1988 Arena Football League season
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox sports season
| title = 1988 Arena Football League season
| league = Arena Football League
| sport = Arena football
| duration = April 28, 1988 – July 30, 1988 [http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=yearly&histleague=1&fpage=schedule&year=1988]
| season = Regular season
| season_champs = Chicago Bruisers
| MVP = Ben Bennett (CHI)
| MVP_link =
| playoffs = League postseason
| playoffs_link =
| conf1 = 1 vs 4 Semifinals
| conf1_link =
| conf1_champ = Chicago Bruisers
| conf1_runner-up = Los Angeles Cobras
| conf2 = 2 vs 3 Semifinals
| conf2_link =
| conf2_champ = Detroit Drive
| conf2_runner-up = Pittsburgh Gladiators
| finals = ArenaBowl II
| finals_link = ArenaBowl II
| finals_champ = Detroit Drive
| finals_runner-up = Chicago Bruisers
| finals_MVP = Steve Griffin (DET)
| finals_MVP_link = Most valuable player|MVP
| seasonslist = List of Arena Football League seasons
| seasonslistnames = AFL
| prevseason_link = 1987 Arena Football League season
| prevseason_year = 1987
| nextseason_link = 1989 Arena Football League season
| nextseason_year = 1989
}}
{{Location map+|USA|width=360|caption=10px AFL teams|relief=no|places=
{{Location map~|USA|label=Bruisers|position=left|mark=ButtonGray.svg|lat=41.882 |long=-87.628}}
{{Location map~|USA|label=Cobras|position=top|mark=ButtonGray.svg|lat=34.050 |long=-118.250}}
{{Location map~|USA|label=Drive|position=top|mark=ButtonGray.svg|lat=42.331 |long=-83.046}}
{{Location map~|USA|label=Gladiators|position=bottom|mark=ButtonGray.svg|lat=40.440 |long=-79.976}}
{{Location map~|USA|label=Knights|position=right|mark=ButtonGray.svg|lat=40.751 |long=-73.994}}
{{Location map~|USA|label=Steamrollers|position=top|mark=ButtonGray.svg|lat=41.824 |long=-71.422}}
}}
The 1988 Arena Football League season was the second season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Detroit Drive, who defeated the Chicago Bruisers in ArenaBowl II.
Standings
{{1988 Arena Football League Standings}}
y – clinched regular-season title
x – clinched playoff spot
Playoffs
{{4TeamBracket | RD1=Semifinals
| RD2 = ArenaBowl II
| RD1-seed1 = 1
| RD1-team1 = Chicago
| RD1-score1 = 29
| RD1-seed2 = 4
| RD1-team2 = Los Angeles
| RD1-score2 = 16
| RD1-seed3 = 2
| RD1-team3 = Detroit
| RD1-score3 = 34
| RD1-seed4 = 3
| RD1-team4 = Pittsburgh
| RD1-score4 = 25
| RD2-seed1 = 1
| RD2-team1 = Chicago
| RD2-score1 = 13
| RD2-seed2 = 2
| RD2-team2 = Detroit
| RD2-score2 = 24
}}
Awards and honors
=Regular season awards=
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Award | Winner | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | Ben Bennett | Quarterback | Chicago Bruisers |
| Ironman of the Year | Dwayne Dixon | Wide Receiver/Defensive Back | Detroit Drive |
| Coach of the Year | Perry Moss | Head coach | Chicago Bruisers |
=All-Arena team=
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#e3e3e3; |Position
! style="background:#e3e3e3; |First team ! style="background:#e3e3e3; |Second team |
|---|
| align=center|Quarterback |
| align=center|Fullback/Linebacker |
| align=center|Wide receiver/Defensive back
|Gary Mullen, Los Angeles |Jim Hockaday, New England |
| align=center|Offensive lineman/Defensive lineman
|Quinton Knight, New York |Kevin Murphy, New England |
| align=center|Defensive specialist |
| align=center|Kicker |
Team notes
| class="wikitable"
! # of Teams!!Expansion Teams!!Folded Teams!!Suspended Teams!!Teams returning from previous season!!Teams returning after hiatus!!Relocated Teams!!Name Changes |
| style="vertical-align:top"
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle" | 6 | Detroit Drive | | Denver Dynamite | Chicago Bruisers | | | |