Providence Steamroller

Atlantic Coast Football League (1962-1964)

Tombstone

Born: 1962 – ACFL Founding Franchise
Folded: 1965

First Game: August 26, 1962 (W 10-7 @ Stamford Golden Bears)
Last Game: November 21, 1964 (L 49-21 @ Springfield Acorns)

ACFL Championships: None

Stadium

City Stadium

Marketing

Team Colors:

Ownership

Owner:

Our Favorite Stuff

ACFL Logo T-Shirt

The Atlantic Coast Football League of 1962 – 1973 was likely the closest pro football has ever come to having a true “triple-A” minor league, similar to baseball. At the league’s peak in the late 1960’s, NFL teams such as the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins maintained farm clubs in the ACFL.

This ACFL design is also available today as a Crewneck or Hooded Sweartshirt, 3/4 sleeve Raglan or Women’s Tank Top at Old School Shirts!

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Background

The Providence Steamroller were one of six founding teams in the Atlantic Coast Football League in 1962. In its first season, the ACFL featured teams in Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island and New Jersey. Eventually the league would spread down into the Mid-Atlantic states, even placing a team as far south as Atlanta in 1964.

The ACFL franchise adopted the “Steamroller” name used by several Providence football teams of the past dating back to 1916. Most notably, Providence had an entry known as the Steamrollers in the very early days of the National Football League from 1925 until 1931. The Steamrollers were NFL champions in 1928.

In Competition

After an 8-1-1 debut season, the Steamroller advanced to the ACFL’s inaugural championship game against the 8-1 Paterson Miners on December 16th, 1962. Each team had dealt the other their only loss during the regular season. Notably, the championship game was to be played indoors at Atlantic City’s Convention Hall.

The 1962 championship game was a low-scoring affair and went to sudden death overtime knotted at 14-14. Steamroller kicker Bob Kessler missed a potential game-winning field goal from the 27-yard line in the first overtime period. Miners kicker Neal Buckman did not when he got his chance from 33 yards out 11 minutes into the second overtime. The Miners won 17-14.

The Steamroller remained a competitive entry for the next two seasons as the ACFL expanded to 12 clubs in 1963 and then 14 members in 1964.Providence advanced to the playoffs again in 1963 with a 6-6 record, then missed the postseason in 1965 despite a superior 8-5-1 ledger.

Connie Pensavalle coached the Steamroller for all three of their seasons.

Demise & Aftermath

Financial problems took down the club in early 1965. The IRS seized the team’s assets and auctioned them off that summer. The remaining players scattered, with some following Pensavalle back to his hometown of Everett, Massachusetts where a new franchise dubbed the Boston Steamrollers entered the ACFL for the 1965 season. Other ex-Steamroller players remained in Providence to sign with the Rhode Island Indians, a Continental Football League team that replaced the Steamroller at City Stadium in the fall of 1965.

The Indians folded after one season and Providence returned to the ACFL in 1966 with the formation of the Rhode Island Steelers. The Steelers also lasted just one year. The ACFL itself went out of business after the 1973 season.

In 1988 the New England Steamrollers of the Arena Football League set up shop at the Providence Civic Center, reviving the Steamroller name and updating the team’s half man/half machine logo. Like so many of Providence’s previous pro football efforts, the Arena Football team lasted but one season.