Logo of a football team that played in the now-defunct XFL, the Las Vegas Outlaws. The team had a ferocious defense that was nicknamed “The Dealers of Doom”. The league lasted only a single season, in 2001, and some notable Outlaw players included future NFLers Mike Furrey, Kelly Herndon and Rod Smart, who became famous for wearing the name “He Hate Me” on the back of his jersey.
Used from 1995 until 2004, this is the logo of a former football team that played in the World League of American Football, the Scottish Claymores. The Claymores won their only “World Bowl”, signifying the WLAF championship, in 1996. Over the years, their roster included Joe Andruzzi, Jim Ballard, Siran Stacy, Yo Murphy, Dante Hall and Barry Stokes.
Logo of the New York Jets, used from 1964 until 1966, during their American Football League days. It was the beginning of the Broadway Joe Namath era, when the Jets were building toward the Super Bowl upset win they would accomplish in 1969. Weeb Ewbank, who had coached the NFL’s Baltimore Colts, began his second season at the Jets’ helm in ’64,and that season was also the team’s first in their shiny new home, Shea Stadium.
Logo of an old defunct football team that played one season (1974) in the old World Football League, the Houston Texans. They are in no way related to the current NFL franchise in Houston that is also named the Texans. Despite their one year existence, the team boasted a roster of well-known pro football veterans, including Don Maynard, Warren McVea, Sid Blanks, Jim Nance, Jim Kanicki, Joe Robb and Garland Boyette.
This simple logo from the 1930s belonged to the Chicago Cardinals, who shared residence in the Windy City with the Bears until 1959, when they moved to St. Louis. The Cards won a pair of NFL titles while in Chicago, but had only 2 winning seasons in the ’30s. Nineteen members from the Cardinal franchise are enshrined in pro football’s Hall of Fame, including Ernie Nevers, Jim Thorpe, Charley Trippi, John Driscoll, Walt Kiesling and Guy Chamberlin from the early Chicago days.
This is an old logo, used from 1953 until 1967, of a Canadian Football League team, the Calgary Stampeders. Founded in 1945, the club has won a total of 7 Grey Cups, signifying the CFL championship. Their long run included the 1948 season when they went undefeated, capping the perfect year with a Grey Cup win over Ottawa. CFL Hall of Famer Doug Flutie once played for the team, along with a couple of players with colorful nicknames, Earl “The Earthquake” Lunsford and Ezzert “Sugarfoot” Anderson.
Logo of a bygone football team that played in the now defunct United States Football League, the Boston Breakers. The club existed for 3 seasons but played in 3 different cities, originating in Beantown. Former New England Patriot Randy Vataha was a co-owner of the team, and their cheerleaders were known as the “Heartbreakers”. They had a winning record but missed the playoffs in their only season in Boston, but their head coach, Dick Coury, was named Coach of The Year, as he led a team of no-names, featuring 36 year old QB Johnnie Walton, to a decent season. Walton had been out of football for 3 seasons and into coaching when the Breakers brought him out of retirement.
Logo of the Atlantic Schooners, a long-forgotten pro football team that never came to be. The team was to be part of a Canadian Football League expansion in 1984. They received conditional approval but the ownership group could not secure the financing and their bid was withdrawn. The team was to be located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and although the CFL has often entertained the idea of expanding into the Maritime Provinces, the idea has never come to fruition.
Logo of a small college football team that plays in the Sun Belt Conference, the Georgia Southern Eagles. The school began play in 1924 and has claimed 6 small college national championships. Former Eagles who have had pro football careers include Rob Bironas, Fred Stokes, Kiwaukee Thomas, J.J. Wilcox and Jerick McKinnon.
Logo of the East Carolina University Pirates, a college football team that plays in the American Conference. The school played its’ first season in 1932 and this logo was used from 1988 until 1998. Former Pirates who have gone on to careers in the pros include David Garrard, Robert Jones, Chris Johnson, Glenn Bass, Jeff Blake, Earnest Byner, Terry Long, Tootie Robbins and Linval Joseph.