The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football team in the United States Football League (USFL) which was based in Tampa, Florida. The Bandits were a charter member of the USFL and was the only franchise to have the same principal owner, head coach, and home field during the league's three seasons of play (1983–1985). The Bandits were one of the most successful teams in the short-lived spring football league both on the field and at the ticket booth. Spurrier's "Bandit Ball" offense led them to three winning seasons and two playoff appearances, and their exciting brand of play combined with innovative local marketing helped the Bandits lead the league in attendance. However, the franchise folded along with the rest of the USFL when the league suspended play after the 1985 season.
The Birmingham Stallions were a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second professional league of American football in the United States in competition with the National Football League. They played their home games at Birmingham, Alabama's Legion Field. They competed in all three USFL seasons, 1983–1985. During their run, they were one of the USFL's more popular teams, and seemed to have a realistic chance of being a viable venture had the USFL been better run.
The 1984 NFL season was the 65th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts relocated from Baltimore, Maryland, to Indianapolis, Indiana, before the season.
Timothy Arnold Spencer is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the United States Football League (USFL) and National Football League (NFL) from 1983 to 1990. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Daniel Buggs is a former American football wide receiver for the New York Giants and Washington Redskins of the National Football League, the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, and the Tampa Bay Bandits and San Antonio Gunslingers of the United States Football League.
Anthony Davis, also known as "A.D.", is an American former professional football player who was a running back. He played in four professional leagues: the World Football League (WFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), National Football League (NFL), and United States Football League (USFL).
James Robert Brooks is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football played for the Auburn Tigers. He played for four teams in the NFL, earning all four of his Pro Bowl selections with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Micheal Curtis Spurlock is an American football coach and former wide receiver who is the wide receivers coach for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Ole Miss.
Thomas Johnson "John" Reaves was an American professional football player who was a quarterback for 11 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 Florida Gators football, and earned first-team All-American honors.
The 1985 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's ninth season in the National Football League, the ninth playing their home games at Tampa Stadium and the first season under head coach Leeman Bennett. The team failed to improve on a 6–10 season, once again finishing at 2–14, the same as in 1983.
Jerious Montreal Norwood is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Mississippi State and is the school's second all-time leading rusher.
Anthony Derrick Allen is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for five seasons for the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He played college football at the University of Washington and was drafted in the sixth round of the 1983 NFL Draft.
Frank Murphy is a former gridiron football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats.
Clifton Smith, Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a running back and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL), Canadian Football League (CFL) and United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2008, and has also played for the NFL's Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns.
Alan David Risher is a former quarterback for the LSU Tigers and the United States Football League (USFL), where he played for the Arizona Wranglers. The USFL was a 12 team league in 1983, so although Risher was drafted 170th overall in the league's 1983 draft, he was actually the team's 15th round pick that year. Risher was the starting quarterback for the Wranglers for most of the league's initial 1983 season. He is known best for directing what is widely acknowledged as the greatest upset in USFL history. He backed up Greg Landry on the 1984 Western Conference Champion Wranglers squad.
Fred Reid is the running backs coach for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a former professional gridiron football running back who played primarily for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was originally signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Mississippi State.
Christopher Alan Faulkner is a former American football tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 1983 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Florida.
Ke'Shawn LaMont Vaughn is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Illinois and Vanderbilt.
Raymond Calais Jr. is an American football running back for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Louisiana, and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Los Angeles Rams and DC Defenders.
B. J. Emmons is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Florida Atlantic, Hutchinson Community College, and Alabama. Emmons has also been a member four different NFL teams; the Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans. In the USFL he played for the Tampa Bay Bandits.
