Arizona Rattlers
Encyclopedia
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football
team based in Phoenix, Arizona
. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League
(AFL). The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team
. They play their home games at US Airways Center
. The Rattlers are led by arena football Hall of Fame Head Coach Kevin Guy
.
On May 12, 2011, Ron Shurts became the new majority owner of the Rattlers franchise.
(AFL) and compete in the Western Division of the National Conference. Since the team's establishment in 1992, the Rattlers have won six division titles and have played in five ArenaBowl
Championship games, winning championships in 1994 and 1997.
In early years, the Rattlers played their home games at America West Arena, which they shared with the Phoenix Suns
. The arena was renamed US Airways Center
in 2005 and the Rattlers continue to play their home games there and share the arena with the Phoenix Suns
and the Phoenix Mercury
. They conduct practices at Gene Autry Park in Mesa, Arizona
.
The coaching staff includes Head Coach Kevin Guy
, Assistant Head Coach Kani Kauahi
, Defensive Coordinator Omarr Smith and Wide Receivers Coach Siaha Burley
.
The Rattlers current roster includes members of the National Football League
such as San Francisco 49ers
placekicker Fabrizio Scaccia
and Cleveland Browns
WR
Rod Windsor
.
The Rattlers remain one of the AFL’s leading franchises with the third longest tenure in one city followed only by the Tampa Bay Storm
and the Orlando Predators
.
Previous head coaches include Gene Nudo
, Todd Shell
and former Dallas Cowboys
and Arizona State University
quarterback, and punter, Danny White
, who led the Rattlers to their ArenaBowl
championships and was named 1993 AFL Coach of the Year.
Notable former Arizona Rattlers players include former Arizona Cardinal quarterback Sherdrick Bonner
, former San Diego Chargers
defensive specialist Cecille Doggette, former Miami Dolphins
wide receiver Randy Gatewood
, former New Orleans Saints
lineman Mark Tucker
and former Kansas City Chiefs
wide receiver Chris Horn
.
"I have been an Arizona Rattlers season ticket holder since day one and attended the first Arizona Rattlers game at America West Arena. I believe in the team and the Arena Football League," said Shurts. "I want to bring the passion and excitement for Rattlers football back to US Airways Center and the Valley."
"Downtown Phoenix continues to grow and the Rattlers will be an integral part of the affordable, family-fun entertainment that the Suns and the Mercury are providing the local community," Shurts added.
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
team based in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
(AFL). The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team
Expansion team
An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
. They play their home games at US Airways Center
US Airways Center
US Airways Center is a sports and entertainment arena located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It opened in 1992, and is the home of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena...
. The Rattlers are led by arena football Hall of Fame Head Coach Kevin Guy
Kevin Guy
Kevin Guy is the current head coach of the Arizona Rattlers As a player, Guy played for the 1996 Minnesota Fighting Pike, where he led the expansion franchise with 52.5 tackles.-References:...
.
On May 12, 2011, Ron Shurts became the new majority owner of the Rattlers franchise.
History
The Arizona Rattlers are part of the Arena Football LeagueArena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
(AFL) and compete in the Western Division of the National Conference. Since the team's establishment in 1992, the Rattlers have won six division titles and have played in five ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
Championship games, winning championships in 1994 and 1997.
In early years, the Rattlers played their home games at America West Arena, which they shared with the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
. The arena was renamed US Airways Center
US Airways Center
US Airways Center is a sports and entertainment arena located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It opened in 1992, and is the home of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena...
in 2005 and the Rattlers continue to play their home games there and share the arena with the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
and the Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
. They conduct practices at Gene Autry Park in Mesa, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
.
The coaching staff includes Head Coach Kevin Guy
Kevin Guy
Kevin Guy is the current head coach of the Arizona Rattlers As a player, Guy played for the 1996 Minnesota Fighting Pike, where he led the expansion franchise with 52.5 tackles.-References:...
, Assistant Head Coach Kani Kauahi
Kani Kauahi
Daniel Kani Kauahi is the offensive line coach for the Arizona Rattlers in the Arena Football League . He joined the Rattlers in 2007 as the defensive line coach.-Playing career:...
, Defensive Coordinator Omarr Smith and Wide Receivers Coach Siaha Burley
Siaha Burley
Siaha Burley is an arena football wide receiver who is currently a free agent in the Arena Football League. He played college football at Central Florida.-High school years:...
.
The Rattlers current roster includes members of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
such as San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
placekicker Fabrizio Scaccia
Fabrizio Scaccia
Fabrizio Scaccia is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Arizona Rattlers as a street free agent in 2010...
and Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
WR
WR
WR may refer to:* The HGNC code for Band 3, a protein* The IATA code for Aviaprad, an airline that was based in Chelyabinsk, Russia* Welter Racing, a French sports car maker* Wide receiver, a position in American Football...
Rod Windsor
Rod Windsor
Rodrickus "Rod" Windsor is an American football wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He played college football at Western New Mexico University.-College career:...
.
The Rattlers remain one of the AFL’s leading franchises with the third longest tenure in one city followed only by the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
and the Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
.
Previous head coaches include Gene Nudo
Gene Nudo
Gene Nudo is a former Arena Football League coach for the Arizona Rattlers. He has a career record of 13-21, including a 1-1 mark in the postseason.-External links:*-References:...
, Todd Shell
Todd Shell
Todd Shell is a former National Football League linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers and a former Arena Football League coach for the Arizona Rattlers and New York Dragons.-External links:***...
and former Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
and Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
quarterback, and punter, Danny White
Danny White
Wilford Daniel "Danny" White is a former quarterback and punter for the Dallas Cowboys, an American football coach in the Arena Football League and also occasionally appears as an analyst on broadcasts of college football games. He was named the head coach of the Arena Football League expansion...
, who led the Rattlers to their ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
championships and was named 1993 AFL Coach of the Year.
Notable former Arizona Rattlers players include former Arizona Cardinal quarterback Sherdrick Bonner
Sherdrick Bonner
Sherdrick Bonner is a former Arena football quarterback who is currently the offensive coordinator of the Chicago Rush in the Arena Football League.-High school years:...
, former San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive specialist Cecille Doggette, former Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
wide receiver Randy Gatewood
Randy Gatewood
Randy Gatewood Randy Gatewood Randy Gatewood (born January 31, 1973 in Wichita Falls, Texas is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League and Arena Football League. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 1995. He played college football at...
, former New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
lineman Mark Tucker
Mark Tucker (American football)
Mark Tucker is an American football lineman.-High school career:Tucker played football at Banning High School in Wilmington, California. He started at offensive tackle his junior and senior year. He was teammates with Jamelle Holieway, Leroy Holt, and Courtney Hall...
and former Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
wide receiver Chris Horn
Chris Horn
Christopher Michael Horn is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was most recently with the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League .-Early years:...
.
Retired numbers
- #13 Sherdrick Bonner QB - June 16, 2010
- #14 Hunkie Cooper WR/LB - May 6, 2005
- #17 Randy Gatewood WR/DB - May 9, 2008
Team Ownership
The Arizona Rattlers introduced Ron Shurts as the team’s new majority owner on May 12, 2011."I have been an Arizona Rattlers season ticket holder since day one and attended the first Arizona Rattlers game at America West Arena. I believe in the team and the Arena Football League," said Shurts. "I want to bring the passion and excitement for Rattlers football back to US Airways Center and the Valley."
"Downtown Phoenix continues to grow and the Rattlers will be an integral part of the affordable, family-fun entertainment that the Suns and the Mercury are providing the local community," Shurts added.