2022 Houston Gamblers season

2022 Houston Gamblers season
General manager	Kevin Sumlin
Head coach	Kevin Sumlin
Home field	None
Results
Record	3–7
League place	4th in South Division
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
2023  →

The 2022 Houston Gamblers season was the first season for the Houston Gamblers as a professional American football franchise. They played as charter members of the United States Football League, one of eight teams to compete in the league for the 2022 season. The Gamblers technically played as a traveling team (since the entirety of the regular season was played at Protective Stadium and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama) and were led by head coach Kevin Sumlin.

Background and history

As is the case with all eight teams competing in the league, the Houston Gamblers take their name and color scheme from a franchise of the same name that competed in the original USFL. ^[1] The original Houston Gamblers, who competed in the USFL from 1984 to 1985, finished with a winning record in both of their seasons, and won one Western Conference championship. They were led by head coach Jack Pardee for the duration of their existence. ^{[2] [3]}

The identical team names were the subject of a lawsuit brought to Fox by the owners of the original USFL, who claimed trademark infringement and false advertising on the part of the new league. ^[4]

Personnel

Final roster

2022 Houston Gamblers final roster

	Quarterbacks 11 Kenji Bahar  3 Terry Wilson Running backs 29 Benny LeMay  7 Mark Thompson 12 Devwah Whaley Wide receivers 16 Tyler Palka 17 Anthony Ratliff-Williams 88 Teo Redding 23 JoJo Ward  1 Isaiah Zuber Tight ends 86 Julian Allen  8 Brandon Barnes		Offensive linemen 66 Nick Buchanan C 74 Avery Gennesy T 77 Tyler Higby G 78 Brandon Hitner T 70 Terronne Prescod G 60 Kristjan Sokoli C 55 John Yarbrough T Defensive linemen 52 Domenique Davis DT 99 Ahmad Gooden DE 90 Joey Ivie DT 94 Tomasi Laulile DT 93 Chris Odom DE 91 Cory Thomas DT		Linebackers 50 Drequan Brown OLB 20 Drew Lewis OLB  5 Reggie Northrup ILB 15 Donald Payne OLB 44 Tegray Scales Defensive backs 32 Micah Abernathy CB 33 Alijah Holder S 24 Jeremiah Johnson S 27 Bydarrius Knighten CB  4 William Likely CB  9 Andrew Soroh S 21 Jamar Summers CB Special teams 38 Tucker Addington LS 36 Andrew Galitz P 19 Nick Vogel K		Reserve lists 22 Manny Bunch S (IR) 18 Clayton Thorson QB (IR) Practice squad 57 Andrew Ankrah DE 42 Beniquez Brown ILB 51 Erick Browne G 31 Jerry Cantave CB 40 Isaiah Chambers DE  2 Dalyn Dawkins RB 92 Ikenna Onwuasoanya DT 85 Josh Pederson TE 10 Tyler Simmons WR 75 Braxton Webb OL Rookies in italics 40 active, 2 inactive, 10 practice squad

The Gamblers, like all other teams, have a 38-man active roster with a 7-man practice squad. ^[5] Their first picks in the 2022 USFL Draft included quarterback Clayton Thorson (round 1, pick 5), defensive end Chris Odom (round 2, pick 12), and offensive tackle Ahmad Gooden. ^[6]

Staff

The Gamblers' first head coach and general manager is Kevin Sumlin, who most recently served as the head coach at Houston, Texas A&M, and Arizona. ^[7] The team's offense will be headed by two co-coordinators, J. D. Runnels and David Beaty. Runnels comes to the USFL with four years of playing experience in the National Football League and most recently spend one year as the running backs coach at East Central College. ^[8] Beaty joins the team having most recently served as a consultant at Texas, before which he spent four years as the head coach at Kansas. ^[9] The defense will be led by Tim Lewis, a former first-round NFL draft pick who played in the league for four seasons before starting his coaching career and has since served as an assistant at the high school, college, and professional ranks (including the NFL and XFL) and as the head coach of the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football. ^[10]

2022 Houston Gamblers staff

	Front office General manager – Kevin Sumlin Head coaches Head coach – Kevin Sumlin Offensive coaches Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running backs – J. D. Runnels Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide receivers – David Beaty Tight ends/Special teams – Greg McMahon Offensive line – Gordon Shaw			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Tim Lewis Defensive line – Ty Warren Linebackers – Mark Snyder

Schedule

Regular season

The Gamblers' 2022 schedule was announced on March 7. They opened the season against the Michigan Panthers. ^[11] Because the regular season is being held in its entirety at Protective Stadium and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, the Gamblers would technically play all of their games as a traveling team. ^[12] The schedule format has each team playing a ten-game regular season, consisting of two games against each division opponent and one game against each team in the opposite division. ^[13]

Week	Date	Time (ET)	Opponent	Result	Record	TV	Recap
1	April 17	12:50 p.m.	Michigan Panthers	W 17–12	1–0	NBC/Peacock	Recap
2	April 23	7:00 p.m.	Birmingham Stallions*	L 28–33	1–1	FS1	Recap
3	April 30	4:00 p.m.	Tampa Bay Bandits*	L 26–27	1–2	Fox	Recap
4	May 8	3:00 p.m.	New Orleans Breakers	L 16–23	1–3	NBC/Peacock	Recap
5	May 15	4:00 p.m.	Pittsburgh Maulers*	L 20–21	1–4	Fox	Recap
6	May 22	4:00 p.m.	New Jersey Generals	L 25–26	1–5	Fox	Recap
7	May 29	6:00 p.m.	Philadelphia Stars*	L 24–35	1–6	Peacock	Recap
8	June 5	4:00 p.m.	Tampa Bay Bandits	L 3–13	1–7	Peacock	Recap
9	June 11	6:00 p.m.	Birmingham Stallions	W 17–15	2–7	USA	Recap
10	June 19	8:30 p.m.	New Orleans Breakers*	W 20–3	3–7	FS1	Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. * mean that they host the game, since all eight teams play at the same stadium

Game summaries

Week 1: at Michigan Panthers

Week 1: Houston Gamblers at Michigan Panthers – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Gamblers	3	14	0	0	17
Panthers	0	0	6	6	12

at Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama

• Date: April 17
• Game time: 12:50 p.m. (delayed)
• Referee: Bryan Banks
• TV announcers (NBC/Peacock): Jac Collinsworth, Jason Garrett, Lewis Johnson

Game information

First quarter HOU – Nick Vogel 37-yard field goal, 7:07. Houston 3–0.Drive: 9 plays, 29 yards, 3:32. Second quarter HOU – Reggie Northrop 13-yard fumble return (Dalyn Dawkins rush), 15:00. Houston 11–0. HOU – Isaiah Zuber 12-yard pass from Clayton Thorson (Dalyn Dawkins rush failed), 5:08. Houston 17–0.Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 3:00. Third quarter MICH – Lance Lenoir 8-yard pass from Shea Patterson (Shea Patterson pass failed), 9:42. Houston 17–6.Drive: 10 plays, 74 yards, 5:25. Fourth quarter MICH – Stevie Scott III 3-yard rush (Stevie Scott III rush failed), 10:20. Houston 17–12.Drive: 9 plays, 66 yards, 4:01. Top passers HOU – Clayton Thorson – 9/17, 73 yards, TD, INT MICH – Shea Patterson – 17/25, 192 yards, TD Top rushers HOU – Mark Thompson – 13 rushes, 71 yards MICH – Stevie Scott III – 18 rushes, 72 yards, TD Top receivers HOU – JoJo Ward – 7 receptions, 48 yards MICH – Lance Lenoir – 6 receptions, 71 yards, TD

The Gamblers started their season against the Michigan Panthers. The Gamblers scored the only points of the first quarter on a 37 yard field goal by Nick Vogel. In the first play of the second quarter, the Panthers were poised to score the first touchdown before a Shea Patterson fumble was returned 90 yards for a touchdown by Reggie Northrop which, after a successful 2-point conversion, put the Gamblers up 11–0. The Panthers forced a Gamblers 3 and out, and on the ensuing punt, returned the punt 40 yards for touchdown. However, an unnecessary roughness call on the Panthers negated the touchdown, putting them on their own 45 yard line. The Gamblers stretched out their lead with a 65 yard drive topped off by an Isaiah Zuber 12 yard touchdown reception, putting the Gamblers up 17–0 after a failed 2-point conversion. The Gamblers had a chance to go up 20–0 with a 27 yard field goal, but it was missed.

We came out hot, on fire. We executed that first half. Second half, it got a little rocky. We had to get back, get our mindset right. A win is a win.

— Reggie Northrup, April 17, 2022, Fox Sports

The Panthers came out strong after halftime, driving for a touchdown, keeping the Gamblers up 2 scores after a failed 2-point conversion. In the fourth quarter, the Panthers drove downfield 66 yards for the touchdown, which included a clutch 4th & 6. They again missed a 2-point conversion to put the game within 3 and keep the Gamblers up 17–12, which would be the final score.

Week 2: vs. Birmingham Stallions

Week 2: Birmingham Stallions at Houston Gamblers – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Stallions	10	3	13	7	33
Gamblers	9	9	3	7	28

at Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama

• Date: April 23
• Game time: 7:00 p.m.
• Referee: Duane Heydt
• TV announcers (FS1): Kevin Kugler, Joel Klatt, Brock Huard

Game information

First quarter BIRM – Brian Allen interception return (Brandon Aubrey kick good), 14:13. Stallions 7–0. HOU – Nick Vogel 50-yard field goal, 11:46. Stallions 7–3 Drive: 6 plays, 46 yards, 2:22. HOU – William Likely interception return (Nick Vogel kick no good), 8:12. Gamblers 9–7. BIRM – Brandon Aubrey 31-yard field goal, 3:33. Stallions 10–9. Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 4:29. Second quarter HOU – Isaiah Zuber 25 yard pass from Clayton Thorson (Clayton Thorson pass failed), 14:19. Gamblers 15–10. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:16. BIRM – Brandon Aubrey 37-yard field goal, 6:07. Gamblers 15–13. Drive: 7 plays, 17 yards, 4:01. HOU – Nick Vogel 31-yard field goal, 3:03. Gamblers 18–13. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:16. Third quarter BHAM – Osirus Mitchell 34-yard pass from J'Mar Smith (Victor Bolden Jr. rush failed), 13:33. Stallions 19–18. Drive: 4 plays, 64 yards, 1:34. BHAM – C. J. Marable 3-yard rush (Brandon Aubrey kick good), 5:38. Stallions 26–18. Drive: 11 plays, 78 yards, 6:48. HOU – Nick Vogel 24-yard field goal, 1:11. Stallions 26–21. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:16. Fourth quarter BHAM – Marlon Williams 64-yard pass from J'Mar Smith (Brandon Aubrey kick good), 13:04. Stallions 33–21. Drive: 5 plays, 74 yards, 3:14. HOU – Tyler Simmons 44-yard pass from Clayton Thorson (Nick Vogel kick good), 12:24. Stallions 33–28. Drive: 2 plays, 50 yards, 0:42. Top passers BIRM – J'Mar Smith – 20/30, 229 yards, 2 TD, INT HOU – Clayton Thorson – 12/27, 141 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Top rushers BIRM – C. J. Marable – 16 rushes, 76 yards, TD HOU – Mark Thompson – 16 rushes, 93 yards Top receivers BIRM – Marlon Williams – 3 receptions, 88 yards, TD HOU – Tyler Simmons – 2 receptions, 53 yards, TD

For a second time in as many weeks, Stallions quarterback J'Mar Smith led Birmingham to three consecutive second half drives that ended with touchdowns. The reigning USFL Offensive Player of the Week, Smith went 19-of-29 for 214 yards on Saturday. His 34-yard, third quarter touchdown pass to Osirus Mitchell gave the Stallions a 19–18 lead. His 64-yard strike to Marlon Williams stretched Birmingham's lead to 33–21 with just over 13 minutes left.

Houston, who took an 18–13 halftime lead on the strength of Will Likely's 63-yard pick-six, made it a one-possession game when Clayton Thorson connected with Tyler Simmons for a 44-yard touchdown with 12:24 left. The Gamblers comeback bid came up short, however, when Lorenzo Burns recorded his second pick of Thorson with 1:13 left. ^[14]

Week 3: vs. Tampa Bay Bandits

Week 3: Tampa Bay Bandits at Houston Gamblers – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Bandits	7	7	3	10	27
Gamblers	10	13	3	0	26

at Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama

• Date: April 30
• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
• Referee: James Carter
• TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez, Brock Huard

The Gamblers will play against division rival Tampa Bay Bandits.

Standings

South Division
#	view talk edit	W	L	PCT	GB	DIV	PF	PA	STK
1	(y) Birmingham Stallions	9	1	.900	-	5–1	234	169	W1
2	(x) New Orleans Breakers	6	4	.600	3	3–3	196	164	L1
3	(e) Tampa Bay Bandits	4	6	.400	5	2–4	162	195	L2
4	(e) Houston Gamblers	3	7	.300	6	2–4	196	208	W2
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (y)–clinched division; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention

Postseason

Gamblers did not make it to the playoffs after back to back losses.

References

1. Florio, Mike (22 November 2021). "USFL will return with eight original team names". Yahoo!. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
2. Reeths, Paul (2 December 2021). "A Brief History of the Houston Gamblers". OurSports Central. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
3. Pendergast, Sean (24 May 2019). "With the XFL On Its Way, Let's Relive the Magic of the USFL's Houston Gamblers". Houston Press. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
4. Camenker, Jacob (1 March 2022). "USFL lawsuit, explained: Why Larry Csonka, old USFL teams and owners are suing the new league". The Sporting News. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
5. "USFL to have a "player selection meeting" on February 22–23". Pro Football Talk. January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
6. "USFL 2022 Draft Results". USFL Newsroom. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
7. Young, Matt (6 January 2022). "Kevin Sumlin to be head coach of USFL's Houston Gamblers". Chron. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
8. Hoover, John E. (17 March 2022). "Former Oklahoma FB J.D. Runnels Lands Coaching Gig in New USFL". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
9. Boyer, Zac (17 March 2022). "Former KU football coach David Beaty hired by USFL team". Kansas University Sports. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
10. Rachuk, Stephen (12 March 2022). "Tim Lewis Tapped as Defensive Coordinator for Houston Gamblers". USFL Newsroom. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
11. "2022 Houston Gamblers Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
12. "USFL announces Birmingham as official headquarters, host city for 2022 season". WVTM-13 NBC. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
13. "USFL 2022: Everything you need to know". Fox Sports. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
14. "USFL Week 2: J'Mar Smith, Stallions sprint past Gamblers to move to 2–0; Stars top Maulers". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2022-04-24.