The United States Football League (USFL) was a professional 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.
The Memphis Mad Dogs were a Canadian football team that played the 1995 season in the Canadian Football League. The Mad Dogs were part of a failed attempt to expand the CFL into the United States. They played at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team based in the Detroit, Michigan area. The Panthers competed in the United States Football League (USFL) as a member of the Western Conference and Central Division. The team played its home games at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan.
Samuel Davis Mills Jr. was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers. He also played for three seasons for the Philadelphia / Baltimore Stars of the United States Football League (USFL), where he won two championships in 1984 and 1985. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
Reginald Howard White was an American professional football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. White played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, earning recognition as a unanimous All-American. After playing two professional seasons for the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League (USFL), he was selected in the first round of the 1984 Supplemental Draft, and then played for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and Carolina Panthers, becoming one of the most awarded defensive players in NFL history.
The Memphis Showboats were an American football franchise in the United States Football League. They entered the league in its expansion in 1984 and made the 1985 playoffs, losing in the semifinal round to the Oakland Invaders. Perhaps the most prominent players on the Showboats' roster during their two seasons of existence were future Pro Football Hall of Fame member Reggie White and future professional wrestler "The Total Package" Lex Luger.
Anthony Carter is an American former professional football player who played as a wide receiver for 13 years in the United States Football League (USFL) and National Football League (NFL). He finished his college football career as the University of Michigan's all-time leading receiver. He is also known as "AC".
Larry Coyer was an American football coach. He served as the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL) from 2009 to 2011. Prior to the Colts, he was the assistant head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos and New Mexico State.
Hugh Donell Green is an American former football linebacker who played for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1981 to 1991. He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers as a defensive end, and was recognized as a three-time consensus All-American. Green was selected in the first round of the 1981 NFL Draft, and played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Miami Dolphins.
John Arthur Banaszak is an American football coach and former player. He was formerly the head football coach at Robert Morris University. Banaszak played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1975 to 1981. He is a three-time Super Bowl champion. Banaszak was a starter at right defensive end for the Steelers in Super Bowl XIII and Super Bowl XIV. He later played in the United States Football League (USFL), winning a championship as a starting defensive end for the Michigan Panthers in 1983. Banaszak played for Michigan in 1983 and 1984 and for the Memphis Showboats in 1985.
Tyrone K. McGriff Sr. was an American football guard who played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Pittsburgh Steelers for three seasons. He then played three seasons in the United States Football League (USFL) and was a member of the 1983 USFL champions as a starting guard for the Michigan Panthers, for whom he also played in 1984 before playing the 1985 season with the Memphis Showboats. He was Mr. Irrelevant, as the last pick in the 1980 NFL Draft. McGriff died in 2000 of a heart attack while employed as director of the Gifford Youth Activity Center in Vero Beach, Florida. McGriff was survived by his two children, April and Tyrone McGriff Jr., and wife, Barbara Rollins McGriff.
Gary Lee Shirk is a former professional American football tight end. He played with the New York Giants of the National Football League for seven seasons. He also played in the World Football League for the Memphis Southmen and in the United States Football League for the Memphis Showboats. Shirk played college football at Morehead State University.
Barney Bussey is a former American football safety.
Larry Bethea was an American football defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Michigan Panthers, Oakland Invaders, and Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Michigan State University. He died by suicide after being identified as a suspect in two armed robberies.
William Oliver Roe II was a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints. He also was a member of the Boston Breakers, Memphis Showboats and Birmingham Stallions in the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at the University of Colorado.
Frank Ginda is an American football linebacker for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at San Jose State.
Curtis Lee Anderson is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers. He also was a member of the Michigan Panthers, Oklahoma Outlaws and Jacksonville Bulls in the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Central State University.
The 2023 USFL season was the second season of the United States Football League. The regular season started on April 15 and ended on June 18. The postseason began on June 24 and ended with the 2023 USFL Championship Game on July 1. The league expanded the locations their teams play to four total stadiums, adding Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, and Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.
T. J. Carter is an American football defensive end for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Kentucky and was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He also spent time with the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League (USFL).
Brevin William T. Allen is an American football linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Campbell and was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent.
