Memphis Express

Last updated
Memphis Express
MemphisExpress.png
Established2018
Folded2019
Based in Memphis, Tennessee
Home stadium Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Head coach Mike Singletary
General manager Will Lewis
Team presidentKosha Irby
League Alliance of American Football
DivisionEastern Conference (2019)
ColorsRed, blue & white
   

The Memphis Express was a professional American football franchise based in Memphis, Tennessee. It was a member of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) during its single season in 2019. [1] They played their home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, [2] and were coached by former NFL player and head coach Mike Singletary. [3]

Contents

On April 2, 2019, the league's football operations were reportedly suspended, [4] [5] and on April 4 the league allowed players to leave their contracts to sign with NFL teams. [6]

History

The Alliance of American Football announced the awarding of the third inaugural league team, Alliance Memphis, on May 4, 2018. [7] This announcement was followed by the May 10, 2018, announcement of Mike Singletary as the team's head coach. [3]

On July 30, 2018, the Alliance announced team Memphis had signed its first 29 players. [8] On September 20, the league announced four eastern inaugural franchises' names and logos including Memphis as the Memphis Express. [9] The name is derived from Memphis' significance as a mail and cargo transport city being the "World Headquarters" of FedEx (formerly Federal Express), with an airplane being featured in the logo. [10] (FedEx CEO Frederick W. Smith had previously owned the Memphis Mad Dogs pro football team in the 1990s; as the AAF was a single-entity league that never progressed to selling individual franchises as originally planned, Smith had no involvement or investment with the Express, despite the use of the Express name and imagery.)

On January 5, 2019, training camp opened in San Antonio, Texas. [11] The final 52-man roster was released on January 30. [12] The Express' inaugural game, played against the Birmingham Iron at Legion Field on February 10, ended in a 26–0 shutout loss. [13] Their first home game was a 20–18 loss against the Arizona Hotshots during week 2. [14] Memphis notched their first win on March 2, with a 26–23 victory over the San Diego Fleet at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. [15]

On March 16, 2019, shortly after the Express fell to 1–5 in a 22–9 loss to the Salt Lake Stallions, the team announced they had signed Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Johnny Manziel. [16]

On April 2, 2019, the league's football operations were suspended, [4] [5] and on April 4 the league allowed players to leave their contracts to sign with NFL teams. [6] On April 17, 2019, the league announced the cessation of business operations after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. [17]

Final Roster

2019 Memphis Express final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists

Rights list

  • -- Jarvion Franklin RB


50 Active, 14 Inactive

Allocation pool

The Express' assigned area, which designated player rights, included the following colleges: [8]

Staff

Memphis Express staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
  • Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – David Lee
  • Wide receivers – Bobby Blizzard
  • Offensive line – Steve Marshall
 
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
  • Special teams coordinator/Running backs – Ty Knott

2019 season

2019 Memphis Express season
Owner Alliance of American Football
General manager Will Lewis
Head coach Mike Singletary
Home field Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Results
Record2–6
League place3rd (tie), Eastern Conference

Final standings

Eastern Conference
ClubW–LPCTCONFPFPADIFFSOSSOVSTK
(x)Orlando Apollos 7–1.8755–0236136100.406.375W2
(x)Birmingham Iron 5–3.6253–216513332.406.300W1
(e)Memphis Express 2–6.2501–4152194-42.578.500L1
(e)Atlanta Legends 2–6.2501–488213-125.609.438L3
Western Conference
ClubW–LPCTCONFPFPADIFFSOSSOVSTK
San Antonio Commanders 5–3.6253–21581544.516.450L1
Arizona Hotshots 5–3.6253–218614442.469.500W3
San Diego Fleet 3–5.3752–3158161-3.469.417L3
Salt Lake Stallions 3–5.3752–3135143-8.547.417W1
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention

Schedule

Preseason

WeekDayDateOpponentResultsLocation
ScoreRecord
MondayJanuary 28at Salt Lake Stallions L 22–29 Alamodome

Regular season

All times Central

WeekDayDateKickoffTVOpponentResultsLocation
ScoreRecord
1SundayFebruary 103:00 p.m. CBSSN at Birmingham Iron L 0–260–1 Legion Field
2SaturdayFebruary 167:00 p.m. NFLN Arizona Hotshots L 18–200–2 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
3SaturdayFebruary 237:00 p.m.NFLNat Orlando Apollos L 17–210–3 Spectrum Stadium
4SaturdayMarch 23:00 p.m. B/R Live San Diego Fleet W 26–231–3Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
5SundayMarch 103:00 p.m.CBSSNat Atlanta Legends L 20–231–4 Georgia State Stadium
6SaturdayMarch 163:00 p.m.B/R Liveat Salt Lake Stallions L 9–221–5 Rice–Eccles Stadium
7SundayMarch 247:00 p.m.NFLN Birmingham Iron W 31–25 OT2–5Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
8SaturdayMarch 301:00 p.m.TNT Orlando Apollos L 31–342–6Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
9SaturdayApril 611:00 a.m. CBS at San Antonio Commanders Not played Alamodome
10SaturdayApril 137:00 p.m.NFLN Atlanta Legends Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium

Changed from original time and/or network. [18] [19]
[20]

Game summaries

Week 1: at Birmingham

Week One: Memphis Express at Birmingham Iron – Game summary
Period1234Total
Express00000
Iron3601726

at Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama

Game information

Week 2: Arizona

Week Two: Arizona Hotshots at Memphis Express – Game summary
Period1234Total
Hotshots0061420
Express930618

at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee

Game information

Week 3: at Orlando

Week Three: Memphis Express at Orlando Apollos – Game summary
Period1234Total
Express0061117
Apollos906621

at Spectrum Stadium, Orlando, Florida

Game information

Week 4: San Diego

Week Four: San Diego Fleet at Memphis Express – Game summary
Period1234Total
Fleet1460323
Express31201126

at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee

Game information

Week 5: at Atlanta

Week Five: Memphis Express at Atlanta Legends – Game summary
Period1234Total
Express668020
Legends3110923

at Georgia State Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 6: at Salt Lake

Week Six: Memphis Express at Salt Lake Stallions – Game summary
Period1234Total
Express09009
Stallions1630322

at Rice–Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah

Game information

Week 7: Birmingham

Week Seven: Birmingham Iron at Memphis Express – Game summary
Period1234OTTotal
Iron8836025
Express08611631

at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee

Game information

This was the first overtime game in AAF history. Despite newly signed quarterback Johnny Manziel playing a few series for the Express, starter Brandon Silvers led the team to a comeback victory, keeping its slim postseason chances alive. [28]

Week 8: Orlando

Week Eight: Orlando Apollos at Memphis Express – Game summary
Period1234Total
Apollos31181234
Express0914831

at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee

Game information

Media

In addition to league-wide television coverage through NFL Network, CBS Sports Network, TNT, and B/R Live, Memphis' games were also broadcast on local radio by KWNW, an iHeartMedia station branded as 101.9 Kiss FM. [30]

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References

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Further reading