The
Chicago Enforcers
were an
American football
team of the
XFL
based at
Soldier Field
in
Chicago
,
Illinois
. The XFL was begun by
Vince McMahon
of the
WWE
and by
NBC
, a major television network in the
United States
. NBC dropped XFL broadcasts after the first season in 2001 due to dismal ratings, and the league was dissolved shortly thereafter.
The team name references
mob enforcers
, alluding to Chicago's history of
mafia
influence. The team's
fight song
would later become the entrance music for professional wrestler
Brock Lesnar
who had signed a contract with the WWE but was yet to debut.
[2]
The "Chicago Enforcers" name is used by the
Chicago Police Department
for their
works team
in the National Public Safety Football League.
2001 season
[
edit
]
Originally, rumors swirled that former
Chicago Bears
defensive coordinator
and
Philadelphia Eagles
head coach
Buddy Ryan
would be hired as the team's coach.
[3]
Ultimately,
Hall of Fame
linebacker
Dick Butkus
was hired for the position. However, just before the season started, he resigned to take a position in the XFL office. He was replaced by
Ron Meyer
, a former NFL head coach from the 1980s who had not coached professional football since 1994 with the
Las Vegas Posse
.
Among their players was former
NFL
running back
LeShon Johnson
, who had played for the
Green Bay Packers
,
Arizona Cardinals
and the
New York Giants
. He was starting
tailback
for the Cardinals for most of 1996. He led the Enforcers with 6 rushing
touchdowns
, which was second in the league. They also had former NFL running back
John Avery
who played for the
Miami Dolphins
. Their wide receiver/kick returner
Roell Preston
(who previously played for the
Atlanta Falcons
,
Green Bay Packers
,
Miami Dolphins
,
San Francisco 49ers
, and
Tennessee Titans
) held the distinction of being the only former
Pro Bowler
(1998 as a Packer) to play in the XFL. The team's starting right guard,
Bennie Anderson
, went on to be a starter for the
Baltimore Ravens
and
Buffalo Bills
, and last played professional football in 2006 for the
Miami Dolphins
.
The Enforcers got off to a slow start, losing their first four games with
Tim Lester
; at the time, Lester was working as a math teacher and assistant football coach at
Wheaton Warrenville South High School
in the suburbs of Chicago and played for the Enforcers effectively as a
semi-professional
player. In week 5, the team replaced Lester with the former Notre Dame Quatrerback
Kevin McDougal
, cut Lester, and brought in
Craig Whelihan
(an established NFL backup who had been third string on the
Memphis Maniax
at the time) to serve as McDougal's backup. The team went 5?1 in the rest of the season (winning their last four in a row), coming from behind to make the XFL playoffs at 2nd place in the Eastern Division. In addition to their potent rushing attack led by league leading running back John Avery, they were also known for their hard hitting defense. They lost to eventual XFL champion
Los Angeles Xtreme
in the crossover semifinals.
The Enforcers were part of the Eastern Division with the
Orlando Rage
,
New York/New Jersey Hitmen
and the
Birmingham Thunderbolts
. Their radio flagship station was
WMVP
, ESPN Radio 1000.
Poor attendance and the pending renovation of Soldier Field would have meant that, even if the league had continued, the Enforcers would have not; the league was exploring relocating the team to
Milwaukee
at the time of the league's closure.
[4]
Season-by-season
[
edit
]
Season records
Season
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
Finish
|
Playoff results
|
2001
|
5
|
5
|
0
|
2nd Eastern
|
Lost Semifinals (
Los Angeles
)
|
Totals
|
5
|
6
|
0
|
(including playoffs)
|
Schedule
[
edit
]
Regular season
[
edit
]
Post-season
[
edit
]
Standings
[
edit
]
[5]
Roster
[
edit
]
2001 Chicago Enforcers final roster
|
|
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
|
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
|
Linebackers
- 53
Jaime Baisely ILB
- 46
Chike Egbuniwe OLB
- 55
Kivuusama Mays
- 49
Carlos Timmons
Defensive backs
Special teams
|
|
Reserve lists
Practice squad
Rookies in italics
, 7 practice squad
|
Team leaders
[
edit
]
- Rushing yards
: 800
John Avery
(
league leader
)
- Receiving yards
: 546 Aaron Bailey
- Passing yards
: 1168 Kevin McDougal
- Passing touchdowns
: 5 Kevin McDougal
References
[
edit
]
|
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Eastern Division
| Teams
| |
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Head coaches
| |
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Stadiums
| |
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| |
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Western Division
| Teams
| |
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Head coaches
| |
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Stadiums
| |
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Related articles
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