Chicago Enforcers

Last updated
Chicago Enforcers
Chicago Enforcers Logo.svg
Founded2001
Folded2001
League XFL
DivisionEastern
Based in Chicago, Illinois
Stadium Soldier Field
ColorsBlack, purple, silver [1]
   
Owner World Wrestling Federation
Head coach Ron Meyer
Playoff berths1 (2001)

The Chicago Enforcers were an American football team of the XFL based at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The XFL was begun by Vince McMahon of the WWE and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. NBC dropped XFL broadcasts after the first season in 2001 due to dismal ratings, and the league was dissolved shortly thereafter.

Contents

The team name references mob enforcers, alluding to Chicago's history of mafia influence. The team's fight song would later become the entrance music for professional wrestler Brock Lesnar who had signed a contract with the WWE but was yet to debut. [2]

The "Chicago Enforcers" name is used by the Chicago Police Department for their works team in the National Public Safety Football League.

2001 season

Originally, rumors swirled that former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator and Philadelphia Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan would be hired as the team's coach. [3] Ultimately, Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus was hired for the position. However, just before the season started, he resigned to take a position in the XFL office. He was replaced by Ron Meyer, a former NFL head coach from the 1980s who had not coached professional football since 1994 with the Las Vegas Posse.

Among their players was former NFL running back LeShon Johnson, who had played for the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants and was a finalist for the 1993 Heisman Trophy [4] . He was starting tailback for the Cardinals for most of 1996. He led the Enforcers with 6 rushing touchdowns, which was second in the league. They also had former NFL running back John Avery who played for the Miami Dolphins. Their wide receiver/kick returner Roell Preston (who previously played for the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, and Tennessee Titans) held the distinction of being the only former Pro Bowler (1998 as a Packer) to play in the XFL. The team's starting right guard, Bennie Anderson, went on to be a starter for the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills, and last played professional football in 2006 for the Miami Dolphins.

Enforcers game at Soldier Field, 2001. Empty stands were a regular feature at Enforcers games; at about 15,000 fans a game, the Enforcers had the lowest average attendance in the league. XflNight.JPG
Enforcers game at Soldier Field, 2001. Empty stands were a regular feature at Enforcers games; at about 15,000 fans a game, the Enforcers had the lowest average attendance in the league.

The Enforcers got off to a slow start, losing their first four games with Tim Lester; at the time, Lester was working as a math teacher and assistant football coach at Wheaton Warrenville South High School in the suburbs of Chicago and played for the Enforcers effectively as a semi-professional player. In week 5, the team replaced Lester with the former Notre Dame Quatrerback Kevin McDougal, cut Lester, and brought in Craig Whelihan (an established NFL backup who had been third string on the Memphis Maniax at the time) to serve as McDougal's backup. The team went 5–1 in the rest of the season (winning their last four in a row), coming from behind to make the XFL playoffs at 2nd place in the Eastern Division. In addition to their potent rushing attack led by league leading running back John Avery, they were also known for their hard hitting defense. They lost to eventual XFL champion Los Angeles Xtreme in the crossover semifinals.

The Enforcers were part of the Eastern Division with the Orlando Rage, New York/New Jersey Hitmen and the Birmingham Thunderbolts. Their radio flagship station was WMVP, ESPN Radio 1000.

Poor attendance and the pending renovation of Soldier Field would have meant that, even if the league had continued, the Enforcers would have not; the league was exploring relocating the team to Milwaukee at the time of the league's closure. [5]

Season-by-season

Season records
SeasonWLTFinishPlayoff results
20015502nd EasternLost Semifinals (Los Angeles)
Totals560(including playoffs)

Schedule

Regular season

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenue
1February 3at Orlando Rage L 29–330–1 Florida Citrus Bowl
2February 10at Los Angeles Xtreme L 32–39 (2 OT)0–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
3February 18at Birmingham Thunderbolts L 3–140–3 Legion Field
4February 24 New York/New Jersey Hitmen L 0–130–4 Soldier Field
5March 4 Las Vegas Outlaws W 15–131–4Soldier Field
6March 10at Memphis Maniax L 23–291–5 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
7March 18 San Francisco Demons W 25–192–5Soldier Field
8March 25Birmingham ThunderboltsW 13–03–5Soldier Field
9March 31at New York/New Jersey HitmenW 23–184–5 Giants Stadium
10April 8Orlando RageW 23–65–5Soldier Field

Post-season

RoundDateOpponentResultRecordVenue
Semi-finalApril 15 Los Angeles Xtreme L 16–330–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Standings

Eastern Division
TeamWLTPCTPFPASTK
Orlando Rage 820.800207162L1
Chicago Enforcers 550.500163178W1
New York/New Jersey Hitmen 460.400110145W1
Birmingham Thunderbolts 280.200131217L7

[6]

Roster

2001 Chicago Enforcers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

  • 34 Charles Wiley

Wide receivers (WR)

  •  2 Luther Leverson

Tight ends (TE)

  • 85 William Tate
 Offensive linemen (OL)
  • 75 Octavius Bishop T
  • 79 Bryan LaBelle G
  • 76 Eric Schnupp G
  • 70 Derrick Turner G

Defensive linemen (DL)

  • 54 Matt Finkes DE
  • 50 Aaron Humphrey DE
  • 91 Hubert Thompson DE
 Linebackers (LB)
  • 53 Jaime Baisely ILB
  • 46 Chike Egbuniwe OLB
  • 49 Carlos Timmons

Defensive backs (DB)

  • 27 Jason Bray
  • 21 Troy Saunders CB

Special teams

  •  4 Andy Crosland
 Practice squad

Reserve

  • -- Charles Ward DE
Rookies in italics
, 7 practice squad

Team leaders

Legend
Led the league

Passing

Passing statistics [a]
NAMEGPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsTDIntRtg
Kevin McDougal 765–18113460.41,1685391.9
Tim Lester 440–4407751.95814567.1
Craig Whelihan 10—4580.0300091.7
Paul Failla 20—1520.050039.6
Totals 10105–512622256.81,7849881.4

Rushing

Rushing statistics
NAMEAttYdsAvgLngTD
John Avery 1508005.373t5
LeShon Johnson 722874.0416
Kevin McDougal 17885.2321
Tim Lester 13322.581
Charles Wiley10252.582
Craig Whelihan 4-2-0.520
Aaron Bailey 24321.5400
Paul Failla 263.070
Luther Leverson2-14-7.000
Totals 2721,2654.773t15

Receiving

Receiving statistics
NAMERecYdsAvgLngTD
Aaron Bailey 3254617.2503
Junior Lord 2030115.0460
John Avery 1729717.568t2
Luther Leverson1424817.7562
William Tate10878.719t2
Ryan Yarborough 8597.4140
Roell Preston 7588.3120
LeShon Johnson 7334.7160
Tyji Armstrong 6498.2190
Fred Coleman 510621.2330
Totals 1261,78414.2689

Scoring

12-25 (48.0)% on extra point conversion attempts [7]

Total Scoring
NAMERushRecReturnXPMFGMPTS
LeShon Johnson 6008044
John Avery 5200042
Andy Crosland0000824
Aaron Bailey 0300018
William Tate0201013
Charles Wiley2001013
Luther Leverson0200012
Tim Lester 100107
Kevin McDougal 100006
Brian Rogers001006
Tim Martin 000101
Totals 1591128186

Notes

  1. ↑ Crosland threw one incompletion

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XFL (2001)</span> Former American football league

The XFL was a professional American football league that played its only season in 2001. The XFL was operated as a joint venture between the World Wrestling Federation and NBC. The XFL was conceived as an outdoor football league that would begin play immediately after the National Football League (NFL) season ended, to take advantage of the perceived lingering public desire to watch football after the NFL and college football seasons conclude. It was promoted as having fewer rules to encourage rougher play than other major leagues, while its telecasts featured sports entertainment elements inspired by professional wrestling, including heat and kayfabe, and suggestively-dressed cheerleaders. Commentary crews also featured WWF commentators joined by sportscasters and veteran football players. Despite the wrestling influence, the games and their outcomes were legitimate and not based on scripted storylines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birmingham Thunderbolts</span>

The Birmingham Thunderbolts were a short-lived springtime American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.

Below is a list of professional football Championship Games in the United States, involving:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Griese</span> American football player and coach (born 1975)

Brian David Griese is an American professional football coach and former player who is the quarterbacks coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). A former quarterback in the NFL, he played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft.

Douglas Terrell Buckley is an American football coach and former player. He played as a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, earning unanimous All-American honors in 1991.

John Edward Avery Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft with the 29th overall pick. Avery played in the NFL for the Dolphins, Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings. He played in the CFL for the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts. He was also in the XFL with the Chicago Enforcers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rashaan Salaam</span> American football player (1974–2016)

Rashaan Iman Salaam was an American professional football running back who played for four seasons in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1990s. Salaam played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes and won the 1994 Heisman Trophy. He was picked by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft, and played professionally for the Bears and the Cleveland Browns. Salaam died by suicide on December 5, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Strock</span> American football player and coach (born 1950)

Donald Joseph Strock is an American former professional football player and coach. He played as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) with the Miami Dolphins (1973–1987), Cleveland Browns (1988), and Indianapolis Colts (1989).

Ronald Shaw Meyer was an American college and professional football coach. He is best known for having been the head coach of Southern Methodist University and the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL).

LeShon Eugene Johnson is an American former professional football player who was a running back and kick returner in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons during the 1990s. He played college football for the Northern Illinois Huskies, and earning consensus All-American honors in 1993. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1994 NFL draft. He also played professionally for the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants of the NFL and the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL (2001).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Million Dollar Game</span> Championship game of the 2001 XFL season

The Million Dollar Game, also known as the XFL Championship, was the lone championship of the original 2001 incarnation of the XFL. The game was played on Saturday, April 21, 2001, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Western Division champion Los Angeles Xtreme defeated the western runner-up San Francisco Demons 38–6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kippy Brown</span> American football player and coach (born 1955)

Charles Henry "Kippy" Brown is an American football former coach and former player who most recently was the wide receivers coach for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was a college-level starting quarterback for Memphis and coached in various capacities at both the college and professional levels of American football. He retired in May 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1985 Chicago Bears season</span> NFL team season (won Super Bowl)

The 1985 season was the Chicago Bears' 66th in the National Football League (NFL) and their fourth under head coach Mike Ditka. The Bears entered 1985 looking to improve on their 10–6 record from 1984 and advance further than the NFC Championship Game, where they lost to the 15–1 San Francisco 49ers. The Bears did improve on that record, and put together what would be considered by many football historians one of the greatest seasons in NFL history.

Winston N. Moss is an American former professional football player, coach and executive. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL).

Richard Eugene McGeorge is an American former professional football player who was a tight end for nine seasons with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL).

Jerry Wayne Crafts is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles. He also played in the World League of American Football, XFL, Canadian Football League and Arena Football League. He is the only person to have been involved with teams that played in the championship games of each of the aforementioned Leagues. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma for Barry Switzer and the University of Louisville.

Kenneth Lee Stills Sr. is an American former professional football safety in the National Football League (NFL). He is the father of American football wide receiver Kenny Stills.

Dorian Brew is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback from 1996 to 2002.

Timothy Frederick Lester is an American football coach who is the offensive coordinator at the University of Iowa football. He was previously on the Green Bay Packers coaching staff. Prior to that, Lester was the head football coach at Western Michigan University from 2017 to 2022. He played quarterback at Western Michigan from 1996 to 1999 and professionally for the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL in 2001. He then served as the head football coach at Saint Joseph's College in 2004 and at Elmhurst College from 2008 to 2012.

Christopher Perez is an American former professional football offensive tackle who played six seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Memphis Mad Dogs, Toronto Argonauts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and BC Lions. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 1992 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Kansas and attended William Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois. Perez was also a member of the New England Patriots, Phoenix Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Barcelona Dragons and Chicago Enforcers.

References

  1. ↑ "Chicago Enforcers Logo Sheet". SSUR.org. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  2. ↑ "XFL Week 2: Chicago Enforcers vs LA Xtreme - Double OT with Bonus Coverage". YouTube . Archived from the original on 2016-03-16. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
  3. ↑ "XFL May Bring Buddyball to Soldier Field"; Greg Couch, Chicago Sun-Times; June 13, 2000
  4. ↑ https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/heisman-1993.html
  5. ↑ "Sports Business Journal". Archived from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  6. ↑ "XFL Standings". USA Today . May 12, 2001. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  7. ↑ "2001 Enforcers Final Regular Season Stats". Archived from the original on 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.