Category: United States Football League

Illustration of quarterback Chuck Fusina on the cover of the 1985 Baltimore Stars media guide from the United States Football League

Baltimore Stars

United States Football League (1985) Born: August 22, 1984 – The Philadelphia Stars announce relocation to Baltimore Folded: August 4, 1986 First Game: February 24,

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Illustration of quarterback Jim Kelly and Head Coach Jack Pardee on the cover of the 1985 Houston Gamblers media guide from the USFL

Houston Gamblers

The Houston Gamblers were one of the most thrilling alternative pro football teams of all time and a major reason why the United States Football League continues to enjoy a healthy cult following 35 years after taking its final snap. The Gamblers had it all: an edgy name, cool colors, audacious roster raids against the NFL establishment, a record-shattering offensive scheme, and a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback who re-wrote pro football’s single-season passing record book as a rookie.

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Tampa Bay Bandits USFL

Tampa Bay Bandits

The Tampa Bay Bandits were a popular entry in the United States Football League during the mid-1980’s. During a particularly grim era for the Hugh Culverhouse-owned Buccaneeers of the NFL, the Bandits played an exciting, high scoring brand of football and packed big crowds into Tampa Stadium in the springtime. The team had a high-wattage ownership group that included America’s #1 box office star of the early 80’s, Burt Reynolds. Read more…

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Birmingham Stallions Running back Joe Cribbs on the cover of a 1985 USFL Kickoff game program

Birmingham Stallions

United States Football League (1983-1985) Born: May 11, 1982 – USFL founding franchise Folded: August 1986 First Game: March 7, 1983 (L 9-7 vs. Michigan

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Defensive tackle Kit Lathrop of the Arizona Outlaws on the cover of a 1985 United States Football League program

Arizona Outlaws

The Arizona Outlaws were a pro football team that competed in the third and final season of the United States Football League in the spring of 1985.  The team emerged from the merger of the USFL’s Arizona Wranglers and Oklahoma Outlaws franchises in December 1984.

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