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Memphis Express
AmericanFootball current event.svg Current season
Established May 4, 2018
Folded April 17, 2019
Played in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
in Memphis, Tennessee
League/conference affiliations
Alliance of American Football (2019)
  • Eastern Conference (2019)
Team colorsRed, blue & white
              
Personnel
PresidentKosha Irby
General managerWill Lewis
Head coachMike Singletary
Team history
*Memphis Express (2019)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Home arena(s)
*Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (2019)

The Memphis Express was a professional American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. It was a member of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) during its single season in 2019.[1] They played their home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium,[2] and was coached by former NFL player and head coach Mike Singletary.[3]

History[]

The Alliance of American Football announced the awarding of the third inaugural league team, Alliance Memphis, on May 4, 2018.[4] This announcement was followed by the May 10, 2018, announcement of Mike Singletary as the team's head coach.[3]

On July 30, 2018, the Alliance announced team Memphis had signed its first 29 players.[5] On September 20, the league announced four eastern inaugural franchises' names and logos including Memphis as the Memphis Express.[6] The name is derived from Memphis' significance as a mail and cargo transport city being the "World Headquarters" of FedEx, with an airplane being featured in the logo.[7]

On January 5, 2019, training camp opened in San Antonio, Texas.[8] The final 52-man roster was released on January 30.[9] The Express' inaugural game, played against the Birmingham Iron at Legion Field on February 10, ended in a 26–0 shutout loss.[10] Their first home game was a 20–18 loss against the Arizona Hotshots during week 2.[11] Memphis notched their first win on March 2, with a 26–23 victory over the San Diego Fleet at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.[12]

On March 16, 2019, shortly after the Express fell to 1–5 in a 22–9 loss to the Salt Lake Stallions, the team announced they had signed Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Johnny Manziel.[13]

On April 2, 2019, the league's football operations were suspended,[14][15] and on April 4 the league allowed players to leave their contracts to sign with NFL teams.[16] On April 17, 2019, the league announced the cessation of business operations after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.[17]

Allocation pool[]

The Express' assigned area, which designated player rights, included the following colleges:[5]

Colleges

National Football League (NFL)

Canadian Football League (CFL)

Media[]

In addition to league-wide television coverage through NFL Network, CBS Sports Network, TNT, and B/R Live, Memphis' games were also broadcast on local radio by KWNW, an iHeartMedia station branded as 101.9 Kiss FM.[18]

References[]

  1. "New pro football team could boost business in Memphis". WREG Memphis. http://wreg.com/2018/05/07/new-pro-football-team-could-boost-business-in-memphis/. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  2. Froyd, Crissy (August 27, 2018). "Zach Mettenberger and Antonio Andrews reunite in new pro league". Titans Wire. https://titanswire.usatoday.com/2018/08/27/zach-mettenberger-antonio-andrews-american-alliance-of-football/. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Mike Singletary will coach Memphis team in upcoming Alliance of American Football". CBS Sports. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/mike-singletary-will-coach-memphis-team-in-upcoming-alliance-of-american-football/. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  4. "Memphis awarded Alliance of American Football team". Commercial Appeal. https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/2018/05/05/memphis-awarded-alliance-american-football-team/583500002/. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Munz, Jason (August 1, 2018). "Alliance of American Football announces Memphis team has signed 28 players" (in en). The Memphis Commercial Appeal. https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/2018/08/01/alliance-american-football-memphis-signs-sec-standouts-ut-vols/882425002/. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  6. Benjamin, Cody (September 20, 2018). "LOOK: Alliance of American Football unveils logos of four pro teams that will debut in 2019" (in en). CBSSports.com. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/look-alliance-of-american-football-unveils-logos-of-four-pro-teams-that-will-debut-in-2019/. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  7. Munz, Jason (September 20, 2018). "Memphis’ new pro football team now has a name and logo". The Commercial Appeal. https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/2018/09/20/memphis-express-pro-football-team-name-logo-aaf/1363637002/. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  8. Thompson, Cole (January 5, 2019). "Alliance of American Football Training Camp Officially Underway in San Antonio". https://aaf.com/alliance-of-american-football-training-camp-officially-underway-in-san-antonio/.
  9. "Memphis Express sets final roster". Alliance of American Football. January 30, 2019. https://aaf.com/express-determine-roster-for-2019-inaugural-season. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  10. Kercheval, Ben (February 10, 2019). "AAF Week 1 scores, highlights: Trent Richardson scores two TDs after slow start in Iron debut". https://www.cbssports.com/aaf/news/aaf-week-1-scores-highlights-trent-richardson-scores-two-tds-after-slow-start-in-iron-debut/amp/.
  11. "Hotshots come back to become first team with road win in AAF history" (in en). arizonasports (KTAR). February 18, 2019. http://arizonasports.com/story/1844196/hotshots-come-back-to-become-first-team-with-road-win-in-aaf-history/. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  12. Mellor, Cam (March 3, 2019). "ReFocused: Memphis Express 26, San Diego Fleet 23". https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/aaf-refocused-express-26-fleet-23.
  13. Rubino, Dylan (March 16, 2019). "Memphis gets Manziel: Heisman QB joins Alliance". https://aaf.com/news/memphis-gets-manziel-alliance. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  14. Kercheval, Ben (April 2, 2019). "AAF operations suspended, league's future in doubt after eight games of first season". https://www.cbssports.com/aaf/news/aaf-operations-reportedly-suspended-leagues-future-in-doubt-after-eight-games-of-first-season/. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  15. "AAF to immediately suspend operations". April 2, 2019. http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/26423928/source-aaf-immediately-suspend-operations. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  16. Schwartz, Nick (April 4, 2019). "AAF star Keith Reaser becomes first player to sign NFL deal after league shutdown". USA Today. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/04/aaf-keith-reaser-kansas-city-chiefs. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  17. "AAF Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy". Front Office Sports. April 17, 2019. https://frntofficesport.com/aaf-bankruptcy/. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  18. Greer, Jarvis (December 14, 2018). "Local radio station tabbed as Memphis Express home". http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/2018/12/14/local-radio-station-tabbed-memphis-express-home/. Retrieved March 16, 2019.

Further reading[]

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