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The Arizona Rattlers are a professional
indoor American football Indoor American football, or arena football, is a variation of gridiron football played at ice hockey-sized indoor arenas. While varying in details from league to league, the rules of indoor football are designed to allow for play in a smaller ...
team based in
Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1 ...
. They are currently members of the
Indoor Football League The Indoor Football League (IFL) is a professional indoor American football league created in 2008 out of the merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football. It has one of the largest number of currently active teams am ...
(IFL). The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an
expansion team An expansion team is a new team in a sports league, usually from a city that has not hosted a team in that league before, formed with the intention of satisfying the demand for a local team from a population in a new area. Sporting leagues also ...
in the
Arena Football League The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 season, making it the third longest-running professional football league in ...
and were the third oldest active franchise in the AFL until their departure in 2016. They play their home games at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix, but have occasionally played at Gila River Arena (now Desert Diamond Arena) in neighboring
Glendale Glendale is the anglicised version of the Gaelic Gleann Dail, which means ''valley of fertile, low-lying arable land''. It may refer to: Places Australia *Glendale, New South Wales ** Stockland Glendale, a shopping centre * Glendale, Queensland, ...
when their primary home has been unavailable. The Rattlers are led by head coach Kevin Guy. Since the team's establishment in 1992, the Rattlers have won ten division titles and have played in nine ArenaBowl Championship games, winning championships in 1994, 1997, 2012, 2013, 2014. The Rattlers also won the
2017 United Bowl The 2017 United Bowl was the championship game of the 2017 Indoor Football League season. It was played between the Intense Conference Champion Arizona Rattlers and the United Conference Champion Sioux Falls Storm. The game was played at Denny Sa ...
in their first season in the IFL.


History


Founding and White era (1991–2004)

In 1987, it was speculated that the
Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1 ...
, area would be a target for the newly formed
Arena Football League The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 season, making it the third longest-running professional football league in ...
(AFL). On September 11, 1991, it was announced that
Jerry Colangelo Jerry Colangelo (born November 20, 1939) is an American businessman and sports executive. He formerly owned the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, the Arizona Sandsharks of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the Arizo ...
had been awarded an expansion franchise in the AFL in Phoenix. Colangelo, owner of the NBA's
Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Suns are the only team in t ...
, first approached
Frank Kush Frank Joseph Kush (January 20, 1929 – June 22, 2017) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Arizona State University from 1958 to 1979, compiling a record of 176–54–1. Kush was also the head coach of the ...
to coach his team, but Kush declined the invitation. In October 1991, the team announced that former
Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divis ...
quarterback
Danny White Wilford Daniel White (born February 9, 1952) is a former quarterback and punter for the Dallas Cowboys and an American football coach in the Arena Football League. He has been the color commentator for Cowboys games on Compass Media Networks' ...
would be the franchise's first head coach. In December 1991, the team announced that they would be named the Arizona Rattlers after more than 250 people suggested that the team's nickname should be the Rattlers, while 55% of their responders picked "Arizona" over "Phoenix". In 1992, the Rattlers began with their first two games on the road, and won their home debut in front of a sell-out crowd of 15,505 at
America West Arena Footprint Center (formerly known as America West Arena, US Airways Center, Talking Stick Resort Arena and Phoenix Suns Arena) is a multi-purpose arena in Phoenix, Arizona. Built in the regional population center of the southwestern United Sta ...
by a score of 56–31 over the
Sacramento Attack ) , image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg , mapsize = 250x200px , map_caption = Location within Sacramento C ...
. In 1994, the Rattlers captured their first ArenaBowl championship, with a 36–31 victory over the
Orlando Predators The Orlando Predators were a professional arena football team based in Orlando, Florida and member of the Arena Football League (AFL). The team was most recently owned by Orlando Predators LLC, a company owned by David A. Siegel, and played it ...
. In December 1999,
Gene Nudo Gene Nudo (born April 13, 1958) is a former Arena Football League (1987–2008), Arena Football League Coach (sport), coach for the Arizona Rattlers He had a career record of 13-21, including a 1-1 mark in the postseason. 2011 Inducted into the A ...
, White and Will Meris pursued the purchase of the Rattlers from Colangelo.


Kevin Guy coaching era (2008–present)

In 2008, it was announced that Brett Bouchy would become the new owner of the Arizona Rattlers. After the Rattlers had a 4–12 record in 2007, Brett Bouchy hired Kevin Guy as the new Arizona Rattlers head coach in the 2008 season and the Rattlers improved to an 8–8 record and clinched playoff berth for the first time since 2006, but lost in the first round. In August 2009, numerous media outlets began reporting that the AFL was folding permanently and would file for
Chapter 7 bankruptcy Chapter 7 of Title 11 of the United States Code (Bankruptcy Code) governs the process of liquidation under the bankruptcy laws of the United States, in contrast to Chapters 11 and 13, which govern the process of ''reorganization'' of a debto ...
. The league released a statement on August 4 to the effect that while the league was not folding, it was suspending league operations indefinitely. Despite this, several of the league's creditors filed papers to force a Chapter 7 liquidation if the league did not do so voluntarily. This request was granted on August 7, though converted to a Chapter 11 reorganization on August 26. However Brett Bouchy and a group of investors planned to launch a new league called Arena Football 1 and helped the Arizona Rattlers and the Orlando Predators to become two of the four teams to survive and return in 2010 with Arena Football 1. In early 2010, it was announced that Arena Football 1 was granted the trademarks to the AFL brand and was renamed the Arena Football League. In 2011, after Brett Bouchy was able keep both the Arizona Rattlers and the Orlando Predators alive, he was forced to let go of ownership to one of the teams and that became the Arizona Rattlers. On May 12, 2011, Ron Shurts became the new majority owner of the Rattlers franchise. In , the Rattlers won 16 games in the regular season, a league-record for wins in a single regular season. In the playoffs, by winning the National Conference championship, they clinched a berth in
ArenaBowl XXIV ArenaBowl XXIV was the 24th edition of the championship in the Arena Football League (AFL). The American Conference champion, Jacksonville Sharks, defeated the National Conference champion, Arizona Rattlers, 73–70. It was played on August 12, 2 ...
. They lost the game to the Jacksonville Sharks when Jacksonville quarterback Aaron Garcia threw a game-winning touchdown pass on the game's final play. The Rattlers redeemed themselves the following season, winning
ArenaBowl XXV ArenaBowl XXV was the 25th edition of the championship in the Arena Football League. The National Conference champion, Arizona Rattlers, defeated the American Conference champion, Philadelphia Soul, 72–54. The game was played on August 10, 2012 ...
over the Philadelphia Soul to win their first title in 15 years. In 2013, the Rattlers and Soul met again in ArenaBowl XXVI, with the Rattlers winning yet again, 48–39. This made them the first team since 1995 to win back-to-back championships, and the first team in history to beat the same team for both titles. In 2014, the Rattlers went 15–3 in the regular season after a 14-game winning streak to start the season, and defeated the Cleveland Gladiators in
ArenaBowl XXVII ArenaBowl XXVII was the 27th edition of the championship in the Arena Football League. The National Conference champion Arizona Rattlers defeated the American Conference champion Cleveland Gladiators, 72–32. The game was played on August 23, 20 ...
by a score of 72–32, becoming the first team in AFL history to win three consecutive AFL championships since the
Detroit Drive The Massachusetts Marauders were a professional arena football team that was based in Worcester, Massachusetts. They were a member of the Arena Football League (AFL) from 1988 to 1994. The team was established in Detroit in 1988, as the Detroit ...
of 1988–1990, as well as establishing the largest margin of victory (40 points) in an ArenaBowl. In 2015, the Rattlers went 14–4 in the regular season and made it to the Conference Championships but lost to the San Jose Sabercats 70–67, a team which had twice beaten them in the regular season. This ended their streak of consecutive ArenaBowl appearances at four. In 2016, the Rattlers went 13–3 in the regular season, then blew out the Portland Steel and the Cleveland Gladiators en route to their fifth ArenaBowl appearance in six years, only to lose to the Philadelphia Soul.


Move from the AFL to the IFL

On October 17, 2016, the Rattlers announced they had left the AFL and joined the
Indoor Football League The Indoor Football League (IFL) is a professional indoor American football league created in 2008 out of the merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football. It has one of the largest number of currently active teams am ...
for the 2017 season. Owner Ron Shurts said that it was possible that the AFL would have to go on hiatus in 2017, and wasn't sure the fans would return in 2018 if that happened. The move made Phoenix by far the largest market in the IFL. They made their IFL debut on February 17, 2017, at the defending six-time IFL Champions
Sioux Falls Storm The Sioux Falls Storm are a professional indoor football team based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Storm joined the original Indoor Football League as an expansion team in 1999 as the Sioux Falls Cobras, and first took the field for the 2000 ...
, but lost 40–29. On June 24, 2017, the Rattlers faced the
Nebraska Danger The Nebraska Danger was a professional indoor football team based in Grand Island, Nebraska, and a member of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The team was founded in 2011 by Charlie Bosselman as an expansion member of the IFL. The Danger played ...
in the Intense Conference Championship and won 62–36. They defeated the reigning champion
Sioux Falls Storm The Sioux Falls Storm are a professional indoor football team based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Storm joined the original Indoor Football League as an expansion team in 1999 as the Sioux Falls Cobras, and first took the field for the 2000 ...
50–41 in the
2017 United Bowl The 2017 United Bowl was the championship game of the 2017 Indoor Football League season. It was played between the Intense Conference Champion Arizona Rattlers and the United Conference Champion Sioux Falls Storm. The game was played at Denny Sa ...
on July 8, 2017. On April 29, 2018, the Rattlers defeated the
Cedar Rapids Titans The Cedar Rapids River Kings were a professional indoor football team based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The River Kings joined the Indoor Football League (IFL) as an expansion team in 2011 as the Cedar Rapids Titans and first took the field for the 20 ...
84–83 and earned their 300th win in franchise history. The Rattlers went on to qualify for the
2018 United Bowl The 2018 United Bowl was the championship game of the 2018 Indoor Football League season. It was played between the Sioux Falls Storm and the Iowa Barnstormers. The game was played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. This was the Sioux F ...
, but lost to the
Iowa Barnstormers The Iowa Barnstormers are a professional indoor football team based in Des Moines, Iowa. They are currently members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). They play their home games at Wells Fargo Arena, known in indoor football circles as "The ...
. In 2019, the Rattlers went undefeated through the regular season with a 14–0 record. At the end of the season, their playoff games were moved to Gila River Arena after the Talking Stick Resort Arena closed for renovations. The Rattlers lost to the Sioux Falls Storm 56–53, with coach Guy heavily blaming officiating. With Talking Stick Resort Arena planned to be closed through the 2020 season and possibly into the 2021 season, the Rattlers agreed to a lease at Gila River Arena in the interim. After their 2020 season was cancelled during the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
and the 2021 season was pushed back, the Rattlers announced they would be returning to downtown Phoenix for their 2021 season home games at Footprint Center, formerly known as Talking Stick Resort Arena.


Notable players


Current roster


Retired uniform numbers


Arena Football League Hall of Famers


Individual awards


All-Arena players

The following Rattlers players have been named to All-Arena Teams: * QB
Sherdrick Bonner Sherdrick Deon "Sed" Bonner (born October 19, 1968) is a former American football quarterback who played fifteen seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL). High school years Bonner attended Azusa High School in Azusa, California and was a stu ...
(5), Nick Davila (5) * FB Odie Armstrong (2), Mykel Benson (1) * FB/LB Bob McMillen (2) * WR
Rod Windsor Rodrickus Windsor (born April 24, 1985) is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Western New Mexico University. College career Rod began his college career at Garden City Community Coll ...
(6), Maurice Purify (1) * WR/DB Cedric Tillman (1), Randy Gatewood (6) * WR/LB Hunkie Cooper (4) * OL Kyle Young (2),
Brennen Carvalho Brennen Michael-Kapono Carvalho (born December 31, 1985) is a former American football Center (American football), center. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Portland State Viki ...
(1), Michael Huey (3), Billy Eisenhardt (1), Jordan Mudge (1) * DL
Anttaj Hawthorne Anttaj Hawthorne (born November 15, 1981) is a former American football defensive lineman. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin. Early years Hawthorne attended H ...
(2),
Clifford Dukes Clifford Dukes (born June 26, 1981) is an American arena football defensive lineman who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Michigan State from 2000 to 2004. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the St. Louis Rams in ...
(1), Mike McAdoo (1),
Damien Borel Damien Borel (born June 1, 1993) is an American football defensive lineman who is currently a free agent. He attended (and played football at) Woodland High School and Butte College. In 2012, while at Butte, he tallied 69 tackles and 19 sacks. Bo ...
(1), Dimetrio Tyson (1) * OL/DL Doc Wise (1), Bryan Henderson (1) * LB
Tyre Glasper Tyre Glasper (born April 14, 1987) is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and attended Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, Michigan. Early y ...
(3) * DB Virgil Gray (2),
Arkeith Brown Arkeith Lamonte Brown, Jr. (born May 1, 1986) is an American football defensive back who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Texas A&M University and attended El Campo Independent School District, El Campo High School in El Ca ...
(2), Marquis Floyd (1),
Jeremy Kellem Jeremy Kellem (born June 6, 1989) is an American football defensive back who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Middle Tennessee State University and attended Deerfield Beach High School in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He ha ...
(1) * K Fabrizio Scaccia (1), Garrett Lindholm (1) * OS Hunkie Cooper (2),
Calvin Schexnayder Calvin "Shakes" Schexnayder (; born November 11, 1969) is a former American football wide receiver in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at Washington State. Schexnayder played for the Arizona Rattlers, Tampa Bay Storm, ...
(2), Chris Horn (1) * DS
Cecil Doggette Cecil Doggette (born November 15, 1970, in Queens, New York) is a former Arena Football League Defensive specialist. He played college football at Hudson Valley Community College and West Virginia. In his career, Doggette played for the Columbus ...
(1) * KR Virgil Gray (1)


All-IFL players

The following Rattlers players have been named to All-IFL Teams: * QB Drew Powell (2) * RB Darrell Monroe (1) * WR Jerrod Harrington (1), Jarrod Harrington (1), Braxton Haley (1) * OL
Lamar Mady Lamar Mady (born December 13, 1990) is an American football center for the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He played college football for Youngstown ...
(3), Damian Love (1), Steven Gurrola (1), Kenny Thomas (1) * DL
Chris McAllister Christopher J. McAllister (born June 16, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Avalanche a ...
(1), Nikolaus D'Avanzo (1), Lance McDowell (1) * LB Treyvon Williams (1) * LB/DB Davontae Merriweather (1) * DB
Allen Chapman Allen Chapman (born August 18, 1974) is an American soccer referee and member of PRO. He lives in Utah. Chapman regularly referees matches for Major League Soccer, and has done so since 2012. During an August 2016 USL match in New Jersey, C ...
(2), Davontae Merriweather (1), Dillon Winfrey (2), Tyrell Pearson (1) * K Sawyer Petre (1), Jimmy Camacho (1), Ernesto Lacayo (1)


All-Ironman players

The following Rattlers players have been named to All-Ironman Teams: * WR/DB Randy Gatewood (2) * WR/LB Hunkie Cooper (3) * OL/DL Stacy Evans (1),
Wendall Gaines Wendell Gaines (born January 17, 1972) is a former American football defensive lineman for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 1994. He played college football at ...
(2)


All-Rookie players

The following Rattlers players have been named to All-Rookie Teams: * QB Chad May * WR Tandon Harvey * WR/LB Chris Horn * OL/DL Stacy Evans,
Wendall Gaines Wendell Gaines (born January 17, 1972) is a former American football defensive lineman for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 1994. He played college football at ...
, Bryan Henderson


Notable coaches


Head coaches

''Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the
2019 Indoor Football League season The 2019 Indoor Football League season was the eleventh of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The league played this season with ten teams, up from six the previous season, by adding two expansion teams and two teams from Champions Indoor Football ...
.''


Staff


Team ownership

The Arizona Rattlers introduced Ron Shurts as the team's new majority owner on May 12, 2011. "I have been an Arizona Rattlers season ticket holder since day one and attended the first Arizona Rattlers game at America West Arena. I believe in the team and the Arena Football League," said Shurts. "I want to bring the passion and excitement for Rattlers football back to US Airways Center and the Valley." "Downtown Phoenix continues to grow and the Rattlers will be an integral part of the affordable, family-fun entertainment that the Suns and the Mercury are providing the local community," Shurts added.


Season-by-season


Media


1992–1995

The Very first broadcaster of the Rattlers was KUTP UPN-45. They would televise home & away games, whichever games were not picked up by ESPN, to include playoff games.


1996–2003

KASW-TV WB6 WB61 took over broadcasting the Rattlers.


2004–2008

Starting in the 2004 season, the Arizona Rattlers partnered with FOX Sports Arizona (now Bally Sports Arizona). That first season, they televised 4 games. When the 2005 season came, the Arena Football League announced a partnership with FOX Sports Regional Networks to televise games regionally. In addition, the Arizona Rattlers announced they would also produce games with FOX Sports Arizona separate from the League contract.


2010

After the cancellation of the 2009 season and return of the Arena Football League. The Arizona Rattlers announced a new broadcast deal with KAZT-TV AZTV 7 to broadcast up to eight games of the 2010 season. The partnership ended after one season after KAZT would not renew their broadcast partnership with the Rattlers in the 2011 season.


2011

After major changes of ownership throughout the 2011 season the Arizona Rattlers announced a new broadcast deal in mid season to return to FOX Sports Arizona with some games carried on FOX Sports Arizona Plus.


2012–2014

As the 2012 season approached the Arizona Rattlers would again announced that they would be moving their broadcasts to a new home this time to Cox7 Arizona with longtime Arizona sports caster Kevin Ray and Dale Hellestrae calling the game in the booth with Chris Harris on the sidelines and Lindsay Smith on Social Media. Cox7 was known as the Rattlers best broadcaster by televising all nine of their home games including selected away games that were simulcasted to other teams broadcasts. Cox7 also did Pregame Shows with the Rattlers before every home game showing documentaries and Talking LIVE before the game. The Partnership became a major success for Cox7 the Arizona Rattlers later extended their contract with Cox7 through the 2014 season when the announcement was made in November 2012.


2015–2016

After the major success with Cox7 Arizona, the Rattlers would not renew with the station after their contract expired in the 2014 season and announced they would move their broadcasts back to FOX Sports Arizona, broadcasting up to only 3 home games and one playoff game on FOX Sports Arizona Plus. However, the Rattlers still carried over the same broadcast team from Cox7 Arizona with Kevin Ray, Dale Hellestrae and Chris Harris calling the game. The Rattlers were also seen on National broadcasts on ESPN2 and
CBS Sports Network CBS Sports Network (a.k.a. CBSSN) is an American pay television network owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global. When it launched in 2002 as the National College Sports Network (later College Sports Television also known ...
until 2016 when they left the AFL.


2017–2018

All Indoor Football League games are streamed live on
YouTube YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
. Their games were also still aired on FOX Sports Arizona and FOX Sports Arizona Plus.


2019

In 2019, Arizona Rattlers aired all home games on The CW Phoenix for the 2019 season. The 2019 United Bowl, which was being hosted by the Arizona Rattlers, was televised by FOX Sports Arizona Plus. All Arizona Rattlers games were also streamed on YouTube.


2021

In 2021, Rattler home games began airing on KPHE-TV LATV 44 in Phoenix with Floyd Simmons and
Sherdrick Bonner Sherdrick Deon "Sed" Bonner (born October 19, 1968) is a former American football quarterback who played fifteen seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL). High school years Bonner attended Azusa High School in Azusa, California and was a stu ...
on play-by-play and Joe Pequeno as sideline reporter. All games continue to be streamed on YouTube. All games are also being broadcast on the radio on
KQFN KQFN (1580 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Tempe, Arizona and serving the Phoenix metropolitan area. It is owned by CRC Broadcasting Company, Inc., and airs an all-sports radio format branded as "The Fanatic." Morning and afternoo ...
The Fanatic AM 1580, FM 99.3 and FM 95.9. KQFN, The Fanatic Designated as Rattlers' 2021 Radio Home
Steven Cusumano, Arizona Rattlers website, April 12, 2021
All telecasts were produced by Simmons Media Group.


2022

In 2022, the Arizona Rattlers broadcasts returned to YurView (Formerly Cox7 Arizona), with Floyd Simmons and
Sherdrick Bonner Sherdrick Deon "Sed" Bonner (born October 19, 1968) is a former American football quarterback who played fifteen seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL). High school years Bonner attended Azusa High School in Azusa, California and was a stu ...
continuing to call the games along with Joe Pequeno sideline reporting. All telecasts continued to be produced by Simmons Media Group. Also during the 2022 season, YurView became the new official broadcast home for the Tucson Sugar Skulls. Marking the first time ever the Rattlers and Sugar Skulls telecasts air on the same TV station. .


References


External links

*
Arizona Rattlers at ArenaFan.com
{{Phoenix, Arizona 1992 establishments in Arizona