Category: World League of American Football

1992 Birmingham Fire Media Guide from the World League of American Football

Birmingham Fire

The Birmingham Fire were a two-season entry in the World League of American Football (WLAF), the NFL’s abortive early 90’s effort to create a springtime developmental league.

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Orlando Thunder

If you recall the World League of American Football of the early 1990’s at all, chances are it’s for one of two things: the USA Network’s “Helmet Cam”, which put viewers into the heads of quarterbacks about to be bulldozed by 300-lb. linemen, or the blinding fluorescent green uniforms of the Orlando Thunder franchise.

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1991 Montreal Machine Pocket Schedule from the World League of American Football

Montreal Machine

The Montreal Machine were a popular pro football franchise in the NFL-sponsored World League of American Football in 1991 and 1992.  The WLAF was a springtime league that included three European teams, the Machine, and six U.S.-based clubs. Lackluster on the field both years, the team was relatively popular at the box office by WLAF standard. The Machine’s home debut on April 1st, 1991 against the Barcelona Dragons pulled a league record crowd of 53,238 at Olympic Stadium.

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1992 Ohio Glory Media Guide from the World League of American Football

Ohio Glory

This Columbus-based minor league football team in the NFL-backed World League of American Football won just one game in its brief history. But the Glory did help to develop two solid NFL players in George Koonce and Tom Rouen, who each earned Super Bowl rings during their long careers.

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Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks WLAF

Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks

The Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks were a dreadful entry in the NFL’s short-lived spring developmental league, the World League of American Football. With former N.C. State star and NFL MVP Roman Gabriel handling the coaching duties, the Skyhawks endured a winless 0-10 season in 1991. On the novelty side, the Skyhawks featured the very first (and very last) Soviet pro football players. The Skyhawks – and the Soviet Union – would both go out of business before 1991 was over.

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