Houston Gamblers (2022)

Houston Gamblers
Houston Gamblers
Current season
	Established 2021; Play in Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium; in Memphis, Tennessee; https://twitter.com/USFLGamblers
League/conference affiliations
	United States Football League (2022–present) South Division (2022–present);
	Current uniform
Team colors	Black, Gambler red, yellow, white;
Mascot	Ace
Personnel
Owner(s)	National Spring Football League Enterprises Co, LLC, (Fox Sports)
General manager	Robert Morris
Head coach	Curtis Johnson
Team history
	Houston Gamblers (2022–present);
Championships
	League championships (0);
	Conference championships (0);
	Division championships (0);
Home stadium(s)
	Protective Stadium (2022); Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (2023–present);

The Houston Gamblers are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The Gamblers compete in the United States Football League (USFL) as a member club of the South division, and play their home games at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.

History

The Houston Gamblers were one of eight teams that were officially announced as a USFL franchise on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on November 22, 2021.[1] On January 6, 2022, it was announced on The Herd with Colin Cowherd that former NCAA Football Head coach Kevin Sumlin was named the Head coach and General manager of the Gamblers.[2] Houston is the only city in the USFL nominally based west of the Mississippi River and the only team that has a representative team in both professional spring football leagues, the USFL (the Gamblers) and the XFL (the Houston Roughnecks), though the Gamblers have never set foot in Houston, instead playing as a traveling team under the USFL's hub model.

On January 6, 2022, from college head coach, Kevin Sumlin was named the head coach and general manager for the Houston Gamblers.[3] The Gamblers' first season game was on April 17, 2022, against the Michigan Panthers at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. Kicker Nick Vogel made a 37-yard field goal in the first quarter (the first points for the franchise). The Gamblers defeated the Panthers 17–12, winning their first game in franchise history. The Gamblers lost their next seven games before winning for their final two games of the season, and failing to qualify for the USFL playoffs.[4]

In September, 2022, the Gamblers announced that Robert Morris was named their new general manager.[5] In November 2022, the USFL announced that the Gamblers will play at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee for the 2023 season.[6] In February, 2023, Sumlin announced his plans to join the coaching staff of the Maryland Terrapins, this led to the Gamblers hiring former New Orleans Saints assistant coach, Curtis Johnson as their new head coach.[7]

Current Roster

Players

Initially, each team carried a 38-man active roster and a 7-man practice squad, but the rosters were increased to 40 active players and 50 total in May, 2022.[8][9]

**Houston Gamblers roster**
Quarterbacks 11 Kenji Bahar 6 Montell Cozart Running backs 4 Shermari Jones 24 Benny LeMay 29 T. J. Pledger Wide receivers 88 Emmanuel Butler 81 Keke Chism 17 Justin Hall 1 Anthony Ratliff-Williams Tight ends 86 Rodell Rahmaan 42 Clint Sigg		Offensive linemen 65 Jair Joseph G -- Bamidele Olaseni T -- Jakari Robinson G/C 51 Na'Ty Rodgers T Defensive linemen 92 Josh Avery DE 45 Tim Bonner DE 40 Isaiah Chambers DE 99 Damion Daniels DT 55 Jeffery Johnson DT 93 Chigozie Nnoruka DT 50 Guy Thomas DE 59 Reggie Walker DE		Linebackers 15 Ronheen Bingham OLB 80 Chris Garrett OLB 30 Isaiah Pryor LB 27 Marcel Spears Jr. LB 44 Khalan Tolson LB 18 Jeremiah Tyler LB Defensive backs -- Richard Bowens CB 22 Manny Bunch S -- Justin Ford CB 20 Nick Grant CB 31 Jalen Green S 2 Jeremiah Johnson S 33 Elijah Jones CB 5 Bydarrius Knighten CB 25 Dayan Lake S -- Jai Nunn-Liddell CB -- Elijah Rodgers CB 38 Donald Rutledge Jr. DB Special teams -- Gabe Brkic K -- Logan Klusman LS 94 Hunter Niswander P				Reserve lists Unrestricted FAs 86 Julian Allen TE 66 Nick Buchanan C 13 Andrew Galitz P 74 Avery Gennesy T 77 Tyler Higby G 92 Ikenna Onwuasoanya DT 9 Teo Redding WR 7 Mark Thompson RB Rookies in italics Roster updated October 14, 2023 44 active, 8 free agent(s) → USFL rosters

Current Staff

**2023 Houston Gamblers staff**

	Front office General manager – Robert Morris Head coaches Head coach – Curtis Johnson Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks - Eric Price Running backs/wide receivers/offensive quality control - Garrett Chachere Special Teams/Tight ends - Ray Rychleski			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Chris Wilson Defensive line – Kwahn Drake Defensive backs – Brett Maxie Assistant defensive backs/defensive quality control - Zach Shagi

Player History

Current NFL Players

USFL Season	Pos	Name	NFL Team
2022	DT	Dominique Davis	Cincinnati Bengals
2022-2023	TE	Josh Pederson	Jacksonville Jaguars

USFL Offensive Player of the Year award winners

Year	Player	Position	Selector
Gamblers USFL DPOY winners
2023	Mark Thompson	RB	USFL

USFL Defensive Player of the Year award winners

Year	Player	Position	Selector
Gamblers USFL DPOY winners
2022	Chris Odom	DE	USFL

Coach History

Head Coach history

#	Name	Term	Regular season				Playoffs			Awards
#	Name	Term	GC	W	L	Win %	GC	W	L	Awards
Houston Gamblers
1	Kevin Sumlin	2022	10	3	7	.300	-	-	-
2	Curtis Johnson	2023-present	10	5	5	.500	-	-	-

Offensive Coordinator history

#	Name	Term	Regular season				Playoffs			Awards
#	Name	Term	GC	W	L	Win %	GC	W	L	Awards
Houston Gamblers
1	David Beaty	2022	10	3	7	.300	-	-	-	*Co Offensive Coordinator
2	J. D. Runnels	2022	10	3	7	.300	-	-	-	*Co Offensive Coordinator
3	Eric Price	2023-present	10	5	5	.500	-	-	-

Defensive Coordinator history

#	Name	Term	Regular season				Playoffs			Awards
#	Name	Term	GC	W	L	Win %	GC	W	L	Awards
Houston Gamblers
1	Tim Lewis	2022	10	3	7	.300	-	-	-
2	Chris Wilson	2023-present	10	5	5	.500	-	-	-

Statistics and records

Season-by-season record

Note: The Finish, Wins, Losses, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play.

Legend
USFL champions	Division champions	Wild Card berth

Houston Gamblers season-by-season records
Season	Team	League	Division	Regular season					Postseason results	Awards
Season	Team	League	Division	Finish	Wins	Losses	Ties	Pct	Postseason results	Awards
2022	2022	USFL	South	4th	3	7	0	.300	–	Chris Odom (DROY)
2023	2023	USFL	South	3rd	5	5	0	.500	–	–
Totals					8	12	0	.400	(2022–2023, regular season)
					0	0	—	–	(2022–2023, playoffs)
					8	12	0	.400	(2022–2023, regular season and playoffs)

Records

All-time Gamblers leaders
Leader	Player	Record	Years with Gamblers
Passing	Kenji Bahar	1,506 passing yards	2022-present
Rushing	Mark Thompson	837 rushing yards	2022-present
Receiving	Isaiah Zuber	322 receiving yards	2022-present
Coaching wins	Curtis Johnson	5 wins	2023
Sacks	Chris Odom	12.5 sacks	2022
Interceptions	William Likely	4 interceptions	2022

References

"USFL unveils team cities, nicknames and logos for 2022 debut". FOX Sports. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
Stephan Rachuk (January 6, 2022). "USFL Officially Reveals the First Four Head Coaches on The Herd". Pro Football Newsroom. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
Gaydos, Ryan (2022-01-06). "4 USFL teams reveal their head coaches for upcoming season". Fox News. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
Stephan Rachuk (June 19, 2022). "Houston Gamblers Conclude USFL Season with Defensive Win Over New Orleans Breakers". www.usflnewroom.com. USFL Newsroom. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
"USFL hires new general managers for two teams". foxsports.com. Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. October 18, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
""We're Home" – Professional Football Returns To Memphis With Iconic USFL Showboats". www.memphistn.gov. City of Memphis. November 15, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
Sam Young (February 16, 2023). "USFL's Houston Gamblers hire Curtis Johnson as head coach". houstonchronicle.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
"USFL to have a "player selection meeting" on February 22–23". ProFootballTalk. 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
"USFL expands game-day rosters by two, total rosters by five". ProFootballTalk. 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2022-06-01.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] "USFL unveils team cities, nicknames and logos for 2022 debut". FOX Sports. Retrieved 2021-12-18.

[2] Stephan Rachuk (January 6, 2022). "USFL Officially Reveals the First Four Head Coaches on The Herd". Pro Football Newsroom. Retrieved January 6, 2022.

[3] Gaydos, Ryan (2022-01-06). "4 USFL teams reveal their head coaches for upcoming season". Fox News. Retrieved 2022-01-06.

[4] Stephan Rachuk (June 19, 2022). "Houston Gamblers Conclude USFL Season with Defensive Win Over New Orleans Breakers". www.usflnewroom.com. USFL Newsroom. Retrieved February 28, 2023.

[5] "USFL hires new general managers for two teams". foxsports.com. Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. October 18, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023.

[6] ""We're Home" – Professional Football Returns To Memphis With Iconic USFL Showboats". www.memphistn.gov. City of Memphis. November 15, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023.

[7] Sam Young (February 16, 2023). "USFL's Houston Gamblers hire Curtis Johnson as head coach". houstonchronicle.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 28, 2023.

[8] "USFL to have a "player selection meeting" on February 22–23". ProFootballTalk. 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2022-01-05.

[9] "USFL expands game-day rosters by two, total rosters by five". ProFootballTalk. 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2022-06-01.