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Arizona Outlaws
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Arizona Outlaws
Arizona Outlaws logo
Logo
General information
Founded1983
Folded1986
HeadquarteredSun Devil Stadium
in Tempe, Arizona
ColorsBlack, red, white
(1984 – as Oklahoma Outlaws)
     
Black, Red, Copper, White
(1985 – as Arizona Outlaws)
       
Personnel
Owner1984–1986 William R. Tatham Sr.
Head coach1984 Woody Widenhofer (6–12)
1985 Frank Kush (8–10)
Team history
  • Oklahoma Outlaws (1984)
  • Arizona Outlaws (1985)
Home fields
League / conference affiliations
United States Football League (1984–1985)
  • Western Conference (1984–1985)
    • Central Division (1984)

The Arizona Outlaws were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s. They were owned by Fresno banker and real estate magnate William Tatham Sr., who had briefly owned the Portland Thunder (WFL) of the World Football League.

During their first season, the team played as the Oklahoma Outlaws. They became the Arizona Outlaws for their second season.

History

[edit]

1984 Oklahoma Outlaws

[edit]

The Outlaws were originally slated to play in San Diego. However, under pressure from baseball's Padres, the NFL's Chargers and the NASL's Sockers, the city refused to grant Tatham a lease for Jack Murphy Stadium. Scrambling for a home, Tatham seriously considered playing in Honolulu for its inaugural 1984 season. However, he settled on Tulsa, Oklahoma—even though the city had not even been included in a list of possible expansion sites for the USFL.

Tatham was initially skeptical about basing a team in Tulsa. It was only the 60th-largest television market, which would have made it by far the smallest market in the league. Moreover, the only viable facility, the University of Tulsa's Skelly Stadium, needed major renovations in order to bring it to something approaching professional standards.[1]

However, Tatham had roots in Oklahoma, and eventually concluded that putting his team there would give something back to the state. He christened his team the Oklahoma Outlaws. The club was the second major-league sports team to play in the state, after the North American Soccer League's Tulsa Roughnecks.

On July 7, 1983, at the same time the USFL announced the expansion team, Tatham introduced Hall of Fame member Sid Gillman, who came out of retirement at age 71 to serve as the Director of Operations.[2] Gillman signed a roster of players, but was fired by Tatham in December in a dispute over finances.

In what proved to be a harbinger of things to come, Tatham and his son, Bill Jr.–who was tapped as general manager despite being fresh out of law school–discovered soon after the ink dried on his lease with TU that school officials had vastly inflated attendance figures for Tulsa Golden Hurricane football games in hopes of maintaining their Division I-A status. The Tathams had been led to believe that the Hurricane drew 35,000–40,000 people per game, which would have been more than respectable by USFL standards. However, business manager Bill Wall, TU's former athletic director, told them after the season opener that the Hurricane actually drew 17,000 per game.[1][3]

Fortunately for the Tathams, they had a lifeline in Gillman's highest-profile signing, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Doug Williams, who bolted to the upstart league when the Bucs rejected his offer for a significant pay raise out of hand. Years later, Williams said that he was won over when the Tathams "treated me like a human," rather than "a piece of cattle in a stockyard." They signed him to a $3 million contract, along with a $1 million signing bonus, which made him easily one of the highest-paid players in either league.[1] By comparison, while with the Bucs, he made less than several backups, and their offer for 1984 would have still made him one of the lowest-paid starters in the league. Williams was not a very refined, efficient, or consistent passer at that point in addition to being a little rusty, but had a big arm and a knack for making plays.

Along with Williams, the Outlaws roster included rookie Oklahoma State star RB Ernest Anderson. Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Woody Widenhofer coached the team. A young out-of-work oil worker, defensive end and part-time musician named Toby Covel played during the Outlaws' preseason but failed to make the team and played that season with the Oklahoma City Drillers, an unofficial farm team; under his middle name Toby Keith, he eventually emerged as a major country music star.

The team only drew 15,937 to their first game, a home opener versus the expansion Pittsburgh Maulers on a rainy and cold spring day. (Home openers in the USFL for most teams were the highest attendance games of the season.) Two weeks into the season, Bill Jr. announced that Skelly Stadium was inadequate for the Outlaws' needs and that they would be playing elsewhere in 1985.

The Outlaws were competitive for much of the first half of the season, starting out 6–2 off the strength of Williams' arm. Unfortunately, the team could not consistently run the ball. (The Outlaws finished with a league worst total of 1537 total rushing yards --- almost 200 yards less than the 17th ranked team.) Two blowout losses sent the team into a downward spiral. They did not win another game that season, dropping 10 straight to finish 6–12.

In spite of those factors, the Outlaws averaged 21,038 fans (in a 40,000-seat stadium), 14th in the league. It might have been even higher if not for brutally cold and wet early-season weather and what amounted to season-long lame duck status. While Tulsa as a USFL host city had a number of legitimate problems, fan turnout was surprisingly respectable, especially compared to the unsustainable attendance numbers seen by USFL teams in Chicago (7,455), Washington (7,694) and Los Angeles (15,361). They were also one of eight teams whose average attendance was 45 percent or more of listed capacity. The Outlaws would draw decent crowds of 25,403, 21,625, 22,017 and 29,324 later in the season.

During the team's season in Tulsa, all six of their wins came during inclement weather, 4 at home. Wins against Pittsburgh, Michigan, Houston, at Washington, and San Antonio came in rainy conditions, and a win against Chicago came in a Chicago snow storm.

1984 Oklahoma Outlaws opening day roster

[edit]
Oklahoma Outlaws 1984 opening day roster (at 26-Feb-84)
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Developmental squad Injured reserve


rookies in italics
40 Active, 13 Developmental

1984 Oklahoma Outlaws game results

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
Preseason
1 Bye
2 Bye
3 February 11 Tampa Bay Bandits L 6–15 0–1 Tampa Stadium 42,247
4 February 18 vs. Houston Gamblers L 7–34 0–2 Lewis Field,
Stillwater, Oklahoma 		6,120
Regular season
1 February 26 Pittsburgh Maulers W 7–3 1–0 Skelly Stadium 15,973
2 March 3 Denver Gold L 14–17 (OT) 1–1 Skelly Stadium 25,403
3 March 11 San Antonio Gunslingers W 14–7 2–1 Skelly Stadium 24,311
4 March 17 at Chicago Blitz W 17–14 3–1 Soldier Field 6,206
5 March 24 at Arizona Wranglers L 7–49 3–2 Sun Devil Stadium 29,434
6 March 31 Houston Gamblers W 31–28 (OT) 4–2 Skelly Stadium 17,266
7 April 7 Michigan Panthers W 20–17 5–2 Skelly Stadium 21,510
8 April 14 at Washington Federals W 20–16 6–2 RFK Stadium 6,075
9 April 21 at Birmingham Stallions L 17–41 6–3 Legion Field 41,653
10 April 27 Jacksonville Bulls L 6–34 6–4 Skelly Stadium 29,324
11 May 6 at New Jersey Generals L 17–49 6–5 Giants Stadium 34,917
12 May 14 at Tampa Bay Bandits L 21–48 6–6 Tampa Stadium 45,116
13 May 20 at Houston Gamblers L 12–31 6–7 Houston Astrodome 31,142
14 May 26 Oakland Invaders L 14–17 6–8 Skelly Stadium 16,378
15 June 2 Chicago Blitz L 0–14 6–9 Skelly Stadium 17,195
16 June 10 Los Angeles Express L 10–17 6–10 Skelly Stadium 22,017
17 June 18 at Michigan Panthers L 24–34 6–11 Pontiac Silverdome 15,838
18 June 24 at San Antonio Gunslingers L 0–23 6–12 Alamo Stadium 21,625

Sources[4][5][6][7]

1984 Oklahoma Outlaws end-of-season roster

[edit]
Oklahoma Outlaws 1984 end-of-season roster (at 24-Jun-84)
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Developmental squad Injured Reserve


rookies in italics
43 Active, 7 Developmental * Denotes Starter

1984 Oklahoma Outlaws total roster

[edit]

COACHING STAFF: Head Coach: Woody Widenhofer

Offensive Coordinator/QBs – Ed Chlebek; Offensive Line – Charlie Butler; Running Backs – Frank Novak; Receivers/Spec. Teams – Wright Anderson; Defensive Coordinator/Secondary – Jim Johnson; Tim Mills Defensive Line – Ralph Staub; Linebackers – Jim McKinley; Strength & Conditioning – Bert Jacobson; Trainer – Keith Jones, Equipment Mgr. – Bud Turk

Leaving Oklahoma

[edit]

The Tathams were not exaggerating about Skelly Stadium's inadequacy as a professional venue. There was virtually no parking around the stadium, which would have held down attendance even without the weather problems. With no other facility in the Tulsa area suitable even for temporary use, they started searching for a new home. They initially planned to move to the University of Oklahoma's Owen Field while a new stadium was being built in Oklahoma City. However, when the USFL voted to move to the fall for the 1986 season, OU officials backed out of the deal. Bill Jr. then worked out a deal to play at Honolulu's Aloha Stadium, but Bill Sr. vetoed it.[3]

The Tathams nearly had a deal to merge the Outlaws with the Oakland Invaders. However, the deal collapsed at the last minute because Invaders owner Tad Taube was unwilling to give control of the team to the younger Tatham. The Invaders ultimately merged with the Michigan Panthers.

Homeless and looking for options, the Tathams would turn to the 1984 Western Conference Champion Arizona Wranglers. Despite advancing all the way to the USFL title game after essentially trading rosters with the Chicago Blitz, the Wranglers' 1984 attendance figures—although respectable—were not enough to cover expenses. In fact, they were actually slightly below those of the 1983 Wranglers team. Owner Dr. Ted Diethrich, who had swapped the Blitz for the Wranglers in the 1983–84 offseason, had anticipated much higher attendance after bringing most of a team reckoned as an NFL-caliber unit to Phoenix. Additionally, he never was paid in full for selling the Chicago franchise rights after the new Blitz owner, James Hoffman, saw his finances collapse. After losing millions for the second year in a row, Diethrich wanted out.

Ultimately, Diethrich agreed to merge the Wranglers with the Outlaws. The merged team was to be known as the Arizona Outlaws, and would take the Wranglers' place at Arizona State University's Sun Devil Stadium. Initially, the Tathams owned 75 percent of the merged team, with Diethrich retaining 25 percent. However, Diethrich quickly decided to get out altogether.[3] Since the Tathams inherited the Wranglers' player contracts, the deal was still widely reported as a merger. As a result, Phoenix received what amounted to its third USFL team in as many seasons.

Arizona Outlaws

[edit]

Under the terms of the deal with Diethrich, the offseason roster for the new Arizona Outlaws comprised 20 players from the 1984 Wranglers, and 13 from the 1984 Outlaws. The Tathams retained many of the better players off both rosters, but not all of them. With few exceptions, they retained the 1984 Wranglers' defensive players and coaches, while bringing Williams and most of the 1984 Outlaws offense with them to Arizona.[3] Rather than retaining the majority of the 1984 Western Conference Champion Wranglers and simply replacing retiring Wranglers QB Greg Landry with Williams, for the second year in a row little effort was made to retain players in which Phoenix fans felt a vested interest.

The Tathams did, however, name former Sun Devils coach Frank Kush as head coach. Kush was a hard-nosed, run-oriented coach who had struggled as coach of the NFL's Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, largely because he had little luck handling professional quarterbacks. The Tathams may have been looking to the future by hiring Kush. By this time, they had become strong proponents of moving to the fall, and ultimately forcing a merger with the NFL (in which case their investment would have more than doubled). They knew Kush, who was still very much an icon in the region due to his successful 21-year tenure at ASU, would lend them instant credibility. However, he was a surprising choice to team with Williams.

In part due to Kush's reputation as a harsh taskmaster who frequently abused his players physically and emotionally, the players boycotted his press conference announcing his return to Phoenix after a six-year absence. However, Kush appeared to have mellowed considerably when training camp began. He complemented players and coaches and was friendly to the media. Years later, defensive line coach John Teerlinck claimed that Kush told him not to worry too much about winning, since it was very likely that the Outlaws would be one of the surviving teams in any merger with the NFL "and our owners will make a lot of money." Kush did, however, show flashes of his old heavy-handed self during film sessions, often calling his players unflattering nicknames.[1]

In the instance of mergers, the league ran allocation drafts to send players to other teams. The Tathams allowed several of the better players on the Wranglers to be dispersed. In this way Wrangler star HB Tim Spencer, for example, ended up starting for Memphis in 1985. Other key Wranglers joined Landry in retirement or defected to other leagues (ex. CB Frank Minnifield who left in the 1984 season). Wrangler lead receiver Trumaine Johnson actually held out for the full season.

The 1985 season was very much a replay of 1984, with the Outlaws struggling after a quick start. The team jumped out to a 4–2 start, including a 31–13 pounding of the Herschel Walker and Doug Flutie-led New Jersey Generals. However, they proceeded to drop six in a row, and seven out of eight. They rebounded to win three straight, but did not get enough help to make the playoffs, and finished 8–10. Years later, Bill Jr. recalled that the former Wranglers and former Outlaws found it hard to get along. At one point, he threatened to fire the entire defensive staff unless the sniping ended.[3]

The Outlaws were a much better rushing team in 1985 totalling 2019 yards in support of Williams and the passing game.

As had been the case with both versions of the Wranglers, Phoenix-area fans largely viewed the Outlaws with indifference. For the second year in a row, attendance dropped—from the 25,568 George Allen's Wranglers' drew the year before, to 17,881. The crowds looked even smaller than that due to the spacious configuration of Sun Devil Stadium. The Outlaws actually drew 4,000 fewer fans than they did in Tulsa, even though Sun Devil Stadium was almost double the size of Skelly Stadium. It did not help matters that the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and St. Louis Cardinals were taking a serious look at moving to Phoenix which had rocketed to major-city status due to its explosive growth in the second half of the 20th century.[1]

At one point, team revenue tailed off to the point that the Outlaws flew commercial flights to games rather than chartered jets. On one of those flights, from Houston back to Phoenix, the simmering tension on the team finally boiled over when Teerlinck got in a fight with offensive tackle Donnie Hickman. It exploded into an all-out brawl, and the plane was met by federal agents when it landed in Phoenix. Teerlinck was fired the next day.[1] Despite this, the Tathams hoped to stick it out once the league won their lawsuit against the NFL.

The Outlaws were one of eight teams slated to play in 1986. After the Portland Breakers folded while the antitrust trial was still underway, the Outlaws were the only team west of the Mississippi River left in the league. While the league won the suit, it only received a nominal award of a dollar (trebled to $3 under antitrust law). The Outlaws, and the rest of the league, had been counting on the lawsuit money to finance their move to the fall and bail out their unsustainable spending. As the league had essentially staked its future on winning a hefty award in court, it suspended operations never to return.

In a last-ditch desperation move, in January 1987, Tatham met with the Canadian Football League hoping to transfer the Outlaws, along with any other USFL team that was willing and able, to the CFL. Under Tatham's proposal, the Outlaws would abide by the CFL's Canadian-born player quotas. The CFL's owners, who were facing their own financial crisis due to the loss of its television sponsorship, doubted that any commitment by a U.S. team to honor Canadian player quotas would withstand legal challenges.[8] The CFL later stated that unless any prospective owner could deliver a television contract of at least $20 million a year (the USFL's contract with ESPN was offering $27 million a year for the 1986 season had it been held), it would not consider expanding into the United States.[9] The CFL commissioner ultimately rejected the proposal (along with a similar one from Charles O. Finley), stating: "if any expansion takes place, it will be within the bounds of Canada."[9]

Soon afterward, the Tathams abandoned any hope of bringing the Outlaws back, and concentrated their efforts on bringing an NFL expansion team to the Phoenix market. Those efforts were abandoned when the St. Louis Cardinals moved into Sun Devil Stadium for the 1988 NFL season.[3]

1985 Arizona Outlaws game results

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
Preseason
1 February 2 vs. Oakland Invaders L 3–10 0–1 Mesa, Arizona
2 February 9 vs. Oakland Invaders L 0–12 0–2 Mesa, Arizona
3 February 17 vs. Oakland Invaders L 13–31 0–3 Fresno, California 10,204
Regular season
1 February 24 Portland Breakers W 9–7 1–0 Sun Devil Stadium 20,351
2 March 3 at San Antonio Gunslingers L 14–16 1–1 Alamo Stadium 11,151
3 March 11 Jacksonville Bulls W 41–21 2–1 Sun Devil Stadium 13,025
4 March 16 at Tampa Bay Bandits L 13–23 2–2 Tampa Stadium 41,381
5 March 23 Los Angeles Express W 27–13 3–2 Sun Devil Stadium 20,835
6 March 30 New Jersey Generals W 31–13 4–2 Sun Devil Stadium 20,835
7 April 8 at Denver Gold L 7–28 4–3 Mile High Stadium 12,769
8 April 14 Orlando Renegades L 19–24 4–4 Sun Devil Stadium 32,169
9 April 21 Houston Gamblers L 17–33 4–5 Sun Devil Stadium 16,640
10 April 27 at Oakland Invaders L 11–27 4–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 12,972
11 May 5 at Baltimore Stars L 19–24 4–7 Byrd Stadium 14,432
12 May 12 Denver Gold L 28–42 4–8 Sun Devil Stadium 5,731
13 May 19 at Portland Breakers W 30–21 5–8 Civic Stadium 15,275
14 May 26 at Houston Gamblers L 20–41 5–9 Houston Astrodome 12,696
15 June 1 San Antonio Gunslingers W 13–3 6–9 Sun Devil Stadium 11,151
16 June 8 Oakland Invaders W 28–21 7–9 Sun Devil Stadium 10,591
17 June 15 vs. Los Angeles Express W 21–10 8–9 John Shepard Stadium,
Los Angeles Pierce College,
Los Angeles, California 		8,200
18 June 22 at Memphis Showboats L 28–38 8–10 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium 32,743

Sources[10][11][12]

Single-season leaders

[edit]

Rushing yards: 1031 (1985), Reggie Brown

Receiving yards: 1087 (1984), Alphonso Williams

Passing yards: 3645 (1985), Doug Williams

Season-by-season

[edit]
Season records
Season W L T Finish Playoff results
Oklahoma Outlaws
1984 6 12 0 4th WC Central –
Arizona Outlaws
1985 8 10 0 4th WC –
Totals 14 22 0 (including playoffs)

Outlaws in video games

[edit]

The Outlaws' logo can be found in Madden NFL's Create-A-Team Feature. They are also featured in Blitz: The League, the Arizona Outlaws are a Division 3 team and are the first opponents against the player's created team.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Arizona Outlaws

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Arizona Outlaws were a professional team based in , that played one season in the United States Football League (USFL) in 1985. Formed by the merger of the 1984 Oklahoma Outlaws franchise with the , the team relocated to Arizona under owner William Tatham and adopted colors of black, copper, red, and white. They played all home games at Sun Devil Stadium, a venue with a capacity of 70,030, and were coached by Frank Kush, a former head coach known for his disciplinarian style. The Outlaws finished the 1985 regular season with an 8–10 record, placing fourth in the USFL's Western Conference and failing to qualify for the playoffs. Led by quarterback Doug Williams, who threw for 3,673 yards and 21 touchdowns, the team featured a potent offense that included running back Reggie Brown (1,031 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns) and wide receiver Al Williams. Williams, the first African American quarterback to start a Super Bowl in the NFL, used his USFL experience as a springboard to a professional career that included leading the Washington Redskins to victory in Super Bowl XXII. Despite the team's modest performance, the 1985 Outlaws drew attention for their competitive games, including wins over the Portland Breakers, Jacksonville Bulls, and Los Angeles Express. The franchise dissolved after the 1985 USFL season amid the league's financial struggles and legal battles with the , marking the end of the Arizona Outlaws' brief existence. The team's legacy endures as part of the USFL's innovative spring football era, which influenced modern professional leagues and showcased talents like Williams before their transition to the .

Franchise overview

Formation and early context

The United States Football League (USFL) was established in 1982 and launched its inaugural season in the spring of 1983, with games scheduled from March through July to sidestep direct competition with the National Football League's autumn schedule; this timing, while innovative, ultimately fostered financial instability across many franchises due to overlapping fan interest and revenue challenges. The league began with 12 charter teams, including the Arizona Wranglers, a Phoenix-based expansion franchise owned by local heart surgeon Dr. Ted Diethrich, who had previously invested in the Chicago Blitz. In 1984, the Wranglers' second year, head coach George Allen led the team to a 10-8 regular-season record, securing a playoff berth and a spot in the USFL Championship Game against the Philadelphia Stars. Despite this competitive success, the Wranglers grappled with severe financial losses, as Diethrich acknowledged deficits surpassing $10 million over the league's first two seasons, exacerbated by high operational costs and modest attendance in a non-NFL market. These mounting pressures, including reported team expenditures nearing $14 million in 1984 alone, compelled Diethrich to pursue divestment from ownership by late that year. His decision reflected broader USFL trends, where spring scheduling limited television deals and sponsorships compared to the established NFL, prompting widespread franchise relocations and consolidations. For its 1984 campaign, the USFL introduced six expansion teams to bolster its footprint, among them the Oklahoma Outlaws, awarded to Fresno businessman William Tatham Sr. and initially placed in , for the region's untapped market potential and available facilities like Skelly Stadium. The Outlaws quickly assembled a roster headlined by the signing of Doug Williams, a former standout, to anchor the offense. On December 4, 1984, a merger agreement between the Wranglers and Outlaws was announced, effectively transferring the Wranglers' assets to Tatham while retaining the Outlaws' name and operations, setting the stage for the unified team's shift to ahead of the 1985 season. This consolidation addressed Diethrich's exit and the Outlaws' venue issues in Tulsa, exemplifying the league's efforts to stabilize amid ongoing economic volatility.

Ownership and operations

The Arizona Outlaws franchise was primarily owned by William Tatham Sr., a Fresno-based and banking , with his son William Tatham Jr. serving as president and overseeing day-to-day management. The Tathams acquired the expansion franchise for $6 million in 1983 and invested an additional $3 million by early 1984 in the , player acquisitions, and initial operations, for a total estimated outlay of around $9 million. In its inaugural 1984 season as the Oklahoma Outlaws, the team played home games at Skelly Stadium in Tulsa, a venue with a capacity of 40,235. Average attendance was 20,436, roughly half the stadium's capacity, hampered by inclement weather during six of nine home games and strong local interest in University of Tulsa and University of Oklahoma college football. Following a merger with the that allowed the Tathams to retain the Outlaws name in a larger market, the team relocated for and hosted games at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, which seated 70,030. Attendance declined further to an average of 17,881, about 25% of capacity, amid the spacious stadium configuration and the USFL's broader financial strains. The team's colors were , , and during the 1984 Oklahoma season, shifting to , copper, , and in to better align with regional aesthetics. The logo evolved accordingly, from a black-masked bandit figure emphasizing the outlaw theme to a -shirted suited to the Southwestern identity.

History

1984 Oklahoma season

The Oklahoma Outlaws entered the as an expansion franchise in , originally intended for before relocating to Tulsa and playing home games at Skelly Stadium. Under head coach , a former , the team built its roster through the USFL's territorial and expansion drafts, selecting regional talents such as John Chesley from the and defensive back Dwight Drane from Oklahoma State, alongside free agent signings. A marquee addition was Doug Williams, the former starter who signed a multiyear contract in August 1983 after sitting out the prior season, providing veteran leadership to the untested squad. The Outlaws launched their inaugural campaign on February 26, 1984, securing a 7-3 victory over the Maulers in frigid, rainy conditions at , with Williams connecting on a 12-yard pass to Derek Hughes for the game's lone score. The team surged to a 6-2 start, highlighted by a 31-28 overtime triumph against the on March 31—capped by a late Williams pass—and a 20-17 upset of the defending champion on April 7. Williams anchored the offense, completing 261 of 528 passes for 3,084 yards, 15 , and 21 interceptions, though the ground game faltered, finishing last in the league in rushing yards. Running backs like and combined for modest production, with the team averaging under 70 rushing yards per game during the early wins. Momentum evaporated after a 20-16 road win at the Washington Federals on , as the Outlaws endured a franchise-worst 10-game losing skid, including a 0-14 shutout to the on June 2. Defensive lapses and offensive inconsistencies plagued the stretch, with Williams sacked frequently and the team outscored 308-121 in the final 10 contests. The Outlaws concluded the season 6-12, placing last in the Central Division and missing the , their early promise undone by injuries and inexperience as an expansion outfit. Home attendance averaged 21,038 across nine games, totaling approximately 189,000 fans, reflecting solid local support despite the on-field struggles.

Merger and relocation

Following the 1984 season, owner Robert Diethrich, facing significant financial losses, negotiated a deal to sell the team's assets and player contracts to Outlaws co-owner William Tatham Sr. and his son, William Tatham Jr., in exchange for relief from the Wranglers' mounting debts. The Tathams, seeking a larger market and better facilities after a challenging year in , acquired the Arizona territory rights and assumed operational control, effectively merging the two franchises under their ownership while taking on the Wranglers' financial obligations. The USFL league owners ratified the merger on December 4, 1984, resolving potential market overlap concerns by consolidating the teams into a single Arizona-based entity and eliminating the need for a separate franchise. The merged team retained the "Outlaws" name to preserve established branding from the Oklahoma operation, while updating its visual identity to reflect the new Arizona location. Roster integration involved selecting the top talent from both squads, resulting in a combined group of approximately 45 players; this included retaining Doug Williams from the Outlaws and incorporating key contributors like kicker and much of the Wranglers' offensive line. The Tathams hired Frank Kush, former coach, to lead the team post-merger. Preparations accelerated immediately, with the merger announcement enabling a swift relocation to , where training camp opened in January 1985 to integrate the roster and prepare for the upcoming season at Sun Devil Stadium. This business pivot positioned the Outlaws as a strengthened contender in the Western Conference, leveraging the combined resources to address prior operational challenges.

1985 Arizona season

The 1985 season represented the Arizona Outlaws' only year in the state after their merger and relocation, with the team playing all home games at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe under new head coach Frank Kush, who had previously built into a national powerhouse through rigorous training regimens and iron-fisted discipline. Kush, appointed by owners William Tatham Sr. and William Tatham Jr. to instill structure on the combined roster from the former and Oklahoma Outlaws, emphasized accountability and physical conditioning from the outset, drawing on his collegiate legacy to transform the professional squad. This shift aimed to capitalize on local familiarity with Kush's style while leveraging quarterback Doug Williams as the offensive centerpiece. The Outlaws opened the season with a gritty 9-7 defensive win over the on February 24, 1985, setting a tone of resilience before a narrow 16-14 road loss to the San Antonio Gunslingers on March 3. They surged to a 4-2 start with decisive victories, including a 41-21 rout of the Jacksonville Bulls on March 11 and a 31-13 triumph over the on March 30 in front of a home crowd of 30,432, where Williams threw three passes to highlight the aerial attack. However, momentum evaporated amid injuries and execution lapses, as the team endured six consecutive defeats—from a 7-28 loss to the Denver Gold on April 8 through a 28-42 defeat by again on May 12—plunging them to 4-8 and exposing defensive vulnerabilities that allowed an average of over 30 points per game during the skid. A late-season rally salvaged some pride, with four wins in the final six games, including a 30-21 road upset of Portland on May 19 and a 28-21 home victory over the on June 8 to clinch the turnaround. Despite this, the Outlaws closed with a 38-28 loss to the on June 22, finishing 8-10 overall and fourth in the Western Conference behind the (13-4-1), Denver Gold (11-7), and (10-8), thus missing the playoffs for the second straight year. Standout individual efforts included Williams' 3,673 passing yards and 21 touchdowns on 271 completions, anchoring an offense that ranked mid-pack league-wide, while Reggie provided balance with 1,031 rushing yards and 12 scores on 229 carries. The merged roster contributed key depth, particularly in the backfield and secondary, enabling the team's total of 376 points scored. Attendance averaged 17,877 per game across 18 contests, buoyed by regional enthusiasm for Kush's return to the Valley and high-profile matchups like the Generals game, though it dipped below 10,000 for one late home date amid the team's inconsistencies and broader USFL attendance challenges. The season underscored the Outlaws' potential under Kush's regime but highlighted the difficulties of integrating talent and sustaining performance in a competitive spring league.

Personnel

Coaching staff

The Arizona Outlaws' coaching staff underwent significant changes during the franchise's brief existence in the United States Football League (USFL). In preparation for the league's inaugural 1984 season, owner William R. Tatham Sr. selected Robert "Woody" Widenhofer as the team's first head coach in January 1984. Widenhofer, who had spent 11 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator from 1973 to 1983, brought a proven defensive expertise honed during the team's "Steel Curtain" era, which contributed to four Super Bowl victories. His emphasis on defensive schemes aimed to establish a strong foundation for the expansion franchise, but the Oklahoma Outlaws finished the 1984 season with a 6-12 record, failing to qualify for the playoffs. Following the team's merger with the Arizona Wranglers and relocation to Arizona, Widenhofer's position was eliminated as part of the reorganization, effectively ending his tenure without formal dismissal proceedings. For the 1985 season, Tatham hired Frank Kush as in late 1984, shortly after the merger announcement, to leverage Kush's local ties and storied reputation from (ASU). Kush, who had compiled a 176-54-1 record over 22 seasons at ASU from 1958 to 1979, was renowned for his rigorous disciplinary approach, often referred to as the "Kush rules," which enforced strict standards through intense physical conditioning and training to build resilient teams. This philosophy, rooted in his time as an assistant under at ASU, prioritized fundamentals and accountability, though it drew criticism for its severity. Under Kush, the Arizona Outlaws achieved an 8-10 record in 1985, securing early-season victories through disciplined execution despite a talented but underachieving roster. However, his demanding style initially unsettled players, who expressed apprehension about his reputation for harsh enforcement, contributing to morale challenges early in the season. Key assistants under Kush in 1985 included Don Pollard, who oversaw the secondary and defensive strategies. Linebackers and special teams coach Tim Mills focused on positional development in the defensive unit. Roger Theder handled coaching and play-calling. Overall, the staff's efforts under Kush centered on instilling fundamentals amid the merger's roster flux, though the season highlighted tensions between discipline and team cohesion.

Key players

Doug Williams served as the starting for the Outlaws during both the 1984 Oklahoma season and the 1985 Arizona campaign, leading the team in passing yards each year with 3,084 yards and 15 touchdowns in 1984, followed by 3,673 yards and 21 touchdowns in 1985. Originally signed as a in August 1983 after leaving the NFL's , Williams brought veteran experience to the expansion franchise and remained a central figure through the team's relocation and merger. His professional career later culminated in becoming the first Black quarterback to start and win a with the Washington in 1988. Reggie Brown emerged as a key offensive addition in 1985 following the merger with the , serving as the primary and leading the team with 1,031 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 229 carries. Acquired through the roster consolidation that blended players from both franchises, Brown's ground game provided a vital rushing attack for the 8-10 Outlaws, complementing Williams' aerial efforts. Luis Zendejas handled kicking duties for the 1985 Arizona Outlaws, converting 24 of 33 attempts for a 72.7% success rate and scoring 108 points to lead the team. As a out of Arizona State, Zendejas joined via the Wranglers merger and contributed significantly to the special teams unit, including three s in his professional debut against the . Among other notable contributors, Al Williams anchored the passing game in with 50 receptions for 1,087 yards, providing a reliable target for the . On defense, Kelvin Middleton led the 1985 squad with three interceptions, serving as a key secondary player amid the merged roster's challenges. The Outlaws did not produce any All-USFL selections during their tenure.

Records and achievements

Season summaries

The Arizona Outlaws franchise competed in two seasons of the (USFL), first as the Oklahoma Outlaws in 1984 and then, following a merger and relocation, as the Arizona Outlaws in 1985. Over these two years, the team compiled an overall record of 14 wins and 22 losses, failing to qualify for the in either season and never advancing to a championship game. In their inaugural 1984 season as the Oklahoma Outlaws, the team finished with a 6-12 overall record, placing fourth in the Western Conference's Central Division. They scored 251 points while allowing 459, reflecting defensive struggles that contributed to their position behind division leader (13-5) and (10-8), with (5-13) finishing last. A notable milestone came on against the , when the Outlaws secured a 17-14 in a driving snowstorm at , marking their first win under such conditions and improving their early-season record to 3-1. The 1985 season saw the rebranded Arizona Outlaws post an 8-10 record, finishing fourth in the Western Conference after a promising 4-2 start gave way to inconsistency. The team scored 376 points and allowed 405, outperforming their prior year's totals but still missing the postseason behind (12-4) and (10-6). Their season opener on February 24 against the resulted in a narrow 9-7 win at Sun Devil Stadium, representing the first victory for the merged roster combining players from the prior Oklahoma Outlaws and franchises.

Passing Leaders

The Arizona Outlaws' passing game was anchored by Doug Williams, who led the team in both seasons of its existence. In 1985, Williams set the franchise single-season record with 3,673 passing yards and 21 touchdowns on 271 completions out of 509 attempts. In 1984, as for the Oklahoma Outlaws prior to the merger, he recorded 3,084 yards and 15 touchdowns on 261 completions out of 528 attempts. Rick Johnson served as the primary backup, amassing 602 yards and 1 touchdown in 1984 on 55 completions out of 110 attempts, and 318 yards with 3 touchdowns in 1985.
PlayerSeasonCompletions/AttemptsYardsTouchdowns
Doug Williams1985271/5093,67321
Doug Williams1984261/5283,08415
Rick Johnson198455/1106021
Rick Johnson198521/433183

Rushing Leaders

Rushing production improved significantly after the 1985 merger and relocation to Arizona, with Reggie Brown emerging as the standout back. Brown led the Outlaws with 1,031 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 229 carries in 1985. In 1984, the Oklahoma Outlaws struggled on the ground, with Ernie Anderson topping the team at 298 yards and 2 touchdowns on 65 carries, followed closely by Sidney Thornton (288 yards, 4 TDs on 101 carries) and Ted Sample (287 yards, 1 TD on 66 carries).
PlayerSeasonCarriesYardsTouchdowns
Reggie Brown19852291,03112
1984652982
19841012884
Ted Sample1984662871
Mack Boatner1985853620

Receiving Leaders

Wide receiver Al Williams was a consistent deep threat for the Outlaws across both seasons. In 1985, he led the team with 1,020 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns on 55 receptions. Williams also topped the 1984 Oklahoma Outlaws with 1,087 yards and 7 touchdowns on an unspecified number of receptions. Greg Anderson followed in 1985 with 915 yards and 5 touchdowns on 51 catches, while Ron Wheeler recorded 651 yards and 2 touchdowns in 1984.
PlayerSeasonReceptionsYardsTouchdowns
Al Williams1985551,0208
Al Williams1984-1,0877
Greg Anderson1985519155
Ron Wheeler1984-6512
Lonnie Turner1984-3992

Scoring Leaders

Kicker dominated the scoring category in 1985, accounting for 108 points through 24 field goals (out of 33 attempts) and 36 extra points (out of 41). In 1984, Efren Herrera led with 68 points, primarily from kicking duties. Reggie Brown contributed 72 points via rushing touchdowns in 1985, while Al Williams added 90 points from 15 receiving touchdowns across both seasons.
PlayerSeasonPointsKey Contributions
198510824 FG, 36 XP
Reggie Brown19857212 rushing TDs
Efren Herrera198468Kicking
Al Williams1984-19859015 receiving TDs
1984244 rushing TDs

Defensive Leaders

Defensive efforts varied, with interceptions and sacks highlighting key performers. In 1985, David Martin led with 3 interceptions. Kelvin Middleton recorded 6 interceptions in 1984 for the Oklahoma Outlaws. For sacks, Dave Tipton topped the 1985 team with 14, while Curtis Anderson had 11 in 1984. Tackle statistics are not comprehensively available, but the defenses ranked among the league's weaker units overall.
CategoryPlayerSeasonStatistic
InterceptionsKelvin Middleton19846
InterceptionsDavid Martin19853
InterceptionsEd Smith19853
SacksDave Tipton198514
SacksCurtis Anderson198411
SacksKarl Lorch19859.5

Legacy

Post-league impact

The Football League's antitrust lawsuit against the concluded in July 1986 with a finding the NFL guilty on one count of monopolistic practices, but awarding the USFL only $1 in damages, which was tripled to $3 under antitrust law. This nominal victory proved fatal for the USFL, leading to the league's immediate suspension of operations and the cancellation of its planned 1986 fall season. The Arizona Outlaws, as one of the league's surviving franchises, ceased all activities after the 1985 season, marking the end of professional spring football in the state. Co-owner Bill Tatham Jr. reportedly lost $21 million on the venture, contributing to the franchise's financial collapse. With the USFL's dissolution, Outlaws players became free agents, many transitioning to the and leveraging their professional experience for roster spots. Quarterback Doug Williams, who led the team in passing during its Arizona tenure, signed with the Washington Redskins in 1986 and went on to become the MVP of in 1988, the first Black quarterback to start and win a . The folding of the league nullified player contracts, allowing direct negotiations with teams without a formal , though some assets like rights negotiations facilitated quick placements. The coaching staff faced varied post-USFL paths. Head coach Frank Kush, who guided the 1985 Arizona squad, returned to administrative roles in youth development, serving as executive administrator at the Arizona Boys Ranch for a decade to support juvenile rehabilitation programs. Previous head coach Herman Widenhofer, who helmed the 1984 Oklahoma-based team, shifted to college football, taking over as head coach at the University of Missouri from 1985 to 1988. The Outlaws' brief presence left a tangible mark on Arizona's sports landscape by heightening local enthusiasm for professional football ahead of the NFL's arrival. Season ticket holders from the team's 1985 campaign at Sun Devil Stadium received priority access to tickets when the St. Louis Cardinals relocated to Tempe in 1988, helping bridge fan interest between leagues. The franchise's use of Sun Devil Stadium established the venue as a hub for pro football, paving the way for the Cardinals to play there from 1988 through 2005 and solidifying its role in the state's growing NFL fandom.

Media and cultural references

The Arizona Outlaws' brief existence in the United States Football League (USFL) has been chronicled in several works exploring the league's turbulent history, particularly the unconventional merger that created the team. In Jeff Pearlman's 2018 book Football for a Buck: The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL, the Outlaws are prominently featured across multiple chapters, detailing the roster swap with the Oklahoma Outlaws and the ensuing 1985 season under coach Frank Kush. This merger, in which the traded their entire roster to the Oklahoma Outlaws in exchange for the latter's players and relocation to Phoenix, has been described as one of the "craziest" transactions in history due to its unprecedented scale and the involvement of owners Ted Diethrich and Bill Tatham. Documentary coverage of the USFL often references the Outlaws in the context of the league's failed antitrust lawsuit against the NFL and its eventual collapse. ESPN's 30 for 30 series, particularly episodes examining Donald Trump's role in the USFL's spring-to-fall shift and merger attempts, highlights the Outlaws' formation as emblematic of the league's chaotic final years. Archival footage of Outlaws games, including their 1985 season highlights, appears in USFL retrospective reels on platforms like YouTube and sports archives, showcasing plays from quarterback Doug Williams and key victories such as the 31-13 win over the New Jersey Generals. In Arizona's local culture, the Outlaws endure through memorabilia that evokes nostalgia for the Kush era's high-energy play and the team's Wild West-themed branding. Vintage T-shirts featuring the iconic outlaw logo are sold by specialty retailers, while fan recollections shared in regional sports media emphasize the excitement of Sun Devil Stadium crowds during the franchise's single season. The Outlaws' story also intersects briefly with broader narratives, as Williams' tenure with the team is noted in documentaries like ' Doug Williams: as a pivotal step in his journey to becoming the first Black quarterback to win a . While no major feature films center on the Outlaws, their legacy persists in highlight compilations and books that celebrate the USFL's innovative yet ill-fated spirit.

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