New York/New Jersey Hitmen

New York/New Jersey Hitmen
Founded 2001
League XFL
Team history New York/New Jersey Hitmen (2001)
Based in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Arena Giants Stadium
Colors Royal Blue, Black, Silver
              
Head coach Rusty Tillman

The New York/New Jersey Hitmen were a short-lived American football team based in Giants Stadium of the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of the World Wrestling Federation and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. Its general manager was former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, and New Jersey native, Drew Pearson.

They 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 Tilman'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, and perhaps contributed to overall decline in viewers for NBC's XFL broadcasts.

NBC dropped the XFL after the first season 2001 due to dismal ratings, and the league folded shortly afterwards.

The name "Hitmen," which implies a hired criminal, was one of the icons of the XFL's short life and the butt of many jokes about the league (quips of teams such as the fictional "Kansas City Shoplifters" coined by Saturday Night Live, for instance). The teams secondary logo features the head of a football player wearing an old style leather football helmet. The name was rumored to have been named after WWE Hall Of Fame inductee Bret "Hitman" Hart, but it was proved not to be true.

Season-by-season

Season W L T Finish Playoff results
2001 4 6 0 3rd Eastern --

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

[1]

NY-NJ Hitmen players

The team's starting quarterback was Charles Puleri for the first several weeks of the season. After a string of losses, Puleri was benched in favor of Wally Richardson.

Team leaders

Hitmen Alternate Logo

Rushing Yards: 328, Joe Aska.

Receiving Yards: 404, Kirby Dar Dar.

Passing Yards: 804, Wally Richardson.

References

  1. "XFL Standings". USA Today. May 12, 2001. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
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