Chicago Enforcers
 | |
| Founded | 2001 |
|---|---|
| League | XFL |
| Team history | Chicago Enforcers (2001) |
| Based in | Chicago, Illinois |
| Stadium | Soldier Field |
| Colors |
Indigo purple, black, silver |
| Head coach | Ron Meyer |
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 team name references mob enforcers, alluding to Chicago's history of mafia influence and continuing a theme of naming teams with themes of evil, insanity, or criminal activity ("Enforcers" falling into the last of these categories). Their fight song would later become famous as the entrance music for professional wrestler Brock Lesnar, who had signed a contract with WWE but was yet to debut.[1]
The "Chicago Enforcers" name is currently used by the Chicago Police Department for their works team in the National Public Safety Football League.
2001 season
Originally, rumors swirled that former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator and Philadelphia Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan would be hired as the team's coach;[2] ultimately, Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus was hired for the position. However, just before the season started, he resigned to take a position in the XFL office. He was replaced by Ron Meyer, a former NFL head coach from the 1980s who had not coached professional football since 1994 with the Las Vegas Posse.
Among their players was former NFL running back LeShon Johnson, who had played for the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants. He was starting tailback for the Cardinals for most of 1996. He led the Enforcers with 6 rushing touchdowns, which was second in the league. They also had former NFL running back John Avery who played for the Miami Dolphins. Their wide receiver/kick returner Roell Preston (who previously played for the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, and Tennessee Titans) held the distinction of being the only former Pro Bowler (1998 as a Packer) to play in the XFL. The team's starting right guard, Bennie Anderson, went on to be a starter for the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills, and last played professional football in 2006 for the Miami Dolphins.
The Enforcers got off to a slow start, losing their first four games with Tim Lester; at the time, Lester was working as a math teacher and assistant football coach at Wheaton Warrenville South High School in the suburbs of Chicago and played for the Enforcers effectively as a semi-professional player. In week 5, the team replaced Lester with the former Notre Dame Quatrerback Kevin McDougal and the team went 5-1 in the rest of the season (winning their last four in a row), coming from behind to make the XFL playoffs at 2nd place in the Eastern Division. In addition to their potent rushing attack led by league leading running back John Avery, they were also known for their hard hitting defense. They lost to eventual XFL champion Los Angeles Xtreme in the crossover semifinals.
The Enforcers were part of the Eastern Division with the Orlando Rage, New York/New Jersey Hitmen and the Birmingham Thunderbolts. Their radio flagship station was WMVP, ESPN Radio 1000.
Season-by-season
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 2nd Eastern | Lost Semifinals (Los Angeles) |
| Totals | 5 | 6 | 0 | (including playoffs) | |
- Saturday February 3, 2001 L Chicago Enforcers 29 at Orlando Rage 33
- Saturday February 10, 2001 L Chicago Enforcers 32 at Los Angeles Xtreme 39 (2OT)
- Sunday February 18, 2001 L Chicago Enforcers 3 at Birmingham Thunderbolts 14
- Saturday February 24, 2001 L New York/New Jersey Hitmen 13 at Chicago Enforcers 0
- Sunday March 4, 2001 W Las Vegas Outlaws 13 at Chicago Enforcers 15
- Saturday March 10, 2001 L Chicago Enforcers 23 at Memphis Maniax 29
- Sunday March 18, 2001 W San Francisco Demons 19 at Chicago Enforcers 25
- Sunday March 25, 2001 W Birmingham Thunderbolts 0 at Chicago Enforcers 13
- Saturday March 31, 2001 W Chicago Enforcers 23 at New York/New Jersey Hitmen 18
- Sunday April 8, 2001 W Orlando Rage 6 at Chicago Enforcers 23
- Sunday April 15, 2001 L Chicago Enforcers 16 at Los Angeles Xtreme 33 (Semi-Final)
Standings
| 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 | ||
Chicago Enforcers players
- 5 Paul Failla QB (Notre Dame & Indiana (PA)) Failla played minor league baseball in the Anaheim Angels farm system before returning to college and to football with Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Failla saw playing time in the NFL and the Arena FL with the Carolina Panthers and the New Jersey Red Dogs.
- 83 Aaron Bailey WR (Louisville) Bailey was a vet of five NFl seasons before joining the XFL playing with the Indianapolis Colts 1994-1998
- 87 Roell (Goat) Preston WR (Northeast Miss. C.C & Mississippi) Preston played five years in the NFL with five different teams after two seasons each in Atlanta (1995–96) and Green Bay (1997–98) Preston played with three teams in his fifth NFL season starting with Miami then San Francisco and finally Tennessee.
- 24 Corey Ivy CB (Northeast Ok. A&M J.C & Oklahoma) Ivy saw little playing time in the NFL with New England and Cleveland before joining the XFL. After the XFL Ivy played in the NFL for five seasons with two different teams 2001-2004 with Tampa Bay and a year in St. Louis with the Rams in 2005.
- 20 John (Duna) Avery RB (Northwest Miss. C.C & Mississippi) A former first-round pick, Avery played two seasons in the NFL before joining the XFL. Avery played with Miami in 1998 then Denver and Miami in 1999. After the XFL Avery returned to the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings in 2003. Avery is better known for his contributions to the Toronto Argonauts, for whom he played from 2004 to 2007.
- ?? Julian Pittman DT (Florida State) Pittman played in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints in 1998
- 88 Zechariah Lord WR (Guilford College) Lord played in NFL Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals
- 86 Tyji Armstrong TE (Mississippi) A NFL vet of six seasons Armstrong played four seasons in Tampa Bay 1992-95 then a season in Dallas in 1996 before returning in 1998 with St.Louis
- 13 Tim Lester QB (Western Michigan) Led the nation in passing touchdowns his senior year. Lester had been out of football for a fairly long time and had taken up a full-time job as a math teacher at the time he was picked up by the Enforcers.
- 53 Jaime Baisely ILB (Indiana) Baisely was known for his hits on special teams as well as defense. He took advantage of the XFL's rules on fielding punts and was able to time several bruising hits on potential kick returners. One in particular was in Week 6 at Memphis where he flattened Maniax PR Damien Dodson.
- ?? Chike Egbuniwe OLB (Duke)
- ?? Charles Ward DE (Kentucky)
- ?? Jason Bray DB (Auburn)
- 75 Octavius Bishop T (Texas)
Team leaders
- Rushing Yards: 800 John Avery (league leader)
- Receiving Yards: 546 Aaron Bailey
- Passing Yards: 1168 Kevin McDougal
- Passing Touchdowns: 5 Kevin McDougal
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4wdOIJOeQY&t=65
- ↑ "XFL May Bring Buddyball to Soldier Field"; Greg Couch, Chicago Sun-Times; June 13, 2000
- ↑ "XFL Standings". USA Today. May 12, 2001. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
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