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Houston Roughnecks (2024)

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Houston Roughnecks
Current season
Established November 22, 2021; 3 years ago (2021-11-22)
Play in TDECU Stadium (Houston, Texas)
League/conference affiliations
United States Football League (2022–2023)
  • South Division (2022–2023)

United Football League (2024–present)

  • USFL Conference (2024–present)
Current uniform
Team colorsNavy, red[1]
   
Personnel
Owner(s)Fox Corporation (50%), Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, RedBird Capital Partners (50%)
Head coachCurtis Johnson
Team history
  • Houston Gamblers (2022–2023)
  • Houston Roughnecks (2024–present)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Home stadium(s)

The Houston Roughnecks are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The Roughnecks compete in the United Football League (UFL). The team is owned-and-operated by Dwayne Johnson's Alpha Acquico and Fox Corporation. The team was a founding member of the USFL, as the Houston Gamblers in 2022, named after the 1980s USFL team of the same name. Though named after the city of Houston, the 2020s Gamblers never played there under that brand, instead playing its home games as the guest of other USFL teams in Birmingham, Alabama in 2022 and Memphis, Tennessee in 2023. When the USFL and XFL merged to form the UFL in 2024, the Gamblers took over the branding of the original Houston Roughnecks that had played the 2020 and 2023 seasons in the XFL and played in Houston at Rice Stadium and will once again play at TDECU Stadium for 2025 season.

History

[edit]
The Gamblers' logo from 2022 to 2023.

Houston Gamblers (2022–2023)

[edit]

The Houston Gamblers were one of eight teams that were officially announced as a USFL franchise on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on November 22, 2021.[2] On January 6, 2022, it was announced on The Herd with Colin Cowherd that former NCAA Football Head coach Kevin Sumlin was named the Head coach and General manager of the Gamblers.[3] Houston was the only city in the USFL nominally based west of the Mississippi River and the only team that had a representative team in both professional spring football leagues, the USFL (the Gamblers) and the XFL (the Roughnecks), though the Gamblers never set foot in Houston, instead playing as a traveling team under the USFL's hub model.

On January 6, 2022, former college head coach, Kevin Sumlin was named the head coach and general manager for the Houston Gamblers.[4] The Gamblers' first season game was on April 17, 2022, against the Michigan Panthers at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. Kicker Nick Vogel made a 37-yard field goal in the first quarter (the first points for the franchise). The Gamblers defeated the Panthers 17–12, winning their first game in franchise history. The Gamblers lost their next seven games before winning for their final two games of the season, and failing to qualify for the USFL playoffs.[5]

In September, 2022, the Gamblers announced that Robert Morris was named their new general manager.[6] In November 2022, the USFL announced that the Gamblers will play at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee for the 2023 season.[7] In February, 2023, Sumlin announced his plans to join the coaching staff of the Maryland Terrapins, this led to the Gamblers hiring former New Orleans Saints assistant coach, Curtis Johnson as their new head coach.[8]

Houston Roughnecks (2024–present)

[edit]
Houston Roughnecks in action against the Arlington Renegades in 2023

On January 1, as part of the merger with the XFL, the Gamblers merged with their XFL counterpart, the Roughnecks. The merged team took on the Roughnecks name and identity (including history and social media presence), while maintaining the Gamblers' coaching staff, player rights and position in the USFL Conference.[9] The team will play in Houston as the Roughnecks did, but renovations to TDECU Stadium, the Roughnecks' home in 2020 and 2023, required the use of a different venue; Rice University Stadium was approached about the possibility prior to the merger.[10] On February 1, 2024, the Roughnecks announced an agreement to play the 2024 season at Rice Stadium.[11] The Roughnecks announced their return to TDECU Stadium on September 13, 2024.[12]

Current roster

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Players

[edit]
Houston Roughnecks roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

  • -- Dezmon Jackson
  •  5 T. J. Pledger

Wide receivers

  • 18 Emmanuel Butler
  • -- Brian Burt
  • -- Carlos Carriere
  •  3 Keke Chism
  • -- Felton Davis
  • -- C. J. Windham

Tight ends

  • -- Malcolm Epps
  • -- Geor'Quarius Spivey
  • -- Cam Sutton
Offensive linemen
  • -- Calvin Ashley G
  • -- Noah Atagi T
  • -- Sean Brown C
  • -- Ethan Carde T
  • 72 Cam Carter T
  • -- Nick Correia T
  • 74 Avery Gennesy G
  • -- Samuel Jackson G
  • 65 Jack Kramer C
  • -- Saige Young G

Defensive linemen

  • -- Darrius Moragne DT
  • -- Carson Taylor DE
  • -- Kamilo Tongamoa DT
  • -- Cedric Wilcotts II DE
Linebackers
  • -- Xavier Benson ILB
  • -- Ben Davis ILB
  • -- Donovan Manuel ILB
  • -- Juwan Mitchell ILB
  • 28 Marvin Moody ILB
  • -- Mike Scott OLB
  • -- Vaughn Taylor Jr. OLB
  • 33 Jeremiah Tyler OLB

Defensive backs

  • -- Malik Dunlap CB
  • -- Tra Fluellen SS
  • -- Chester Kimbrough CB
  • -- Armani Marsh CB
  • -- Chu Ogbonna CB
  • -- Shawn Preston Jr. SS
  •  9 Colby Richardson CB
  • 31 Markel Roby FS
  • -- Marquis Wilson CB

Special teams

  • 39 J. J. Molson K
  • -- Marco Ortiz LS
  • -- Mike Rivers P
Reserve lists

Unsigned draft picks

  • -- Hayden Gillum C
  • -- Kam Stutts G
  • -- Rayshad Williams CB



Roster updated November 6, 2024

63 active, 3 unsigned

Staff

[edit]
2024 Houston Roughnecks staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks - Eric Price
  • Running backs/special teams - Garrett Chachere
  • Offensive line - Bob Connelly
  • Tight ends - Jordan Higgins
Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Chris Wilson
  • Defensive line – Kwahn Drake
  • Defensive backs – Brett Maxie
  • Assistant defensive backs/defensive quality control - Zach Shagi




Player history

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Current NFL players

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Season Pos Name NFL Team
2022 DT Domenique Davis Cincinnati Bengals

Notable players

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Season Pos Name Notes
2024 LB Reuben Foster Former San Francisco 49ers Linebacker, 2017 1st Round Pick
2024 TE Ryan Izzo Former New England Patriots Tight End, 2018 7th Round Pick

USFL Offensive Player of the Year award winners

[edit]
Gamblers USFL OPOY winners
Year Player Position Selector
2023 Mark Thompson RB USFL

USFL Defensive Player of the Year award winners

[edit]
Gamblers USFL DPOY winners
Year Player Position Selector
2022 Chris Odom DE USFL

Coach history

[edit]

Head Coach history

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# Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
GC W L Win % GC W L
Houston Gamblers
1 Kevin Sumlin 2022 10 3 7 .300 - - -
2 Curtis Johnson 2023 10 5 5 .500 - - -
Houston Roughnecks
Curtis Johnson 2024–present 10 1 9 .100 - - -

Offensive Coordinator history

[edit]
# Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
GC W L Win % GC W L
Houston Gamblers
1 David Beaty 2022 10 3 7 .300 - - - *Co Offensive Coordinator
2 J. D. Runnels 2022 10 3 7 .300 - - - *Co Offensive Coordinator
3 Eric Price 2023 10 5 5 .500 - - -
Houston Roughnecks
Eric Price 2024–present 10 1 9 .100 - - -

Defensive Coordinator history

[edit]
# Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
GC W L Win % GC W L
Houston Gamblers
1 Tim Lewis 2022 10 3 7 .300 - - -
2 Chris Wilson 2023 10 5 5 .500 - - -
Houston Roughnecks
Chris Wilson 2024–present 10 1 9 .100 - - -

Records

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All-time Gamblers/Roughnecks leaders
Leader Player Record Years with Gamblers/Roughnecks
Passing Yards Kenji Bahar 2,250 passing yards 2022–2024
Passing Touchdowns Clayton Thorson

Kenji Bahar

10 passing touchdowns 2022

2022–2024

Rushing Yards Mark Thompson 1,341 rushing yards 2022–present
Rushing Touchdowns Mark Thompson 21 rushing touchdowns 2022–present
Receiving Yards Justin Hall 1,119 receiving yards 2023–present
Receiving Touchdowns Justin Hall 7 receiving touchdowns 2023–present
Receptions Justin Hall 103 receptions 2023–present
Tackles Donald Payne 117 tackles 2022
Sacks Chris Odom 17.5 sacks 2022, 2024–present
Interceptions William Likely 4 interceptions 2022
Coaching wins Curtis Johnson 6 wins 2023–present

Statistics and records

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Season-by-season record

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UFL champions (2024–present) USFL champions§ (2022–2023) Conference champions* Division champions^ Wild Card berth#
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results Awards Head coaches Pct.
Finish W L
2022 2022 USFL South 4th 3 7 Chris Odom (DROY) Kevin Sumlin .300
2023 2023 USFL South 3rd 5 5 Curtis Johnson .500
2024 2024 UFL USFL 4th 1 9 .100
Total 9 21 All-time regular season record (2022–2024) .300
0 0 All-time postseason record (2022–2024)
9 21 All-time regular season and postseason record (2022–2024) .300

References

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  1. ^ "Houston Roughnecks' uniforms, helmet". XFL.com (Press release). December 3, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  2. ^ "USFL unveils team cities, nicknames and logos for 2022 debut". FOX Sports. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  3. ^ Stephan Rachuk (January 6, 2022). "USFL Officially Reveals the First Four Head Coaches on The Herd". Pro Football Newsroom. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  4. ^ Gaydos, Ryan (January 6, 2022). "4 USFL teams reveal their head coaches for upcoming season". Fox News. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  5. ^ Stephan Rachuk (June 19, 2022). "Houston Gamblers Conclude USFL Season with Defensive Win Over New Orleans Breakers". www.usflnewroom.com. USFL Newsroom. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  6. ^ "USFL hires new general managers for two teams". foxsports.com. Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. October 18, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  7. ^ ""We're Home" – Professional Football Returns To Memphis With Iconic USFL Showboats". www.memphistn.gov. City of Memphis. November 15, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  8. ^ Sam Young (February 16, 2023). "USFL's Houston Gamblers hire Curtis Johnson as head coach". houstonchronicle.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  9. ^ UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE REVEALS TEAM MARKETS AND HEAD COACHES FOR 2024 SEASON. Press release. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  10. ^ Rachuk, Stephan (July 25, 2023). "XFL Issues Statement on Houston Roughnecks Future at TDECU Stadium". Pro Football Newsroom. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  11. ^ Zuvanich, Adam (February 2, 2024). "Houston Roughnecks of United Football League to play home games at Rice Stadium". Houston Public Media. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  12. ^ Miller, Anthony (September 13, 2024). "Houston Roughnecks to Return to TDECU Stadium for 2025 Season". UFL. Retrieved September 17, 2024.