Atlanta Legends

Last updated

Atlanta Legends
ATLLegends.png
Established2018
Folded2019
Based in Atlanta, Georgia
Home stadium Georgia State Stadium
Head coach Kevin Coyle
General manager Billy Devaney
Team presidentDavid Livingston
League Alliance of American Football
DivisionEastern Conference (2019)
ColorsPurple, gold & white
   

The Atlanta Legends were a professional American football franchise based in Atlanta, Georgia, and one of the eight members of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), which played one season from February 2019 to April 2019. [1] They played their home games at Georgia State Stadium on the campus of Georgia State University. The Legends were one of two AAF teams based in a city that already had an NFL team (the Atlanta Falcons; the other team was the Arizona Hotshots, where the NFL's Cardinals were based). The Legends were coached by Kevin Coyle, one of two AAF coaches without prior head coaching experience, after the position became available when Brad Childress resigned a month before the season began. [2] Billy Devaney was the general manager.

Contents

On April 2, 2019, the league's football operations were reportedly suspended, [3] [4] and on April 4 the league allowed players to leave their contracts to sign with NFL teams. [5] The league filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on April 17, 2019. [6]

History

The Alliance Atlanta team was announced by the league on April 25, 2018, as its second initial team. Additionally, the head coach, Brad Childress, and offensive coordinator, Michael Vick, were announced. [7] [8] On September 20, the league announced for four eastern inaugural franchises' names and logos including Atlanta as the Atlanta Legends. [9] The name and colors (purple, gold, white) are tributes to famous historical figures from the city, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Hank Aaron. [10] [11]

Childress resigned a month before the start of the 2019 season, and Kevin Coyle, initially hired as the team's defensive coordinator, took Childress's place. [12] On February 7, 2019, two days before their first game, head coach Coyle announced that Vick would be unable to fill his role as offensive coordinator and would instead act as an advisor to the team. [13] Rich Bartel, who replaced Vick as de facto offensive coordinator and play-caller, abruptly resigned two days before the team's home opener, [14] prompting the team to hire Ken Zampese to lead the offense. [15]

The team's first game was at Spectrum Stadium against the Orlando Apollos on Saturday, February 9, 2019, [16] where they lost 40–6. [17] Their first home game was on February 24 against the Birmingham Iron, where they lost 28–12. [16] After starting the season 0–3, the Legends recorded their first win against the Arizona Hotshots on March 3, 2019. [18]

Final roster

2019 Atlanta Legends final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

  • 94 Tavaris Barnes DE
  • 93 T. J. Barnes DT
  • 95 David Dean DT
  • 99 Bijhon Jackson DT
  • 91 J.T. Jones DE
  • 94 Antonio Simmons DE
  • 90 Tracy Sprinkle DT
Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists
  • 74 Parker Collins OT (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 32 Tyson Graham FS (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 24 Bronson Hill RB (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 87 Garrett Hudson TE (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 70 John Kling T (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 42 Quincy Mauger S (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 60 Trae Moxley OL (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 77 Brandon Pertile G (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 25 Denard Robinson RB (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 74 Bentley Spain OT (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 27 Akrum Wadley RB (IR) Injury icon 2.svg

Rights list

  • -- Donnie Miles, Jr. DB
  • 62 Matthew Schmidt OL
  • 83 Jake Sutherland TE


47 Active, 14 Inactive

Allocation pool

The Legends' assigned area, which designated player rights, included the following: [19]

Staff

Atlanta Legends staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

 

Sports Medicine staff

Equipment staff

Video staff

  • Video director – Jacob Berry
  • Assistant video director – Rickey Layman

Coaching Staff

2019 season

2019 Atlanta Legends season
General manager Billy Devaney
Head coach Kevin Coyle
Home field Georgia State Stadium
Results
Record2–6
League place3rd (tie), Eastern Conference

Final standings

Eastern Conference
ClubW–LPCTCONFPFPADIFFSOSSOVSTK
(x)Orlando Apollos 7–1.8755–0236136100.406.375W2
(x)Birmingham Iron 5–3.6253–216513332.406.300W1
(e)Memphis Express 2–6.2501–4152194-42.578.500L1
(e)Atlanta Legends 2–6.2501–488213-125.609.438L3
Western Conference
ClubW–LPCTCONFPFPADIFFSOSSOVSTK
San Antonio Commanders 5–3.6253–21581544.516.450L1
Arizona Hotshots 5–3.6253–218614442.469.500W3
San Diego Fleet 3–5.3752–3158161-3.469.417L3
Salt Lake Stallions 3–5.3752–3135143-8.547.417W1
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention

Schedule

Preseason

WeekDayDateOpponentResultsLocation
ScoreRecord
MondayJanuary 28at San Antonio Commanders L 11–37 Alamodome

Regular season

All times Eastern

WeekDayDateKickoffTVOpponentResultsLocation
ScoreRecord
1SaturdayFebruary 98:00 p.m. CBS at Orlando Apollos L 6–400–1 Spectrum Stadium
2SundayFebruary 178:00 p.m. NFLN at San Diego Fleet L 12–240–2 SDCCU Stadium
3SundayFebruary 244:00 p.m. CBSSN Birmingham Iron L 12–280–3 Georgia State Stadium
4SundayMarch 38:00 p.m.NFLNat Arizona Hotshots W 14–111–3 Sun Devil Stadium
5SundayMarch 104:00 p.m.CBSSN Memphis Express W 23–202–3Georgia State Stadium
6SundayMarch 174:00 p.m.CBSSN San Antonio Commanders L 6–372–4Georgia State Stadium
7SaturdayMarch 232:00 p.m. TNT Orlando ApollosL 6–362–5Georgia State Stadium
8SundayMarch 314:00 p.m.CBSSNat Birmingham IronL 9–172–6 Legion Field
9SundayApril 74:00 p.m.CBSSN Salt Lake Stallions Not playedGeorgia State Stadium
10SaturdayApril 138:00 p.m.NFLNat Memphis Express Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium

Changed from original time and/or network. [20]
[16] [21]

Game summaries

Week 1: at Orlando

Week One: Atlanta Legends at Orlando Apollos – Game summary
Period1234Total
Legends33006
Apollos02231540

at Spectrum Stadium, Orlando, Florida

Game information

Week 2: at San Diego

Week Two: Atlanta Legends at San Diego Fleet – Game summary
Period1234Total
Legends900312
Fleet0631524

at SDCCU Stadium, San Diego, California

Game information

Week 3: Birmingham

Week Three: Birmingham Iron at Atlanta Legends – Game summary
Period1234Total
Iron0911828
Legends060612

at Georgia State Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 4: at Arizona

Week Four: Atlanta Legends at Arizona Hotshots – Game summary
Period1234Total
Legends260614
Hotshots030811

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

Game information

Week 5: Memphis

Week Five: Memphis Express at Atlanta Legends – Game summary
Period1234Total
Express668020
Legends3110923

at Georgia State Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 6: San Antonio

Week Six: San Antonio Commanders at Atlanta Legends – Game summary
Period1234Total
Commanders6203837
Legends06006

at Georgia State Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 7: Orlando

Week Seven: Orlando Apollos at Atlanta Legends – Game summary
Period1234Total
Apollos8614836
Legends06006

at Georgia State Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 8: at Birmingham

Week Eight: Atlanta Legends at Birmingham Iron – Game summary
Period1234Total
Legends33309
Iron0113317

at Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama

Game information

Media

In addition to league-wide television coverage through NFL Network, CBS Sports Network, TNT, and B/R Live, Legends' games were also broadcast on local radio by WCNN ("680 The Fan"). [30]

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References

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Further reading