 | |
| Founded | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 2001 |
| Based in | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| Home stadium | Giants Stadium |
| Head coach | Rusty Tillman |
| General manager | Drew Pearson |
| Owner(s) | World Wrestling Federation |
| League | XFL |
| Division | Eastern |
| Colors | Royal blue, silver, black [1] |
The New York/New Jersey Hitmen were an American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Hitmen were the members of the Eastern Division of the XFL. The team played their home games in Giants Stadium of the Meadowlands Sports Complex.
The team's general manager was former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, and New Jersey native, Drew Pearson.
The Hitmen were part of the Eastern Division with the Birmingham Thunderbolts, Orlando Rage and Chicago Enforcers. They finished in 3rd place with a 4-6 record. The head coach was former NFL assistant Rusty Tillman, who was not a fan of the league's gimmicks or personalities – specifically commentator Jesse Ventura, who called him "Gutless Rusty" on a regular basis, as he felt that Tillman's coaching style was too timid. Tillman, ever the professional, brushed off the jabs by Ventura and refused to respond. In the end, Ventura's attempts to goad him failed.
The Hitmen were one of the teams to play in the XFL's inaugural game. Tens of millions of viewers watched the Hitmen, who displayed a stunning lack of competence against the Las Vegas Outlaws in the contest (including a particularly ugly missed field goal and numerous miscues from starting quarterback and New York native Charles Puleri), lose 19–0. The Hitmen's poor performance in that game was a major factor in fan backlash against the league in the weeks that followed and a prime example of the league's failure to live up to expectations; the team benched Puleri in favor of Wally Richardson by Week 3 in hopes of salvaging the season.
The Hitmen's average attendance of roughly 28,000 fans per game was second-highest in the league, behind only the San Francisco Demons.
In December 2018, a revival of the XFL announced its intent to return to East Rutherford. The new team was named the New York Guardians.
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 3rd Eastern | -- |
| Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, February 4, 2001 | at Las Vegas Outlaws | L 0–19 | 0–1 | Sam Boyd Stadium |
| Sunday, February 11, 2001 | Birmingham Thunderbolts | L 12–19 | 0–2 | Giants Stadium |
| Sunday, February 18, 2001 | Orlando Rage | L 12–18 | 0–3 | Giants Stadium |
| Saturday, February 24, 2001 | at Chicago Enforcers | W 13–0 | 1–3 | Soldier Field |
| Saturday, March 3, 2001 | Los Angeles Xtreme | L 7–22 | 1–4 | Giants Stadium |
| Sunday, March 11, 2001 | at San Francisco Demons | W 20–12 | 2–4 | Pacific Bell Park |
| Saturday, March 17, 2001 | Memphis Maniax | W 16–15 | 3–4 | Giants Stadium |
| Sunday, March 25, 2001 | at Orlando Rage | L 12–17 | 3–5 | Florida Citrus Bowl |
| Saturday, March 31, 2001 | Chicago Enforcers | L 18–23 | 3–6 | Giants Stadium |
| Sunday, April 8, 2001 | at Birmingham Thunderbolts | W 22–0 | 4–6 | Legion Field |
| Eastern Division | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | ||
| Orlando Rage | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | 207 | 162 | L1 | ||
| Chicago Enforcers | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | 163 | 178 | W1 | ||
| New York/New Jersey Hitmen | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | 110 | 145 | W1 | ||
| Birmingham Thunderbolts | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | 131 | 217 | L7 | ||
| Quarterbacks Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
| Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
| Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
| Reserve lists
| ||||||
Rushing yards: 328, Joe Aska.
Receiving yards: 404, Kirby Dar Dar.
Passing yards: 804, Wally Richardson.
| 2001 New York/New Jersey Hitmen staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams
| |||||
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 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.
The Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the XFL. They played in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, San Francisco Demons and Memphis Maniax. They played their home games at Sam Boyd Stadium. On February 3, 2001, The Outlaws hosted the first nationally televised XFL game on NBC against the New York/New Jersey Hitmen.
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.
The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of WWE and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. NBC dropped the XFL after the first season in 2001 due to dismal ratings, and the dissolution of the league was announced shortly afterwards.
The Orlando Rage was an American football team based in Orlando, Florida as part of the XFL, begun by Vince McMahon of the World Wrestling Federation and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.
The Philadelphia Soul were a professional arena football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and competed in the Arena Football League (AFL). The Soul made five ArenaBowl appearances, winning their first appearance and losing their next two appearances. The Soul won in their fourth appearance, against the Rattlers in 2016, winning 56–42. They also won in their fifth appearance in 2017 against the Tampa Bay Storm, winning 44–40.
The Cleveland Gladiators were an arena football team based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, and members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The Gladiators played their home games at Quicken Loans Arena, which they shared with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association and the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League. The franchise was originally based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and then later in Las Vegas, Nevada, before relocating to Cleveland for the 2008 AFL season. The Gladiators qualified for the playoffs eight times in their history, reaching the ArenaBowl in 2014.
Kevin Bernard Gilbride is an American football head coach. He was a coach for twenty years in the NFL, spending seven of them as the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants, with whom he earned two Super Bowl rings. From 1997 to 1998, he was the head coach for the San Diego Chargers. Most recently, Gilbride served as the head coach for the New York Guardians of the XFL.
Joe Aska is a former American football running back who played for the Oakland Raiders and the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League, as well as the New York/New Jersey Hitmen of the XFL.
Russell Arthur Tillman was an American football player who played linebacker in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins from 1970 to 1977.
Kirby David Dar Dar is a retired American professional football wide receiver. He played college football at Syracuse as a running back. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted rookie free agent in 1995. He also played for the New York/New Jersey Hitmen of the XFL in 2001.
Wallace Herman "Wally" Richardson is a former American football quarterback.
Charles "Charley" Puleri is a former professional football quarterback.
David Catapano is an American celebrity chef, professional poker player, an American football coach and reality television personality. He is known for his mastery in Italian Cuisine and his self-developed "Twisted Mediterranean" style. However, he is most notable for having appeared on a wide variety of cooking TV shows, including the long-running FoodyTV show Italian Style with Chef Catman and Food Network shows such as iron chef and chopped. Over the years he pioneered several catchphrases, including "My Kitchen, My rules!", "Bada Bing!" and "Why, No?" Catapano is an avid poker player and has played professionally and for large charity events. Sometimes billed a Celebrity Poker Player because of his chef profile. For several years Catapano was a successful football coach for Leagues Such as the WPFL, XFL and AFL
As of 2021, New Jersey has six teams from major professional sports leagues playing in the state, with only one team identifying themselves as solely being from the state. The other remaining teams identify themselves as being from the New York metropolitan area with the National Women's Soccer League team having a team name that includes both New Jersey and New York.
The XFL is an American professional professional football minor league, consisting of eight teams divided equally between an East and West division. Seasons run from February to April, with each team playing a ten-game regular season, and four progressing to the playoffs to crown a season champion. It is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.
The New York Guardians are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded by Vince McMahon’s Alpha Entertainment and is an owned-and-operated member of the new XFL owned by Dwayne Johnson’s Alpha Acquico. The Guardians play their home games at Red Bull Arena.
The 2020 New York Guardians season was the first season for the New York Guardians as a professional American football franchise. They played as charter members of the XFL, one of eight teams to compete in the league for the 2020 season. The Guardians played their home games at MetLife Stadium and were led by head coach Kevin Gilbride.
The 2020 Tampa Bay Vipers season was the first season for the Tampa Bay Vipers as a professional American football franchise. They played as charter members of the XFL, one of eight teams to compete in the league for the 2020 season. The Vipers played their home games at Raymond James Stadium and were led by head coach Marc Trestman.
Ryan Albert Collins is a former American football tight end for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League, the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe, and the New York/New Jersey Hitmen of the XFL. He played college football at St. Thomas.
| Eastern Division |
|  | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Division |
| |||||||
| Related articles | ||||||||
