Los Angeles Wildcats (XFL)

{{Short description|XFL (2020) team based in Los Angeles, California}}

{{Infobox USFL team

| name = Los Angeles Wildcats

| current =

| logo = Los Angeles Wildcats logo.svg

| logosize = 120

| helmet =

| helmetsize =

| uniform =

| uniformsize =

| established = 2018

| folded = 2020 (2022 Officially)

| city =

| location = Los Angeles, California

| stadium_years =

| owner = Alpha Entertainment, LLC

| coach = Winston Moss

| manager = Winston Moss

| president = Heather Brooks Karatz

| league = XFL (2020)

  • West Division (2020){{cite news |title=FOX Sports announces 2020 XFL schedule |url=https://kmph.com/sports/content/fox-sports-announces-2020-xfl-schedule |access-date=February 4, 2020 |work=KMPH |date=January 7, 2020}}

| team_history = * Los Angeles Wildcats (2020)

| no_league_champs = 0

| no_conf_champs = 0

| no_div_champs = 0

| no_playoff_appearances = 0

| league_champs =

| conf_champs =

| div_champs =

| playoff_appearances =

| colors = Black, red, light orange{{cite press release|title=Los Angeles Wildcats' uniforms, helmet|url=https://www.xfl.com/articles/los-angeles-wildcats-uniforms-reveal|website=XFL.com|date=December 3, 2019|access-date=December 12, 2019}}
{{color box|#000000}} {{color box|#CC163F}} {{color box|#F7921E}}

}}

The Los Angeles Wildcats (LA Wildcats) were a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The team was founded by Vince McMahon’s Alpha Entertainment and was an owned-and-operated member of the second XFL. The Wildcats played their home games at Dignity Health Sports Park. On March 8, 2020, the Wildcats played their final game against the Tampa Bay Vipers, which was the final XFL game before the league suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

History

On December 5, 2018, Los Angeles was announced as one of eight cities that would join the newly reformed XFL, as well as Seattle, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, and Dallas.{{Cite web |last=Noto |first=Anthony |date=December 5, 2018 |title=XFL picks Houston as an inaugural city, announces stadiums |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2018/12/05/xfl-picks-houston-as-an-inaugural-city-announces.html |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=www.bizjournals.com}} On May 7, 2019, Winston Moss was announced as the team's head coach.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-winston-moss-xfl-la-coach-20190507-story.html|title=Winston Moss, who played for L.A. Raiders, to be named coach and GM of L.A.'s XFL team|first=Arash|last=Markazi|work=Los Angeles Times|date=May 7, 2019|access-date=May 7, 2019}} On August 21, 2019, the team revealed its name, logos, and identity as the Los Angeles Wildcats, alongside the rest of the XFL teams.{{Citation|title=The XFL team name and logo reveal|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4Byfmldj3A|language=en|access-date=2019-08-21}} A secondary logo was released August 24.

On October 15, 2019, the Wildcats announced their first player in team history, being assigned former Birmingham Iron Quarterback Luis Perez, who was later traded to the New York Guardians.{{Cite web |last=Florio |first=Mike |date=2019-10-15 |title=XFL announces its eight allocated quarterbacks |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/10/15/xfl-announces-its-eight-allocated-quarterbacks/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en-US}}

On February 8, 2020, the team played its first game losing to the Houston Roughnecks 37–17 in Houston.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-02-08/los-angeles-wildcats-fall-to-houston-roughnecks-in-xfl-opener|title=Los Angeles Wildcats fall to Houston Roughnecks in XFL opener|date=2020-02-09|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-10}} Chad Kanoff scored the first touchdown in franchise history with a scramble left for a five-yard score.{{Cite web|url=https://stats.xfl.com/2|title=XFL Live Stats|website=stats.xfl.com|access-date=2020-02-12}} On February 23, 2020, the Wildcats earned their first win in franchise history, defeating the DC Defenders 39–9.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/wildcats-roll-to-first-win-in-upset-over-defenders-39-9-0ap3000001102784|title=Wildcats roll to first win in upset over Defenders, 39-9|website=NFL.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-24}} On March 8, 2020, the Wildcats came from behind to win against the Tampa Bay Vipers 41–34 in what was the final game of the 2020 iteration of the XFL. On March 12, 2020, The XFL announced that the remainder of the 2020 XFL season had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team finished with a 2–3 record. On April 10, 2020, the XFL suspended operations, with all of the league's employees, players, and staff terminated.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/29021347/xfl-suspends-operations-lays-employees-no-plans-return-2021 |title=XFL suspends operations, lays off employees and has no plans for 2021 season |last=Seifert/Yates |first=Kevin/Field |date=April 10, 2020 |website=www.ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |access-date=September 17, 2023}}

On July 24, 2022, the XFL announced its reactivation for the 2023 season, and confirmed that the Wildcats would not return for that season. On October 31, 2022, the league announced that the Wildcats' place in the league was taken by the San Antonio Brahmas.

Final roster

{{XFL final roster|year=2020|team=Los Angeles Wildcats|prefix=|active=57|inactive=10|source=|quarterbacks={{XFLplayer| 8|Josh Johnson|d=quarterback}}

{{XFLplayer| 3|Chad Kanoff}}

{{XFLplayer| 2|Jalan McClendon}}|running_backs={{XFLplayer|31|Terrell Alex}}

{{XFLplayer|28|Martez Carter}}

{{XFLplayer|38|Winston Dimel|FB}}

{{XFLplayer|41|DuJuan Harris}}

{{XFLplayer|34|Elijah Hood}}

{{XFLplayer|24|Larry Rose}}|wide_receivers={{XFLplayer|--|Sergio Bailey}}

{{XFLplayer|80|Saeed Blacknall}}

{{XFLplayer|17|Jalen Greene}}

{{XFLplayer|18|Adonis Jennings}}

{{XFLplayer|15|Tre McBride}}

{{XFLplayer|84|Jordan Smallwood|d=American football}}

{{XFLplayer|11|Nelson Spruce}}|tight_ends={{XFLplayer|88|De'Quan Hampton}}

{{XFLplayer|85|Ryan O'Malley|d=American football}}|offensive_linemen={{XFLplayer|65|Sean Brown|d=American football|T}}

{{XFLplayer|59|Fred Lauina|G}}

{{XFLplayer|75|Lene Maiava|T}}

{{XFLplayer|72|Storm Norton|T}}

{{XFLplayer|73|Jaelin Robinson|T}}

{{XFLplayer|74|Tyler Roemer|T}}

{{XFLplayer|56|Nico Siragusa|G}}

{{XFLplayer|66|Patrick Vahe|C}}

{{XFLplayer|62|Dwayne Wallace|G}}|defensive_linemen={{XFLplayer|99|Latarius Brady|DE}}

{{XFLplayer|90|Roderick Henderson|NT}}

{{XFLplayer|97|Reggie Howard|d=American football|NT}}

{{XFLplayer|95|Alex Jenkins|DE}}

{{XFLplayer|77|Shawn Oakman|DE}}

{{XFLplayer|91|Boogie Roberts|d=American football|DE}}

{{XFLplayer|96|Andrew Stelter|NT}}

{{XFLplayer|98|Devin Taylor|d=American football|DE}}|linebackers={{XFLplayer|53|Alex Funches}}

{{XFLplayer|50|Quentin Gause|ILB}}

{{XFLplayer|54|Taiwan Jones|d=linebacker|ILB}}

{{XFLplayer|59|Victor Ochi|OLB}}

{{XFLplayer|94|Cedric Reed|OLB}}

{{XFLplayer|57|Will Smith|d=linebacker, born 1992|ILB}}

{{XFLplayer|52|Tre' Williams|ILB}}|defensive_backs={{XFLplayer|35|Bryce Cheek|CB}}

{{XFLplayer|22|Jerome Couplin|S}}

{{XFLplayer|21|Mar'Sean Diggs|S}}

{{XFLplayer|36|Ahmad Dixon|S}}

{{XFLplayer|20|Jaylen Dunlap|CB}}

{{XFLplayer|27|Harlan Miller|CB}}

{{XFLplayer|33|Arrion Springs|CB}}

{{XFLplayer|23|Mike Stevens|d=American football|CB}}

{{XFLplayer|30|Bradley Sylve|CB}}

{{XFLplayer|47|Roman Tatum|CB}}

{{XFLplayer|29|Jack Tocho|S}}

{{XFLplayer|32|LaDarius Wiley|S}}|special_teams={{XFLplayer|45|Ryan Navarro|LS}}

{{XFLplayer| 4|Giorgio Tavecchio|K}}

{{XFLplayer| 7|Shane Tripucka|P}}|reserve_lists={{XFLplayer|82|Brandon Barnes|d=tight end|TE|IR}}

{{XFLplayer|77|Ryan Cummings|G|IR}}

{{XFLplayer|70|Toa Lobendahn|G|IR}}

{{XFLplayer|44|Willie Mays|d=American football|OLB|IR}}

{{XFLplayer|70|Kahlil McKenzie|G/C|IR}}

{{XFLplayer|78|Anthony Morris|d=American football|OT|IR}}

{{XFLplayer| 9|Nick Novak|K|IR}}

{{XFLplayer|--|Damian Prince|OT|IR}}

{{XFLplayer|93|Trevon Sanders|DE|IR}}

{{XFLplayer| 6|Colton Schmidt|P|IR}}}}

Staff

class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"

|+ style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Wildcats|border=2}};font-weight:bold;" colspan="7" |2020 Los Angeles Wildcats staff

colspan="7" style="text-align:right;" |
style="vertical-align:top;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" |

;Front office

  • Director of player personnel – Joey Clinkscales
  • Director of football operations – Charles Bailey
  • Manager of football operations – Ty Knott

;Head coaches

;Offensive coaches

| width="35" | 

| style="vertical-align:top;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" |

;Defensive coaches

  • Defensive line – Vince Amey
  • Defensive backs – Otis Smith
  • Defensive quality control – Al Brown

;Special teams coaches

Player history

= Current NFL players =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!XFL Season

!Pos

!Name

!NFL Team

2020

|OT

|Storm Norton

|Atlanta Falcons

2020

|QB

|Josh Johnson

|Baltimore Ravens

= Notable players =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!XFL Season

!Pos

!Name

!Notes

2020

|RB

|DuJuan Harris

|Former Green Bay Packers Running Back

2020

|P

|Colton Schmidt

|Former Buffalo Bills Punter

2020

|K

|Nick Novak

|Former San Diego Chargers Kicker

Coach history

= Head coach history =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! rowspan="2" |#

! rowspan="2" |Name

! rowspan="2" |Term

! colspan="4" |Regular season

! colspan="3" |Playoffs

! rowspan="2" |Awards

GC

!W

!L

!Win %

!GC

!W

!L

colspan="11" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Wildcats|border=2}};" |Los Angeles Wildcats
1

|Winston Moss

|2020

|5

|2

|3

|.400

| -

| -

| -

|

= Offensive coordinator history =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! rowspan="2" |#

! rowspan="2" |Name

! rowspan="2" |Term

! colspan="4" |Regular season

! colspan="3" |Playoffs

! rowspan="2" |Awards

GC

!W

!L

!Win %

!GC

!W

!L

colspan="11" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Wildcats|border=2}};" |Los Angeles Wildcats
1

|Norm Chow

|2020

|5

|2

|3

|.400

| -

| -

| -

|

= Defensive coordinator history =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! rowspan="2" |#

! rowspan="2" |Name

! rowspan="2" |Term

! colspan="4" |Regular season

! colspan="3" |Playoffs

! rowspan="2" |Awards

GC

!W

!L

!Win %

!GC

!W

!L

colspan="11" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Wildcats|border=2}};" |Los Angeles Wildcats
1

|Pepper Johnson

|2020

|1

|0

|1

|.000

| -

| -

| -

|

2

|Winston Moss

|2020

|4

|2

|2

|.500

| -

| -

| -

Rivalries

= Overall regular season record vs. opponents =

class="wikitable"

!Team

!Record

!Win %

Vegas Vipers

|1-0

|1.000

DC Defenders

|1-0

|1.000

Houston Roughnecks

|0-1

|.000

Orlando Guardians

|0-1

|.000

Arlington Renegades

|0-1

|.000

Seattle Sea Dragons

|0-0

|N/A

St. Louis Battlehawks

|0-0

|N/A

=Season-by-season record=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!rowspan="2"|Season

!rowspan="2"|Team

!rowspan="2"|League

!rowspan="2"|Conference

!rowspan="2"|Division

!colspan="3"|Regular season

!rowspan="2"|Postseason results

!rowspan="2"|Awards

!rowspan="2"|Head coaches

!rowspan="2"|Pct.

Finish

!{{Tooltip|W|Wins}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Losses}}

2020

|2020

|XFL

!

|West

||3rd

||2

||3

||Season Suspended after 5 games due to Covid-19

|

||Winston Moss

||{{winning percentage|2|3}}

Records

class="wikitable"

! colspan="5" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Wildcats}};" |All-time WIldcats leaders

style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Wildcats}};" |Leader || style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Wildcats}};" |Player || style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Wildcats}};" |Record || style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Wildcats}};" |Years with Wildcats
Passing YardsJosh Johnson1,092 passing yards2020
Passing Touchdowns

|Josh Johnson

|11 passing touchdowns

|2020

Rushing YardsElijah Hood78 rushing yards2020
Rushing Touchdowns

|Martez Carter

|2 rushing touchdowns

|2020

Receiving YardsNelson Spruce267 receiving yards2020
Receiving Touchdowns

|Tre McBride

|4 receiving touchdowns

|2020

Receptions

|Nelson Spruce

|20 receptions

|2020

Tackles

|Ahmad Dixon

|45 tackles

|2020

SacksCedric Reed3.0 sacks2020
InterceptionsMike Stevens

Jack Tocho

| 2 Interceptions

2 Interceptions

| 2020

2020

Coaching wins

|Winston Moss

|2 wins

|2020

Market overview

Los Angeles is one of two cities to have also hosted a team in the original XFL, the other being New York/New Jersey; the Los Angeles Xtreme was the champion of the earlier XFL in the league's only season. (A third broader megalopolis, Central Florida, has also hosted teams in both the 2001 and 2020 incarnations of the league.)

As television networks have traditionally required alternative leagues to field teams in New York and Los Angeles to secure television coverage without brokering the airtime,[https://web.archive.org/web/20100501172714/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065704/index.htm These failings aside, Byrne's observations on the league's extraordinary capacity for self-destruction are right on target. He painstakingly details the myriad problems: the overly restrictive TV contract with ABC in which the USFL was left powerless(...)][http://www.dpmcintire.com/usflinfo/invaders/ Taube was the first USFL owner to notice the rather stringent clauses in the league's television contract with ABC, and fought hard over the league's three years to get them renegotiated.] Southern California has a long history of alternative professional teams. In addition to the Xtreme, the city has hosted: the Los Angeles Avengers, LA KISS, Anaheim Piranhas and Los Angeles Cobras in the Arena Football League; the Los Angeles Express in the USFL; the Southern California Sun in the World Football League; the Orange County Ramblers and short-lived Long Beach Admirals in the Continental Football League; and numerous teams in the Pacific Coast Professional Football League in the 1930s and 1940s.

The Wildcats were in one of the most heavily crowded sports markets in the United States, competing for sports dollars against two NFL teams (Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers), two NHL teams (Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks), two NBA teams (Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers), multiple NCAA Division I college basketball and college football programs, and in March and April, both the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC in MLS and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels in the MLB

References