Arena Football League
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| ALBANY EMPIRE | BALTIMORE BRIGADE | PHILADELPHIA SOUL |
 |
|---|
| WASHINGTON VALOR |
Comments
The Arena Football League is down to four teams in 2018. The Tampa Bay Storm have suspended operations while the Cleveland Gladiators have announced a two-year "hiatus" during which the team's home arena will undergo renovation. The Albany Empire are a new team for 2018.
Historical Helmets (current teams)
BALTIMORE BRIGADE
 |
|
|---|---|
| 2017 (1st three games) | 2017 - |
PHILADELPHIA SOUL
 |
|
 |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 - 2008; 2011 | 2012 - | 2012 - |
WASHINGTON VALOR
|
|---|
| 2017 - |
Historical Helmets (defunct teams)
ALABAMA VIPERS
 |
|---|
| 2010 |
ANAHEIM PIRANHAS / LAS VEGAS STING
 |
 |
|---|---|
| 1995 - 1996 | 1997 - 1998 |
| LAS VEGAS STING | ANAHEIM PIRANHAS |
ARIZONA RATTLERS
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 - 2008; 2010 | 2011 | 2012 - |
| (home games) |
 |
 |
|---|---|
| 2012 - 2016? | April 14, 2012 |
| (road games) | |
| *see note 1 below | *see note 2 below |
*1 During the early part of the 2012 season the logo has been worn on the right sides of the helmets only, with the left sides remaining "blank".
*2 Worn during a game at Iowa.
AUSTIN WRANGLERS
 |
 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2005 - 2007 |
CAROLINA COBRAS
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 (game #1) | 2000 - 2003 | 2004 |
CHARLOTTE RAGE
 |
 |
|---|---|
| 1992 - 1993? | 1994? - 1996 |
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; 2010 | 2008 (some games); 2011 - 2013 |
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; 2010 - 2017 |
| 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.
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).
DALLAS VIGILANTES
 |
 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2011 |
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 |
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; 2011 - |
*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.
FORT WORTH CAVALRY
 |
|---|
| 1994 |
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 |
| ALBANY FIREBIRDS | INDIANA FIREBIRDS |
IOWA BARNSTORMERS
 |
|---|
| 2010 - 2014 |
JACKSONVILLE SHARKS
 |
 |
|---|---|
| 2010 - 2011 | 2012 - 2016 |
KANSAS CITY COMMAND / KANSAS CITY BRIGADE
 |
 |
|---|---|
| 2006 - 2008 (Brigade); 2011 - (Command) |
2012 |
LAS VEGAS OUTLAWS
 |
|---|
| 2015 |
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)
 |
|---|
| 1994 - 2001 |
MILWAUKEE MUSTANGS / MILWAUKEE IRON (2009 - 2012)
 |
 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2011 - 2012 |
| MILWAUKEE IRON | MILWAUKEE MUSTANGS |
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; 2011 - 2015 |
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 CITY YARD DAWGZ
 |
|---|
| 2010 |
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; 2010 | 2011 - 2016 |
PITTSBURGH POWER
 |
 |
|---|---|
| April 6, 2012 | 2011 - 2014 |
| *see note 1 below |
*1 Worn during the 2012 home game against Iowa.
PORTLAND STEEL / PORTLAND THUNDER
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
Team was named 'Thunder' in 2014 and 2015, and 'Steel' in 2016.
"ROCKFORD METROS" and "CHICAGO POLITICIANS"
|
|
|---|---|
| April 27, 1986 | April 27, 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 on April 27, 1986, at Rockford, Illinois. Below is the clearest photograph I have seen from this game; I do not know which team is which. One team appears to be wearing gold or silver helmets with the word "ARENA" on the sides, while the other has dark-colored helmets with an unknown circular logo. I would appreciate any better photographs from this game, or any information about the team colors.
SAN ANTONIO FORCE
 |
|---|
| 1992 |
SAN ANTONIO TALONS / TULSA TALONS
 |
|
|---|---|
| 2010 - 2011 | 2012 - 2014 |
| TULSA TALONS | SAN ANTONIO TALONS |
Beginning in 2012 this team used a new logo (as shown in the photo below). I have been unable to locate a copy of the artwork for this design.
SAN JOSE SABERCATS
 |
 |
|---|---|
| 1995 - 2008; 2011 - | 2012 - 2015? |
SPOKANE SHOCK
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 - 2012? | 2013? - | 2013? - 2015? |
| *see note 1 below | *see note 2 below |
*1 Numerals are used only on the left side of this design; the right side features an "S" logo (as shown below).
*2 Numerals are used only on the left side of this design; the right side features an "S" logo (as shown below).
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; 2010 - 2011 | 2012 - 2017 |
| TAMPA BAY STORM | 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; 2010 | 2011 - | 2012 - 2013 |
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.
