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The United States Football League (USFL) was an American football league that played for three seasons, 1983 through 1985. The league played a spring/summer schedule in each of its active seasons. The 1986 season was scheduled to be played in the autumn/winter, directly competing against the long-established National Football League (NFL). However, the USFL ceased operations before that season was scheduled to begin.
Douglas Richard Flutie is an American former gridiron football quarterback whose professional career spanned 21 seasons. He played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), eight seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL), and one season in the United States Football League (USFL). Flutie played college football at Boston College, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1984 amid a season that saw him perform the iconic Hail Flutie, a game-winning touchdown pass thrown in the final seconds against Miami. He chose to begin his professional career with the USFL's New Jersey Generals; his unavailability to NFL teams resulted in him selected 285th overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 11th round of the 1985 NFL Draft, the lowest drafting of a Heisman winner. After the USFL folded, Flutie played his first four NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots.
The Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars were a professional American football team which played in the United States Football League (USFL) in the mid-1980s. Owned by real-estate magnate Myles Tanenbaum, they were the short-lived league's dominant team, playing in all three championship games and winning the latter two. They played their first two seasons in Philadelphia as the Philadelphia Stars before relocating to Baltimore, where they played as the Baltimore Stars for the USFL's final season. Coached by Jim Mora, the Stars won a league-best 41 regular season games and 7 playoff games.
Charles Anthony Fusina is a former American college and professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) and United States Football League (USFL) for seven seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. He played college football for Penn State University, and was recognized as an All-American. Fusina played professionally for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers of the NFL, and the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars of the USFL.
Gary Wayne Anderson is a former professional American football running back who played in the National Football League, the United States Football League and the Canadian Football League from 1983 to 1995.
Kelvin LeRoy Bryant is a former American football running back in the National Football League and the United States Football League.
Jeff Martin Spek is a former American football tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also was a member of the New Jersey Generals in the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Gary Wayne Barbaro is a former free safety who played seven seasons in the National Football League from 1976 to 1982 and one season in the United States Football League (USFL) in 1984. A third round selection by the Kansas City Chiefs from Nicholls State University, he had 39 career interceptions and was selected to participate in three Pro Bowls.
David Mark Archer is a former professional American football player. A 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) undrafted quarterback from Iowa State University, Archer played six seasons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1984 to 1989 for the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Thomas Johnson "John" Reaves was an American college and professional football player who was a quarterback for eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and three seasons in the United States Football League (USFL) during the 1970s and 1980s. Reaves played college football for the University of Florida, and earned All-American honors. He was a first-round pick in the 1972 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Houston Oilers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL, and the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL.
James Arthur Smith is a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1974 to 1976. He also played wide receiver for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1977 to 1982 before starring on the Birmingham Stallions of the rival United States Football League (USFL). After the USFL's demise, Smith played a final season for the Los Angeles Raiders in 1985.
On May 24, 1982, the United States Football League (USFL) reached an agreement with ABC and ESPN on television rights. The money for inaugural 1983 season would be a total of $13 million: $9 million from ABC and $4 million from ESPN.
Matthew Gillette Robinson is a former professional American football player, a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) from 1977–1982 for the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills. He was later with the Jacksonville Bulls and Portland Breakers of the United States Football League (USFL) in 1984 and 1985, respectively.
Ray Jauch is an American former gridiron football player and coach. He served as a head coach in the Canadian Football League (CFL), the United States Football League (USFL), and the Arena Football League. He won 127 regular season games in the CFL, the sixth highest win total by a head coach in the league's history.
Chester Robert "Chet" Simmons was a television executive. He worked at ABC Sports, NBC Sports and ESPN, and was the first Commissioner of the USFL. From 1957 to 1964, he helped build ABC Sports into a leader in sports programming and was a key part of the development of Wide World of Sports. He joined NBC Sports in 1964 where he stayed for 15 years becoming the first President in 1977. At NBC, he pioneered instant replay and coverage of the Olympics and NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four. In 1979, he left NBC to join the soon to launch ESPN becoming its second President. At ESPN, he oversaw the launch of the Network, the development of SportsCenter, the first broadcasts of the NFL Draft, coverage of the early rounds of the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four and the development of Chris Berman, Bob Ley, George Grande, Greg Gumbel and Dick Vitale. In 1982, he became the first Commissioner of the United States Football League and led it through three Championships and players including Herschel Walker, Jim Kelly, Reggie White, Steve Young and Anthony Carter.
Larry Brodsky is a former American football wide receiver in the United States Football League (USFL) for the New Jersey Generals and Tampa Bay Bandits. He played college football at the University of Miami.
Brian Broomell is a former American football quarterback who played one season with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Temple University and attended Sterling High School in Somerdale, New Jersey. He was also a member of the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League (USFL).
Samuel Delmar Harrell, Jr. is a former American football player. He rushed for 200 yards in a game between the Houston Gamblers and the Chicago Blitz in 1984.
Mike Ford was an American football player. He was a quarterback at Mesquite High School in Mesquite, Texas. He played college football for the SMU Mustangs football team from 1977 to 1980. As a sophomore in 1978, he led all NCAA major college players in both total offense yards (2,957), total offense per game, and passing yards (3,007). In 11 games during the 1978 season, he completed 224 of 389 passes for 3,007 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions for and SMU team that compiled a 4-6-1 record. Listed as a pre-season Heisman Trophy candidate in 1979, he never reached the same statistical levels, passing for 217 yards after sustaining a knee injury in 1979 season opener, and tallying 951 passing yards in 1980. He returned to SMU as a student 30 year later to obtain his degree.
Todd Gerhart is a former American football running back who played one season with the Denver Gold of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at California State University, Fullerton. He was also a member of the Minnesota Vikings and Houston Oilers of the National Football League (NFL).
