stated that he wished to pursue opportunities closer to his home in California, rather than travel to New York weekly to appear on CBS. James Lofton, coming over from radio, will replace Solomon Wilcots as a CBS analyst.[121]

text: On May 31, 2017, it was announced that Mike Tirico would replace Al Michaels on play-by-play on NBC's portion of the Thursday Night Football package, joined by Cris Collinsworth.[122] The NFL had previously required this role to be filled by NBC's lead broadcast team of Michaels and Collinsworth; Tirico called a limited slate of games in 2016, including several NBC-broadcast games as a fill-in for Michaels (who voluntarily took several games off due to the increased number he was calling that season), and as part of a secondary team for selected games the TNF package.[123][124] He will also succeed Bob Costas as the lead studio host for NBC.[125][126] Due to its proximity to the 2018 Winter Olympics (where he is also succeeding Bob Costas as lead host), Tirico will not participate in NBC's Super Bowl LII coverage.[127]

text: Beth Mowins became the second woman to call play-by-play for a national NFL broadcast, following Gayle Sierens in 1987, when she served as play-by-play announcer for the nightcap in ESPN's Week 1 Monday Night doubleheader, with Rex Ryan as her color commentator.[128] In an unusual case of a broadcaster working for two networks in the same season, Mowins also called a regional game for CBS in Week 3, with Jay Feely as her partner.[129]

text: Television viewers and ratings[edit]

text: Most watched regular season games[edit]

text: DH = doubleheader; SNF = NBC Sunday Night Football

text:
Rank
Date
Matchup
Network
Viewers (millions)
TV rating [130]
Window
Significance

1
September 17, 4:25 ET
Dallas Cowboys
17
Denver Broncos
42
Fox
26.0
14.3
Late DH[a]

2
September 10, 8:30 ET
New York Giants
3
Dallas Cowboys
19
NBC
24.4
13.4
SNF
Cowboys–Giants Rivalry

3
October 8, 4:25 ET
Green Bay Packers
35
Dallas Cowboys
31
Fox
23.9
13.6
Late DH[b]
Cowboys–Packers Rivalry

4
September 10, 4:25 ET
Seattle Seahawks
9
Green Bay Packers
17
22.8
12.7
Late DH[c]
2014 NFC Championship Game rematch

5
September 7, 8:30 ET
Kansas City Chiefs
42
New England Patriots
27
NBC
21.8
12.6
Kickoff Game
First game of the season

6
September 24, 4:25 ET
Cincinnati Bengals
24
Green Bay Packers
27
CBS
21.3
12.2
Late DH[d]

7
October 15, 4:25 ET
Pittsburgh Steelers
19
Kansas City Chiefs
13
20.6
12.0
Late DH[e]
2017 Divisional Round rematch

8
September 17, 8:30 ET
Green Bay Packers
23
Atlanta Falcons
34
NBC
20.2
11.3
SNF
2016 NFC Championship Game rematch

text: *Note — Late DH matchups listed in table are the matchups that were shown to the largest percentage of the market.

text:
^ DAL/DEN was shown in 81% of the markets during the late doubleheader time slot of Fox coverage.
^ GB/DAL was shown in 99% of the markets during the late doubleheader time slot of Fox coverage, with the Bay Area being the only market not airing the game.
^ SEA/GB was shown in 89% of the markets during the late doubleheader time slot of Fox coverage.
^ CIN/GB was shown in 80% of the markets during the late doubleheader time slot of CBS coverage.
^ PIT/KC was shown in 86% of the markets during the late doubleheader time slot of CBS coverage.

tag: ol