Professional career
Atlanta Falcons
On December 5, 1990, Hammel was signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad, but was released on December 12. [3] [4]
Dallas Texans
In 1992, Hammel played for the Dallas Texans of the Arena Football League (AFL). In his first season with the Texans, Hammel threw for 28 touchdowns on 157 of 308 attempts for 1,799 yards. Hammel led the Texans to a playoff victory over the Albany Firebirds where he threw four touchdown passes. [7] In 1993, Hammel returned and threw for 39 touchdowns and 2,287 yards.
Fort Worth Cavalry
In 1994, Hammel signed with the expansion franchise Fort Worth Cavalry of the (AFL). General Manager and head coach Michael Trigg was Hammel's offensive coordinator the two years he spent in Dallas. Hammel split playing time with fellow quarterback Kyle Mackey. On the season, Hammel tossed 28 touchdowns while passing for 1,745 yards.
Milwaukee Mustangs
In 1995, Hammel signed with the Milwaukee Mustangs of the (AFL). Hammel followed Trigg's to Milwaukee where he played for the Mustangs for five seasons. In 1998, he threw for a career high 60 touchdowns and 3,100 yards. In 1999, he became the first player in Arena Football League history to pass for 18,000 yards, 300 touchdowns and 1,500 completions. [8]
Florida Bobcats
In 2000, Hammel signed with the Florida Bobcats of the (AFL). He appeared in three games for the Bobcats. [9]
Houston Thunderbears
In 2001, Hammel signed with the Houston Thunderbears of the (AFL), who were a traveling team for the season. [10]
Grand Rapids Rampage
In 2002, Hammel signed with the Grand Rapids Rampage midway through the season where he appeared in two games. In week 12 against the Chicago Rush, he relieved starting quarterback Clint Dolezel and led the Rampage to 20 straight points in a near come from behind victory. [11] [12]
Chicago Rush
In 2005, Hammel signed with the Chicago Rush of the (AFL). In his first start of the season against the Nashville Cats he threw for 223 yards and five touchdowns in a 45–38 victory, filling in for injured starting quarterback Raymond Philyaw. [15] The following week, he won his next start throwing six touchdowns on 21 of 25 completions against the Grand Rapids Rampage. [16]
Milwaukee Iron
On May 28, 2009, Hammel signed with the Milwaukee Iron of the AF2. [18] At 42 years of age, Hammel returned to professional football after not playing the previous two seasons. He was the oldest player in the league. [19] In the season finale, Hammel completed 24 of 35 passes for 317 yards and seven touchdowns against the Albany Firebirds. [20]
Jacksonville Sharks
In July of 2010, Hammel signed with the Jacksonville Sharks of the (AFL). Following an injury to Sharks' starting quarterback Aaron Garcia, Hammell was signed to backup Bernard Morris. He never appeared in a game for the Sharks. [21]
Chicago Rush (second stint)
On August 7, 2010, Hammel signed with the Chicago Rush of the (AFL). Hammel was signed as a backup quarterback for the playoffs. The Rush had been without a backup since starting quarterback Russ Michna went down with an injury. For the playoffs, he did not appear in a game while backing up J. J. Raterink. [22]
Utah Blaze
On July 7, 2011, Hammel signed with the Utah Blaze of the (AFL). The Blaze would be Hammel's 13th and final indoor football team. Hammel started and played the final three games of the season. In game 17 against the New Orleans Voodoo, Hammel found wide receiver Chris Bocage on a game winning touchdown pass in the final seconds. [23] In the season finale against the Cleveland Gladiators, he threw seven touchdowns while completing 31-of-44 passes for 355 yards in a 76–69 victory. [24]
The Chicago Rush are a professional arena football team based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2001, the team qualified for the playoffs 11 out of 12 seasons and won one AFL championship, ArenaBowl XX in 2006. During their history, the Rush won five divisional titles and competed in the AFL Conference Championship six times, including four consecutive appearances from 2004 to 2007. They also had the largest market in the AFL. The team was intended to become members of the third incarnation of the Arena Football League, but due to their collapse and their eight surviving teams jumping to the new Arena Football One, the Rush's membership is on hold. They are the second incarnation of the Chicago Rush team to play Area football. The original team played at the Allstate Arena from 2001 to 2013. They were a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the AFL.
The Grand Rapids Rampage was an arena football team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The team began play in 1998 in the Arena Football League as an expansion team. They were last coached by Steve Thonn. Their home arena was the Van Andel Arena.
Aaron Garcia is a former professional American football quarterback who played 19 seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL), from 1995 to 2014. He played college football at Washington State University before transferring to California State University, Sacramento. After retiring from the AFL, Garcia was named the head coach of the Las Vegas Outlaws in September 2014, and was formally introduced as the head coach of the Outlaws on October 11, 2014. Garcia is married to Bryn Garcia and has five children, Gigi, Bella, Anthony, Christian, and Jaxon.
Adrian Jamal McPherson is an American former professional football quarterback. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He played college football at Florida State before being dismissed from the team as a result of a November 2002 arrest. As a professional, McPherson was also a member of the Indiana Firebirds, Utah Blaze, Austin Wranglers, Grand Rapids Rampage, Tampa Bay Storm and Los Angeles KISS of the Arena Football League (AFL), the Montreal Alouettes, Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and the Jacksonville Sharks of the National Arena League (NAL).
Michael Paul Bishop is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), Arena Football League (AFL), and NFL Europe. He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats, earning consensus All-American honors in 1998. He was selected in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL draft by the New England Patriots.
Damian Deron Harrell is a former arena football wide receiver. He played college football at Florida State University.
Clint Dolezel is an American football coach and former professional arena football player in the Arena Football League (AFL).
Stoney Jarrod Case is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for three teams in the National Football League (NFL) and three teams in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football for the New Mexico Lobos.
Tobin Cornelius Rote was an American professional football player who was a quarterback for the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL), the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos of the American Football League (AFL). He played college football for the Rice Owls.
Allen Beverly "Ben" Bennett II is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears. He also was a member of the Jacksonville Bulls, Chicago Bruisers, Dallas Texans, Sacramento Surge, San Antonio Riders, Orlando Predators, San Jose SaberCats and Portland Forest Dragons. He was a football coach in the Arena Football League (AFL), AF2, and National Arena League (NAL). He played college football for the Duke Blue Devils, earning third team All-American honors in 1983.
Nick Davila is an American former professional arena football quarterback who played in the Arena Football League (AFL). A four-time ArenaBowl champion, and three-time MVP, he played for the Arizona Rattlers from 2010 to 2016 and the Washington Valor in 2018. He also played for the Spokane Shock of the af2 from 2008 to 2009. Davila is of Mexican American descent, and is nicknamed the "Latin Laser".
The 2010 Milwaukee Iron season was the second season for the franchise, and the first in the Arena Football League (AFL), coming from the AF2, which dissolved following the 2009 season. The team was coached by Bob Landsee and played their home games at Bradley Center. For the opening round of the playoffs, the Iron played at U.S. Cellular Arena. The Iron won the Midwest Division to qualify for the playoffs, and defeated the Chicago Rush in the conference semifinals, 64–54. Advancing to the National Conference Championship, their season ended after losing on the road to the top-seeded Spokane Shock, 57–60.
Kyle Rowley is an American former arena football quarterback who played in the Arena Football League (AFL) and the af2. He played college football at Brown.
Bryant Moniz is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback. He last played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is currently the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at his alma mater, Leilehua High School, a position he has held since 2023.
Thomas Grady is a former American football quarterback who primarily played in the Arena Football League (AFL).
Stephen "Steve" Wasil is an American college football coach and former arena football quarterback. He is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Albion College, positions he has held since 2018. He played for the Muskegon Thunder, Texas Copperheads, Albany Firebirds, Alabama Vipers, Kansas City Command and Tampa Bay Storm. He is currently the Offensive Coordinator at Albion College.
Scott Semptimphelter is a former American football quarterback who played five seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Orlando Predators, Nashville Kats, Los Angeles Avengers, Detroit Fury and New York Dragons. He played college football at Lehigh University and attended Holy Cross High School in Delran Township, New Jersey. He also attended training camp twice with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL).
Jeff Loots is an American former professional football quarterback who played eight seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Milwaukee Mustangs, Minnesota Fighting Pike, Albany Firebirds, Oklahoma Wranglers, Chicago Rush, Buffalo Destroyers and Grand Rapids Rampage. He played college football at Southwest Minnesota State.
Anthony Buich is a former American football quarterback who played one season with the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at Eastern Illinois University. He was also a member of the Iowa Barnstormers, Tulsa Talons, Tampa Bay Storm, Wichita Stealth, Nashville Kats and San Diego Riptide.
James MacPherson is a former American football quarterback who played two seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Georgia Force and Grand Rapids Rampage. He played college football at Wake Forest University. He was also a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Colorado Crush, Philadelphia Soul and Green Bay Blizzard.
