World League of American Football (1991-1992)
Tombstone
Born: November 14, 1990 – WLAF founding franchise11991 Sacramento Surge Media Guide
Folded: September 1992
First Game: March 24, 1991 (L 19-7 @ Barcelona Dragons)
Last Game: May 23, 1992 (W 41-21 vs. Montreal Machine)
World Bowl Championships: None
Stadium
Giants Stadium (76,000)
Opened: 1976
Demolished: 2010
Marketing
Team Colors: Black, Silver & Gold
Ownership
Owner: Robert F.X. Sillerman
Attendance
Tap (mobile) or mouse over chart for figures. Tilting your mobile device may offer better viewing.
Source: Kenn.com Attendance Project
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NY-NJ Knights Replica Jersey
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Background
The New York/New Jersey Knights were a short-lived franchise in the NFL’s early 1990’s developmental league, the World League of American Football. Largely forgotten today, the Knights at least deserve some modest credit for their earnest-yet-ungainly attempt to resolve the cross-border identity crisis of Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands.
Run & Shoot innovator Mouse Davis was the Knights’ head coach for both seasons of play. But Davis’ offense – helmed variously by Jeff Graham, Doug Pederson and Reggie Slack – never put up the kind of pinball machine numbers that his famed Houston Gamblers and Denver Gold offenses did in the United States Football League.
In Competition
The Knights went 5-5 in their first season and advanced to the 1991 WLAF playoffs. They lost to the eventual champion London Monarchs in the opening round.
The following season the Knights stumbled to an 0-4 start. Davis’ charges caught fire in Week 5 and reeled off six straight victories to close out the season 6-4. But it was too little, too late and the Knights finished outside the playoff picture.
In September 1992 the NFL pulled the plug to the World League after only two seasons of play. Although the European teams proved popular, the weak television ratings and limited box office appeal of the American clubs hurt the league. The Knights were the best draw among the American teams, averaging over 30,000 fans per game in 1991.
New York-New Jersey Knights Shop
Global Fashion
WLAF Logo T-Shirt
Hope springs eternal, it seems, that someone will make professional spring football work in the United States. But even the NFL itself couldn’t make it happen with its own short-lived developmental league of the early ’90’s. Still, there’s never been another league that gave us rivalries like Birmingham versus Barcelona…
This World League of American Football logo tee is available from our partners at American Retro Apparel in both Sport Grey and White. Sizes small through XXXL available today!
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NY-NJ Knights Throwback T from Old School Shirts
New York-New Jersey Knights Video
The Knights host the Sacramento Surge at Giants Stadium on April 22, 1991. Partial game broadcast.
Links
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