CLEVELAND GLADIATORS	MILWAUKEE MUSTANGS	PHILADELPHIA SOUL

PITTSBURGH POWER

Comments

The AFL has one fewer team in 2012 as the Dallas Vigilantes have suspended operations. The team that was the Tulsa Talons in 2011 are now the San Antonio Talons.

The Arizona Rattlers are using two new helmet designs in 2012, a copper helmet (shown above) for use (I think) during home games, and a black helmet for use (I think) during road games. A white helmet has also been used during at least one game.

The San Antonio Talons have a new helmet design for 2012 (photograph below); I will need a copy of the helmet logo in order to add this helmet to the web site. The logo as used on the helmet appears to be substantially different from a logo which a couple of people have sent me; specifically the helmet version appears to be much shorter along the vertical axis, and appears to have multiple colors within it.

The Utah Blaze were using a new helmet shell color during their first game of the 2012 season. I do not yet know if this is a new "full-time" design for the team.

The Tampa Bay Storm are using a new helmet design in 2012 (shown above). Several other teams - including Utah, Kansas City, San Jose, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia - have already used at least one new alternate helmet design in 2012. Others will probably appear. The Jacksonville Sharks have changed to a different facemask color for the 2012 season.

Historical Helmets (current teams)

ARIZONA RATTLERS

1992 - 2008; 2010	2011	2012 -
		(home games)

2012 -	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.

CHICAGO RUSH

2001 - 2008; 2010	2008 (some games); 2011 -

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 -
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).

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.

IOWA BARNSTORMERS

2010 -

JACKSONVILLE SHARKS

2010 - 2011	2012 -

KANSAS CITY COMMAND / KANSAS CITY BRIGADE

2006 - 2008 (Brigade); 2011 - (Command)	2012 -

MILWAUKEE MUSTANGS / MILWAUKEE IRON

2010	2011 -
MILWAUKEE IRON	MILWAUKEE MUSTANGS

NEW ORLEANS VOODOO

2004 - 2005; 2007 - 2008; 2011 -

This team did not play in 2006 due to repercussions from Hurricane Katrina.

ORLANDO PREDATORS

1991 - 1997	1998 - 2000	2001 - 2002

2003 - 2008; 2010	2011 -

PHILADELPHIA SOUL

2004 - 2008; 2011	2012 -	2012 -

PITTSBURGH POWER

April 6, 2012	2011 -
*see note 1 below

*1 Worn during the 2012 home game against Iowa.

SAN ANTONIO TALONS / TULSA TALONS

2010 - 2011	2012 -
TULSA TALONS	SAN ANTONIO TALONS

SAN JOSE SABERCATS

1995 - 2008; 2011 -	2012 -

SPOKANE SHOCK

2010 -

TAMPA BAY STORM / PITTSBURGH GLADIATORS

1987 - 1990	1991 - 1992	1993 - 1994
PITTSBURGH GLADIATORS	TAMPA BAY STORM	TAMPA BAY STORM

1995 - 2008; 2010 - 2011	2012 -
TAMPA BAY STORM	TAMPA BAY STORM

This team was based in Pittsburgh and known as the Gladiators from 1987 through 1990.

UTAH BLAZE

2006 - 2008; 2010	2011 -	2012 -

Historical Helmets (defunct teams)

ALABAMA VIPERS

2010

ANAHEIM PIRANHAS / LAS VEGAS STING

1995 - 1996	1997 - 1998
LAS VEGAS STING	ANAHEIM PIRANHAS

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).

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 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

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

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 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

"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

ST. LOUIS STAMPEDE

1995 - 1996

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.

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.