2004 NFL season

Transactions

• February 24, 2004, The Washington Redskins released Bruce Smith, the NFL's all-time sack leader, saving $6.5 million in salary cap space.

Draft

Referee changes

Rule changes

• Due to several incidents during the previous year, officials are authorized to penalize excessive celebration. The 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty will be marked off from the spot at the end of the previous play or, after a score, on the ensuing kickoff. If the infraction is ruled flagrant by the officials, the player are ejected.
• Timeouts can be called by head coaches.
• The league's jersey numbering system was modified to allow wide receivers wear numbers 10–19, in addition to 80–89.
• A punt or missed field goal that is untouched by the receiving team is immediately dead once it touches either the end zone or any member of the kicking team in the end zone. Previously, a punt or missed field goal that lands in the end zone before being controlled by the kicking team could be picked up by a member of the receiving team and immediately run the other way.
• Teams will be awarded a third instant replay challenge if their first two are successful. Previously, teams were only limited to two regardless of what occurred during the game.
• The one-bar facemask was outlawed. The few remaining players who still used the one-bar facemask at the time were allowed to continue to use the style for the remainder of their career under a grandfather clause..

2004 deaths

• Pat Tillman former safety for the Arizona Cardinals was killed during incident during the war in Afghanistan.
• Reggie White former defensive end for the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Carolina Panthers unexpectedly died on December 26, 2004, just seven days after his 43rd birthday from complications of sleep apnea.

Playoffs

Milestones

Head coach/front office changes

Stadium changes

• Carolina Panthers: Ericsson Stadium was renamed Bank of America Stadium after Bank of America acquired the naming rights.
• Minnesota Vikings: The AstroTurf at the Metrodome was replaced with a new FieldTurf field.
• Oakland Raiders: Network Associates Coliseum was renamed McAfee Coliseum to reflect naming right holder, Network Associates, changing its name to McAfee.
• San Francisco 49ers: Monster Cable acquired the naming rights to Candlestick Park, renaming it merely to "Monster Park" without any qualifier. This eventually results in confusion among fans who erroneously think the name instead refers to Monster.com or Monster Energy.
• Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks Stadium was renamed Qwest Field after telecommunications carrier Qwest acquired the naming rights.

New uniforms

• The Atlanta Falcons switched the primary and alternate jerseys, making the red ones the primary and the black ones the alternate.
• The Baltimore Ravens added black third alternative uniforms.
• The Cincinnati Bengals introduced new uniforms, featuring black jerseys with orange tiger-striped sleeves, white jerseys with black tiger striped sleeves, and orange third alternate uniforms. A new logo featuring an orange "B" with black tiger stripes was also unveiled.
• The Chicago Bears added orange third alternate uniforms.
• The Indianapolis Colts switched from blue face masks and white shoes to gray facemasks and black shoes
• The Jacksonville Jaguars made modification to their white uniforms, changing the teal number with black and gold trim to black numbers with gold and teal trim. Also introduced were new black pants with the Jaguars logo on hip.
• The New York Giants added red third alternate uniforms.
• The San Diego Chargers returned to navy pants with their white jerseys.

Television