Houston Roughnecks (2024)

Last updated
Houston Roughnecks
AmericanFootball current event.svg Current season
Established November 22, 2021;2 years ago (2021-11-22)
Play in Rice Stadium (Houston, Texas)
Houston Roughnecks 2024 logo.png
League/conference affiliations
United States Football League (2022–2023)
  • South Division (2022–2023)

United Football League (2024–present)

  • USFL Conference (2024–present)
Current uniform
Team colorsNavy, red [1]
  
Personnel
Owner(s) Fox Corporation (50%), Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, RedBird Capital Partners (50%)
Head coach Curtis Johnson
Team history
  • Houston Gamblers (2022–2023)
  • Houston Roughnecks (2024–present)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Home stadium(s)

The Houston Roughnecks are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The Roughnecks compete in the United Football League (UFL). The team is owned-and-operated by Dwayne Johnson's Alpha Acquico and Fox Corporation. The team was a founding member of the USFL, as the Houston Gamblers in 2022, named after the 1980s USFL team of the same name. Though named after the city of Houston, the 2020s Gamblers never played there under that brand, instead playing its home games as the guest of other USFL teams in Birmingham, Alabama in 2022 and Memphis, Tennessee in 2023. When the USFL and XFL merged to form the UFL in 2024, the Gamblers took over the branding of the original Houston Roughnecks that had played the 2020 and 2023 seasons in the XFL and will play in Houston at Rice Stadium.

Contents

History

The Gamblers' logo from 2022 to 2023. Houston Gamblers logo.svg
The Gamblers' logo from 2022 to 2023.

Houston Gamblers (2022–2023)

The Houston Gamblers were one of eight teams that were officially announced as a USFL franchise on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on November 22, 2021. [2] On January 6, 2022, it was announced on The Herd with Colin Cowherd that former NCAA Football Head coach Kevin Sumlin was named the Head coach and General manager of the Gamblers. [3] Houston was the only city in the USFL nominally based west of the Mississippi River and the only team that had a representative team in both professional spring football leagues, the USFL (the Gamblers) and the XFL (the Roughnecks), though the Gamblers never set foot in Houston, instead playing as a traveling team under the USFL's hub model.

On January 6, 2022, former college head coach, Kevin Sumlin was named the head coach and general manager for the Houston Gamblers. [4] The Gamblers' first season game was on April 17, 2022, against the Michigan Panthers at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. Kicker Nick Vogel made a 37-yard field goal in the first quarter (the first points for the franchise). The Gamblers defeated the Panthers 17–12, winning their first game in franchise history. The Gamblers lost their next seven games before winning for their final two games of the season, and failing to qualify for the USFL playoffs. [5]

In September, 2022, the Gamblers announced that Robert Morris was named their new general manager. [6] In November 2022, the USFL announced that the Gamblers will play at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee for the 2023 season. [7] In February, 2023, Sumlin announced his plans to join the coaching staff of the Maryland Terrapins, this led to the Gamblers hiring former New Orleans Saints assistant coach, Curtis Johnson as their new head coach. [8]

Houston Roughnecks (2024–present)

Houston Roughnecks in action against the Arlington Renegades. Roughnecks vs Renegades.jpg
Houston Roughnecks in action against the Arlington Renegades.

On January 1, as part of the merger with the XFL, the Gamblers merged with their XFL counterpart, the Roughnecks. The merged team took on the Roughnecks name and identity (including history and social media presence), while maintaining the Gamblers' coaching staff, player rights and position in the USFL Conference. [9] The team will play in Houston as the Roughnecks did, but renovations to TDECU Stadium, the Roughnecks' home in 2020 and 2023, required the use of a different venue; Rice University Stadium was approached about the possibility prior to the merger. [10] On February 1, 2024, the Roughnecks announced an agreement to play the 2024 season at Rice Stadium. [11]

Current Roster

Players

Houston Roughnecks roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

  • 18 Emmanuel Butler
  •  3 Keke Chism
  • 16 Cyril Grayson
  • 11 Justin Hall
  • 17 Isiah Hennie
  •  1 Anthony Ratliff-Williams

Tight ends

Offensive linemen
  • 72 Cam Carter T
  • 74 Avery Gennesy G
  • 75 Shamarious Gilmore G
  • 76 Brandon Haskin T
  • 78 Braylon Jones G
  • 65 Jack Kramer C
  • 77 Justin Redd G
  • 51 Na'Ty Rodgers T

Defensive linemen

Linebackers
  • 10 Reuben Foster OLB
  • 28 Marvin Moody ILB
  • 55 Gabriel Sewell Jr. ILB
  • 33 Jeremiah Tyler OLB

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists



Roster updated April 17, 2024

48 active, 4 reserve(s)

Staff

2024 Houston Roughnecks staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks - Eric Price
  • Running backs/special teams - Garrett Chachere
  • Offensive line - Bob Connelly
  • Tight ends - Jordan Higgins
Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Chris Wilson
  • Defensive line – Kwahn Drake
  • Defensive backs – Brett Maxie
  • Assistant defensive backs/defensive quality control - Zach Shagi



Player History

Current NFL Players

SeasonPosNameNFL Team
2022DT Domenique Davis Cincinnati Bengals
2022–2023TE Josh Pederson Jacksonville Jaguars
2022LS Tucker Addington Washington Commanders

Notable Players

SeasonPosNameNotes
2024–presentLB Reuben Foster Former San Francisco 49ers Linebacker, 2017 1st Round Pick
2024TE Ryan Izzo Former New England Patriots Tight End, 2018 7th Round Pick

USFL Offensive Player of the Year award winners

Gamblers USFL OPOY winners
YearPlayerPositionSelector
2023 Mark Thompson RBUSFL

USFL Defensive Player of the Year award winners

Gamblers USFL DPOY winners
YearPlayerPositionSelector
2022 Chris Odom DE USFL

Coach History

Head Coach history

#NameTermRegular seasonPlayoffsAwards
GCWLWin %GCWL
Houston Gamblers
1 Kevin Sumlin 20221037.300---
2 Curtis Johnson 20231055.500---
Houston Roughnecks
Curtis Johnson 2024–present413.250---

Offensive Coordinator history

#NameTermRegular seasonPlayoffsAwards
GCWLWin %GCWL
Houston Gamblers
1 David Beaty 20221037.300---*Co Offensive Coordinator
2 J. D. Runnels 20221037.300---*Co Offensive Coordinator
3Eric Price20231055.500---
Houston Roughnecks
Eric Price2024–present413.250---

Defensive Coordinator history

#NameTermRegular seasonPlayoffsAwards
GCWLWin %GCWL
Houston Gamblers
1 Tim Lewis 20221037.300---
2 Chris Wilson 20231055.500---
Houston Roughnecks
Chris Wilson 2024–present413.250---

Records

All-time Gamblers/Roughnecks leaders
LeaderPlayerRecordYears with Gamblers/Roughnecks
Passing Yards Kenji Bahar 2,250 passing yards2022–present
Passing Touchdowns Clayton Thorson

Kenji Bahar

10 passing touchdowns2022

2022–2023

Rushing Yards Mark Thompson 1,150 rushing yards2022–present
Rushing Touchdowns Mark Thompson 17 rushing touchdowns2022–present
Receiving YardsJustin Hall641 receiving yards2023–present
Receiving Touchdowns Isaiah Zuber

Justin Hall

5 receiving touchdowns2022–2023

2023–present

ReceptionsJustin Hall47 receptions2023–present
Tackles Donald Payne 117 tackles2022
Sacks Chris Odom 13.5 sacks2022, 2024–present
Interceptions William Likely 4 interceptions2022
Coaching wins Curtis Johnson 6 wins2023–present

Statistics and records

Season-by-season record

UFL champions† (2024–present)USFL champions§ (2022–2023)Conference champions*Division champions^Wild Card berth#
SeasonTeamLeagueConference/DivisionRegular seasonPostseason resultsAwardsHead coachesPct.
FinishWL
2022 2022 USFLSouth Division4th37 Chris Odom (DROY) Kevin Sumlin .300
2023 2023 USFLSouth Division3rd55 Curtis Johnson .429
2024 2024 UFLUSFL ConferenceTBD13
Total915All-time regular season record (2022–2024).500
00All-time postseason record (2022–2024)–
915All-time regular season and postseason record (2022–2024).500

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References

  1. ↑ "Houston Roughnecks' uniforms, helmet". XFL.com (Press release). December 3, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  2. ↑ "USFL unveils team cities, nicknames and logos for 2022 debut". FOX Sports. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  3. ↑ Stephan Rachuk (January 6, 2022). "USFL Officially Reveals the First Four Head Coaches on The Herd". Pro Football Newsroom. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  4. ↑ Gaydos, Ryan (2022-01-06). "4 USFL teams reveal their head coaches for upcoming season". Fox News. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  5. ↑ Stephan Rachuk (June 19, 2022). "Houston Gamblers Conclude USFL Season with Defensive Win Over New Orleans Breakers". www.usflnewroom.com. USFL Newsroom. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ "USFL hires new general managers for two teams". foxsports.com. Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. October 18, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  7. ↑ ""We're Home" – Professional Football Returns To Memphis With Iconic USFL Showboats". www.memphistn.gov. City of Memphis. November 15, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  8. ↑ Sam Young (February 16, 2023). "USFL's Houston Gamblers hire Curtis Johnson as head coach". houstonchronicle.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  9. ↑ UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE REVEALS TEAM MARKETS AND HEAD COACHES FOR 2024 SEASON. Press release. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  10. ↑ Rachuk, Stephan (2023-07-25). "XFL Issues Statement on Houston Roughnecks Future at TDECU Stadium". Pro Football Newsroom. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  11. ↑ Zuvanich, Adam (2024-02-02). "Houston Roughnecks of United Football League to play home games at Rice Stadium". Houston Public Media. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
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