San Antonio Brahmas

Last updated

San Antonio Brahmas
AmericanFootball current event.svg Current season
Established July 25, 2022;2 years ago (2022-07-25)
Play in Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas)
San Antonio Brahmas logo.png
League/conference affiliations
XFL (2023)
  • South Division (2023)

United Football League (2024–present)

  • XFL Conference (2024–present)
Current uniform
San Antonio Brahmas UFL Uniform (2024).svg
Team colorsDark gray, yellow, light gray
   
Personnel
Owner(s) Fox Corporation (50%), Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, RedBird Capital Partners (50%)
Head coach Wade Phillips
Team history
  • San Antonio Brahmas (2023–present)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (1)
  • XFL Conference
    2024
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (1)
Home stadium(s)

The San Antonio Brahmas are a professional American football team based in San Antonio, Texas. The Brahmas compete in the United Football League (UFL) as a member of the XFL Conference. The team is owned-and-operated by Dwayne Johnson's Alpha Acquico and Fox Corporation. The Brahmas play their home games at the Alamodome. The Brahmas have a franchise regular season record of 11-11 (.500), the highest win percentage among UFL teams as of its 2024 season.

Contents

History

Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia era (2023–present)

The XFL played its first season in 2020 with eight teams, as a reboot to the league of the same name that played in 2001. [1] After five games, it was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [2] Prior to the league's April bankruptcy, the XFL had begun discussions with San Antonio to relocate one of its eight teams there. [3] It had been unavailable as a market at the time of the league's launching due to the Alliance of American Football placing the San Antonio Commanders (that league's best-attended team) there, and because of the XFL's policy at the time of preferring cities that already had NFL franchises.

After XFL founder Vince McMahon sold the league to a consortium led by businesswoman Dany Garcia and her ex-husband, business partner, and former WWE wrestler Dwayne Johnson, and the league did not play in 2021 or 2022, it was announced the league would return for the 2023 season. [4] In March 2022, rumors of a San Antonio XFL team again emerged after the league hired Reggie Barlow, reportedly to serve as the team's coach; [5] Barlow instead would be assigned to the DC Defenders. The league announced in July 2022 that three teams from the 2020 would be replaced, and five would return, and that San Antonio would be among the three new cities, ultimately replacing the LA Wildcats. [6]

The July announcement revealed San Antonio's head coach as Hines Ward and their stadium as the Alamodome. [7] On October 31, 2022, the logo was revealed and the team name was announced as the San Antonio Brahmas. [8] The Brahma name is of Hindu origin, coming from the Hindu creator god; more directly, the Brahmas name comes from the American Brahman, a hybrid species cross-bred from sacred zebu and American cattle that Johnson has long used as a personal mascot. [9] The XFL Brahmas team jerseys were revealed on December 8; [10] their uniforms will be yellow-gold and grey. [11] In the 2023 XFL Draft, the Brahmas were allocated quarterbacks Jawon Pass and Anthony Russo and used their top pick to select running back Jacques Patrick. [12] [13] On February 22, 2023, the XFL's director of communications Jeff Altstadter announced the firing of team executive Mike Sheehan. [14]

A game between the Brahmas and Houston Roughnecks during their inaugural season in 2023 XFL Houston vs. San Antonio 3.5.23 (4).jpg
A game between the Brahmas and Houston Roughnecks during their inaugural season in 2023

The 2023 XFL season began on February 18, 2023, and featured 40 regular season games. [15] The Brahmas compiled an overall record of 3–7 during their inaugural season, missing the playoffs. [16]

On December 28, 2023, Ward resigned from the Brahmas after finishing with a 3–7 record in 2023, in response to a change in contract structure. Houston Roughnecks Head Coach Wade Phillips replaced Ward, a maneuver that would allow the Roughnecks identity to be cleared and used for the former Houston Gamblers. [17]

In September 2023, Axios reported that the XFL was in advanced talks with the USFL to merge the two leagues prior to the start of their 2024 seasons. [18] On September 28, 2023, the XFL and USFL announced their intent to merge with details surrounding the merger to be announced at a later date. [19] The merger would also require regulatory approval. [20] In October 2023 the XFL filed a trademark application for the name "United Football League". [21] On November 30, 2023, Garcia announced via her Instagram page that the leagues had received regulatory approval for the merger and were finalizing plans for a "combined season" to begin March 30, 2024. [22] The merger was made official on December 31, 2023. [23]

Current roster

Players

San Antonio Brahmas roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

  •  7 John Lovett

Wide receivers

  • -- Ra'Shaun Henry
  • -- Aaron Nelson
  • 10 Justin Smith

Tight ends

Offensive linemen
  • 77 Chuck Filiaga T
  • -- Tyran Hunt G
  • -- Willie Tyler III T
  • 65 Alex Pihlstrom C

Defensive linemen

Linebackers
  • 40 Robert Barnes ILB
  • -- Ikenna Enechukwu OLB
  • -- Jordan Ferguson OLB
  • -- John Morgan III OLB
  • -- Toby Ndukwe OLB
  • 91 Garrett Nelson OLB
  • 31 Nate Wieland ILB

Defensive backs

  • -- Tyler Boatwright CB
  • -- Kaleb Ford-Dement CB
  •  6 Derrick Langford CB
  • 28 Corey Mayfield Jr. CB
  • 23 Jordan Mosley FS
  • -- Chris Steele CB

Special teams

Reserve lists

Unsigned draft picks

  • -- Donovan Jennings T
  • -- D. J. Miller Jr. CB



Roster updated November 4, 2024

56 active, 1 reserve(s), 10 unsigned

Staff

San Antonio Brahmas Staff
Front office
  • General manager – Marc Lillibridge
Head coach
Offensive coaches
  • Offensive coordinator – A. J. Smith
  • Running backs – Marvin Williams
  • Wide receivers/special teams – Payton Pardee
  • Offensive Line – Andre Gurode
 
Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Will Reed
  • Defensive line – Chris Achuff
  • Linebackers – Derrick Berry
  • Defensive backs – Josh Jones

Player history

Current NFL players

SeasonPosNameNFL Team
2024WR Matt Landers New England Patriots
2023–2024G Kohl Levao New York Jets

Notable players

SeasonPosNameNotes
2023QB Paxton Lynch Former Denver Broncos Quarterback, 2016 1st Round Pick
2023RB Kalen Ballage Former Miami Dolphins Running Back, 2018 4th Round Pick
2024DE Tarell Basham Former Dallas Cowboys Defensive End, 2017 3rd Round Pick
2024FS Teez Tabor Former Detroit Lions Defensive Back, 2017 2nd Round Pick
2024WR Cody Latimer Former Denver Broncos Wide Receiver, 2014 2nd Round Pick
2024CB Quincy Wilson Former New York Giants Defensive Back, 2017 2nd Round Pick
2024–presentK Donald De La Haye Current YouTuber, has over 5.7 million subscribers
2024RB Anthony McFarland Former Pittsburgh Steelers Running back, 2020 4th Round Pick
2024CB Cameron Dantzler Former Minnesota Vikings Cornerback, 2020 3rd Round Pick
2025–presentDT Bryan Mone Former Seattle Seahawks Defensive Tackle
2025–presentQB Kellen Mond Former Minnesota Vikings Quarterback, 2021 3rd Round Pick

Coach history

Head coach history

#NameTermRegular seasonPlayoffsAwards
GCWLWin %GCWL
San Antonio Brahmas
1 Hines Ward 2023 1037.300–––
2 Wade Phillips 2024–present1073.700211

Offensive coordinator history

#NameTermRegular seasonPlayoffsAwards
GCWLWin %GCWL
San Antonio Brahmas
1 Jaime Elizondo 2023 413.250–––
2 Jimmie Johnson 2023 624.333–––
3 A. J. Smith 2024–present1073.700211

Defensive coordinator history

#NameTermRegular seasonPlayoffsAwards
GCWLWin %GCWL
San Antonio Brahmas
1 Jim Herrmann 2023 1037.300–––
2Will Reed 2024–present1073.700211

Rivalries

Houston Roughnecks

The Brahmas are in-state rivals with the Houston Roughnecks. The rivalry is billed as the Lone Star Showdown (not to be confused with the Texas/Texas A&M collegiate rivalry also known as the Lone Star Showdown). [24]

Overall regular-season record vs. opponents

TeamRecordWin %
Orlando Guardians 2–01.000
Birmingham Stallions 1-1.500
Michigan Panthers 1-01.000
Memphis Showboats 1–01.000
Arlington Renegades 3–1.750
DC Defenders 1–2.333
Houston Roughnecks 1–2.333
Seattle Sea Dragons 0–1.000
Vegas Vipers 0–1.000
St. Louis Battlehawks 1–3.250

Records

All-time Brahmas leaders
LeaderPlayerRecordYears with Brahmas
Passing yards Jack Coan 1,471 passing yards2023
Passing touchdowns Jack Coan

Chase Garbers

Quinten Dormady

6 passing touchdowns2023

2024–present

2024–present

Rushing Jacques Patrick 443 rushing yards2023
Rushing touchdowns Jacques Patrick

John Lovett

5 rushing touchdowns2023

2024–present

Receiving Jontre Kirklin 614 receiving yards2024–present
Receiving touchdowns Anthony McFarland

Jontre Kirklin

3 receiving touchdowns2024–present

2024–present

Receptions Jontre Kirklin 56 receptions2024–present
Tackles Jordan Williams 150 tackles2023–present
Sacks Delontae Scott 11.5 sacks2023–present
Interceptions Kameron Kelly

Teez Tabor Tenny Adewusi

2 interceptions2023

2024–present

2023

Coaching wins Wade Phillips 8 wins2024–present

Market overview

The Brahmas are the first professional football team in San Antonio since the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football in 2019, who averaged over 28,000 fans per game. [25] The Brahmas join the San Antonio Spurs and San Antonio FC as professional sports teams in San Antonio. The Brahmas also join the San Antonio Gunslingers as football teams located in San Antonio.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wade Phillips</span> American football coach (born 1947)

Harold Wade Phillips is an American football coach who is currently the head coach of the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL). He has served as head coach of the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, and Houston Roughnecks. He has also served as interim head coach for the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and the Houston Texans. Additionally, Phillips has long been considered to be among the best defensive coordinators in the NFL. In his long career, he has served as defensive coordinator in eight separate stints with seven different franchises. Multiple players under Phillips' system have won Defensive Player of the Year: Reggie White, Bryce Paup, Bruce Smith, J. J. Watt and Aaron Donald. Others under Phillips have won Defensive Rookie of the Year: Mike Croel and Shawne Merriman. In Phillips' lone Super Bowl victory, a defensive player would be named Super Bowl MVP: Von Miller.

Willie L. Lewis is an American football executive and former professional player who is the general manager for the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League (UFL). He was most recently the Director of Player Personnel for the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL and Assistant Director of Pro Personnel for the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL. He was the general manager for the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). He previously served as an executive in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 years, including tenures with the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs. Most notably, he was the Seahawks vice president of football operations from 2010 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rashaad Coward</span> American football player (born 1994)

Rashaad Coward is an American football offensive tackle for the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football as a defensive end at Old Dominion. He has been a member of the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, and Houston Roughnecks.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Houston Roughnecks (2020)</span> UFL team based in Houston, Texas

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Houston Roughnecks (2024)</span> Football team in Houston, Texas

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The 2023 San Antonio Brahmas season was the first season for the San Antonio Brahmas as a professional American football franchise. They are members of the XFL, one of eight teams to compete in the league for the 2023 season. The Brahmas played their home games at the Alamodome and were led by head coach Hines Ward.

The 2024 XFL season was the planned third season of the rebooted XFL and the second under its new ownership group of Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Gerry Cardinale.

The 2024 San Antonio Brahmas season was the second season for the San Antonio Brahmas as a professional American football franchise. They were members of the United Football League after a merger between the XFL and the USFL in the offseason. They were one of eight teams to compete in the league for the 2024 season. The Brahmas played their home games at the Alamodome and were led by head coach Wade Phillips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 UFL season</span> Inaugural season of the UFL

The 2024 UFL season was the first season of the United Football League, which was created following the merger of the XFL and USFL, and the fifth season in the combined history of the two leagues, following the 2020 XFL season, 2022 USFL season, and separate 2023 seasons for both the USFL and XFL.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2025 UFL season</span> Second season of the UFL

The 2025 UFL season is the upcoming second season of the United Football League. The Birmingham Stallions are the defending champions where they defeated the San Antonio Brahmas 25–0 in the 2024 UFL Championship Game, the only shutout of the entire season, to win their third consecutive spring football championship, adding to their back-to-back championships in the rebooted USFL.

References

  1. ↑ Carpenter, Les (February 6, 2020). "What is the XFL? The newest professional football league, explained". The Washington Post .
  2. ↑ Yates, Field; Seifert, Kevin (April 10, 2020). "XFL suspends operations, lays off employees and has no plans for 2021 season". ESPN.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ Miketniac, Chuck (April 13, 2020). "SOURCES: XFL called about relocating team to San Antonio days before suspending operations". WOAI-TV . Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  4. ↑ "The XFL returns to the gridiron in 2023: Here's what you should know". American Football International. November 24, 2022.
  5. ↑ PHILLIPS, MICHAEL (March 11, 2022). "Virginia State football coach Reggie Barlow leaving to coach in the XFL". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  6. ↑ Kerr, Jeff (July 25, 2022). "XFL announces eight host cities for relaunch in 2023; no New York, California teams for first time in league". CBS Sports .
  7. ↑ Romero, Gabriel (July 28, 2022). "New XFL head coach Hines Ward ready to bring a championship to San Antonio". mySanAntonio.com .
  8. ↑ Luca, Greg (October 31, 2022). "XFL unveils San Antonio Brahmas identity, logo ahead of 2023 season". San Antonio Express-News .
  9. ↑ Barber, Katy (November 1, 2022). "What is a Brahma? Explaining San Antonio's new XFL mascot". mySanAntonio.com .
  10. ↑ Katz, Dan; Kirkpatrick, Brian (December 8, 2022). "XFL unveils San Antonio Brahmas jerseys". Texas Public Radio.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ Mitchell, Mike (December 8, 2022). "Ranking The XFL 2023 Uniforms From Worst To First". XFL News Hub.
  12. ↑ Scamardo, Peter L., II (November 16, 2022). "San Antonio Brahmas select first-ever players at XFL Draft". mySanAntonio.com .{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ Spicer, Ben (November 16, 2022). "San Antonio Brahmas select their quarterbacks for XFL reboot". KSAT-TV.
  14. ↑ Reports, SBG San Antonio Staff (February 22, 2023). "XFL's San Antonio Brahmas fire GM Mike Sheehan just days after inaugural game". WOAI. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  15. ↑ Sam, Doric (May 17, 2022). "The Rock's XFL, ESPN Announce Broadcast Agreement for 2023 Schedule". Bleacher Report .
  16. ↑ Romero, Gabriel (April 25, 2023). "https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/article/san-antonio-brahmas-biggest-moments-17915273.php". mySanAntonio.com .{{cite news}}: External link in |title= (help)
  17. ↑ Thompson, Stephen (December 28, 2023). "Steelers Great Hines Ward Out as XFL Coach". Sports Illustrated Pittsburgh Steelers News, Analysis and More. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  18. ↑ Baysinger, Tim; Primack, Dan; Fischer, Sara (September 19, 2023). "Scoop: Football leagues XFL and USFL in merger talks". Axios. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  19. ↑ TSN ca Staff (September 28, 2023). "XFL, United States Football League announce intention to merge". TSN. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  20. ↑ Schad, Tom (September 28, 2023). "XFL, USFL confirm intention to merge into single spring football league". USA Today. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  21. ↑ Moyle, Nick (October 18, 2023). "XFL files trademark applications for 'United Football League' and 'UFL'". San Antonio Express-News.
  22. ↑ "We are pleased to have completed the antitrust review process in connection with the proposed merger of the XFL and USFL and intend to play a combined season this spring kicking off on Saturday, March 30. We are now finalizing terms of the definitive agreement and will share more about this new League in the coming weeks". Instagram.
  23. ↑ "USFL, XFL announce merger, formation of new spring football league: The UFL". Yahoo Sports. December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  24. ↑ "San Antonio Brahmas fall to Houston Roughnecks 22-13 in first intra-state XFL matchup". KSAT. March 6, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  25. ↑ Sharma, Ahmed (February 18, 2019). "San Antonio Commanders leading league in attendance". KABB. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
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