After their demand for 55% of gross revenues was denied by owners, the NFL Players’ Association decided to go on strike the night of Sept. 20-21. At that point, only two games had been played that season. The work stoppage lasted 57 days. A famous Sports Illustrated cover at the time showed a deflated football on a field with the headline “Pfffffft!” The strike cost the average player $6,000 a week. When it ended in November, players walked away with salary bumps, promises of retirement packages, and various other financial incentives. Yet, several issues remained unresolved, which would lead to yet another strike half a decade later.