Arena Football League (1987 - 2008)
ANAHEIM PIRANHAS / LAS VEGAS STING
1995 - 1996 | 1997 - 1998 |
LAS VEGAS STING | ANAHEIM PIRANHAS |
ARIZONA RATTLERS
1992 - 2008 |
AUSTIN WRANGLERS
2004 | 2005 - 2007 |
CAROLINA COBRAS
2003 (game #1) | 2000 - 2003 | 2004 |
CHARLOTTE RAGE
1992 - 1993? | 1994? - 1996 |
The Rage used white helmets during their first couple of years (at least 1992 and 1993); I would appreciate some clear photographs of the white helmet, especially ones clearly showing the stripe sequence (please do not send photographs of replica helmets or mini-helmets).
CHICAGO BRUISERS
c.1989? |
The Bruisers may have also at some point used a helmet design similar to this one, but without any stripes (photographs would be appreciated). In one (or two?) of the earliest AFL exhibition games, the Bruisers used white helmets with a black or blue "B" on the sides; I would appreciate some color photographs from this game (or games).
CHICAGO RUSH
2001 - 2008 | 2008 (some games) |
CINCINNATI ROCKERS
1992 | 1993 |
In 1993, the Rockers used green helmets with a logo similar to the one used in 1992; a clear photograph of the green helmet would be appreciated (not a photograph of a mini-helmet, please).
CLEVELAND GLADIATORS / LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS / NEW JERSEY GLADIATORS / NEW JERSEY RED DOGS
1997? - ? | 2001 - 2006 | 2007 |
NEW JERSEY RED DOGS | NEW JERSEY GLADIATORS/ LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS |
LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS |
2008 |
CLEVELAND GLADIATORS |
There may have been some other helmet design variations for this team during the period when it was known as the Red Dogs - supposedly the logo was slightly different during the last year or two, and a switch to black facemasks is reported to have occurred by at least the 2000 season. Also, some sources indicate that the red color was changed to maroon during the Red Dogs' last couple of years. Photographs of any of these alleged other variations would be greatly appreciated (not photographs of mini-helmets, please).
CLEVELAND THUNDERBOLTS / COLUMBUS THUNDERBOLTS
1991 - 1994 |
The franchise was based in Columbus, OH for its first year (1991) before moving to Cleveland. This is the only helmet design that I am aware of the team having used.
COLORADO CRUSH
2003 - 2008 |
COLUMBUS DESTROYERS / BUFFALO DESTROYERS
1999 - 2003 | 2004 | 2005 - 2006 |
BUFFALO DESTROYERS | COLUMBUS DESTROYERS | COLUMBUS DESTROYERS |
2007 - 2008 |
COLUMBUS DESTROYERS |
CONNECTICUT COYOTES
1995 | 1996 |
DALLAS DESPERADOS
2002 - 2008 |
DALLAS TEXANS
1990 - ? | ? - 1993 |
*see note 1 below |
This team lasted for four years, 1990 through 1993. At least two helmet designs were used, the earlier one with white shells and the later one with red, but I am not sure when the switch was made.
There may have been some slight variations of these designs. One visitor to this site has reported that there were "tails" extending back from the logos on both the red and white helmets, though there are quite clearly absent from the white helmets in videotape of the 1990 Arena Bowl game. I would appreciate any photographs showing the alleged "tails" on an actual helmet (please do not send photographs of mini-helmets).
*1 The stripe sequence on this helmet runs (from left to right) blue-white-red (at least during the 1990 Arena Bowl game).
DENVER DYNAMITE
1987 - ? | ? - 1991 |
One of the league's four original teams, the Dynamite played in 1987 and from 1989 through 1991. The team may have had one or two other helmet variations besides those shown here.
DETROIT FURY
2001 - 2004 |
The stripe sequence on the Fury helmets may have been different or absent during the first year or two of the team's existence.
FLORIDA BOBCATS / MIAMI HOOTERS / SACRAMENTO ATTACK
1992 | 1993 - 1994 | 1995 |
SACRAMENTO ATTACK | MIAMI HOOTERS | MIAMI HOOTERS |
1996 - 1998 | 1999 | 2000 - 2001 |
FLORIDA BOBCATS | FLORIDA BOBCATS | FLORIDA BOBCATS |
FORT WORTH CAVALRY
1994 |
GEORGIA FORCE
2002 (approx. 1st eight games) |
2002 - 2003 | February 8, 2004; February 22, 2004 |
*see note 1 below | *see note 2 below |
2004 - 2008 |
*1 The Force switched from blue facemasks to black ones by at least the ninth game of the 2002 season, and possibly earlier.
*2 The team announced just prior to the 2004 season that a pair of stripes would be worn on the helmets for two games in 2004; following are excerpts from the announcement: "(February 3, 2004) – Force Owner Virgil Williams and Force Advisory Board Chairman and current University of Georgia Athletic Director Vince Dooley announced today that the Force will be adding “V Stripes” to the team's helmet for the Force's first two home games. The Force's new all black helmets, which were unveiled last week at a press conference by Governor Sonny Perdue, will sport red and gold “V Stripes” running down the middle of the helmet. The “V Stripes” are a symbolic gesture by the team in support of UGA and Georgia Tech. In addition, the “V Stripes” will represent the two strongest influences in the Force organization, Virgil Williams and Vince Dooley, as well as the Force's ultimate goal- Victory". During the February 8 game, the red stripe was worn on the left sides of the helmets, and the gold one on the right sides.
GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE
1998 - 1999 | 2000 - 2006 | 2007 - 2008 |
HOUSTON THUNDERBEARS / TEXAS TERROR
1996 - 1997 | 1998 - 2001 |
TEXAS TERROR | HOUSTON THUNDERBEARS |
This franchise was based in Houston through the first five years of its existence; in 2001, the league assumed ownership of the team and made it play a schedule consisting entirely of road games. The team was one of four teams disbanded in late 2001 when the league contracted.
INDIANA FIREBIRDS / ALBANY FIREBIRDS
1991 - 1997 | 1998 - 2004 |
KANSAS CITY BRIGADE
2006 - 2008 |
LOS ANGELES AVENGERS
2001 - 2002 | 2003 - 2008 |
LOS ANGELES COBRAS
1988 |
MASSACHUSETTS MARAUDERS / DETROIT DRIVE
1988 - 1993 | 1994 |
DETROIT DRIVE | MASSACHUSETTS MARAUDERS |
MILWAUKEE MUSTANGS
1994 - 2001 |
MINNESOTA FIGHTING PIKE
1996 |
NASHVILLE KATS
1997 only(?) | 1998? - 2001 | 2005 - 2007 |
Following the 2001 season, the Nashville Kats franchise was sold and relocated, becoming the Georgia Force. When the AFL admitted a new Nashville Kats franchise in 2005, it was allowed to assume the historical records of the earlier Kats franchise (1997-2001).
NEW ENGLAND STEAMROLLERS
1988 |
NEW ORLEANS NIGHT
1991 - 1992 |
NEW ORLEANS VOODOO
2004 - 2005; 2007 - 2008 |
This team did not play in 2006 due to repercussions from Hurricane Katrina.
NEW YORK DRAGONS / IOWA BARNSTORMERS
1995 (game #1) | 1995 - 2000 | 2007 |
IOWA BARNSTORMERS | IOWA BARNSTORMERS | NEW YORK DRAGONS |
2001 - 2006; 2008 | 2009 (not used) |
NEW YORK DRAGONS | NEW YORK DRAGONS |
*see note 1 below |
*1 This design was to have been used in 2009 but was never actually used during a game, due to the cancellation of the 2009 season.
NEW YORK KNIGHTS
1988 |
The only photograph that I have ever seen of a New York Knights helmet is from the team's first-ever regular season game at the Los Angeles Cobras; there are no stripes on the Knights' helmets during this game, but the team supposedly had a blue stripe on its helmets during all of their other games. A photograph of the helmet with the stripe would be appreciated (not a picture of a mini-helmet, please!).
OKLAHOMA WRANGLERS / PORTLAND FOREST DRAGONS / MEMPHIS PHARAOHS
1995 - 1996 | 1997 | 1998 - 1999 |
MEMPHIS PHARAOHS | PORTLAND FOREST DRAGONS | PORTLAND FOREST DRAGONS |
2000 - 2001 |
OKLAHOMA WRANGLERS |
ORLANDO PREDATORS
1991 - 1997 | 1998 - 2000 | 2001 - 2002 |
2003 - 2008 |
PHILADELPHIA SOUL
2004 - 2008 |
"ROCKFORD METROS" / "CHICAGO POLITICIANS"
April 26, 1986 | April 26, 1986 |
ROCKFORD METROS | CHICAGO POLITICIANS |
The "Rockford Metros" and "Chicago Politicians" were the two teams that played in the first exhibition game of the Arena brand of football in 1986. I have never seen any photographs from this game, and it is possible that the two teams did not even have logos or "helmet designs". I would appreciate any information about what these teams used helmet-wise during their one game.
SAN ANTONIO FORCE
1992 |
SAN JOSE SABERCATS
1995 - 2008 |
ST. LOUIS STAMPEDE
1995 - 1996 |
TAMPA BAY STORM / PITTSBURGH GLADIATORS
1987 - 1990 | 1991 - 1992 | 1993 - 1994 |
PITTSBURGH GLADIATORS | TAMPA BAY STORM | TAMPA BAY STORM |
1995 - 2008 |
TAMPA BAY STORM |
This team was based in Pittsburgh and known as the Gladiators from 1987 through 1990.
TORONTO PHANTOMS / NEW ENGLAND SEA WOLVES / NEW YORK CITYHAWKS
1997 - 1998 | 1997 - 1998 | 1999 - 2000 |
NEW YORK CITYHAWKS | NEW YORK CITYHAWKS | NEW ENGLAND SEA WOLVES |
2000 | 2001 - 2002 |
NEW ENGLAND SEA WOLVES | TORONTO PHANTOMS |
While this team was known as the New York Cityhawks, both the gold and black helmets were used in both 1997 and 1998. I have received some film from various games confirming that the team used the gold helmets during a home game in 1997 vs Florida and during a road game in 1998 vs Grand Rapids, and confirming that the black helmets were used for a road game in 1997 vs New Jersey. I do not know what scheme was in place during these two years with regards to the usage of the two helmet designs, but it may have been a home-and-away scheme that was reversed in the second year.
UTAH BLAZE
2006 - 2008 |
WASHINGTON COMMANDOS
1987; 1989-1990 |
This team used the name Maryland Commandos during the 1989 season only. The team may have used another helmet design besides the one shown above at some point in its history; I would appreciate any photographs showing such a design. I received a report that the team used gold helmets briefly, but no supporting evidence was provided. The team did not play in 1988.