2019 AAF season


The 2019 AAF season was the only season in the history of the Alliance of American Football, which began on February 9, 2019. A ten-week regular season was scheduled for each of the league's eight teams.
On April 2, multiple sources indicated that Thomas Dundon, controlling owner of the AAF, had followed through on threats made in the previous week and suspended the AAF's operations, against the will of its founders. By the end of the week, the AAF front office had confirmed the suspension of operations and allowed players to opt-out of their contracts to sign with other leagues. The league filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on April 17, 2019.
At the time the season ended, eight out of ten scheduled weeks had been played, and the Orlando Apollos, with a league best 7–1 record two games ahead of its nearest competitors, had clinched no less than a share of the regular season's best record, regardless of how the rest of the schedule would have played out. A four-team playoff was scheduled to start on April 21, with a championship game on April 27. Initially scheduled for Sam Boyd Stadium on the outskirts of Las Vegas, Nevada, the title game was moved to the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, before the league ceased operations.

Teams

The Alliance of American Football had eight teams competing during its inaugural season.

Final standings

The Orlando Apollos clinched a playoff berth on March 24, and top seed in the Eastern Conference on March 30. The Birmingham Iron clinched a playoff berth on March 31.

Schedule

Each team had a ten-game regular season schedule, consisting of six in-conference games and four out-of-conference games. Weeks 2, 4, 6, and 9 were scheduled with out-of-conference games. Each team played one preseason exhibition game against an out-of-conference opponent. All of the preseason scrimmage games were held January 27–28 at the Alamodome, in conjunction with the league's training camp.

Playoffs

Following the 10-week regular season, the top two teams in each conference were due to face each other in conference championship games, hosted by the higher seeded team. These semifinals were scheduled for April 21. The winners would then meet in the league championship game on April 27 at a neutral site. Originally, the title game had been set for Sam Boyd Stadium near Las Vegas, Nevada announced October 23, 2018 , but was changed to Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on March 20, 2019, before the season was ended.

Attendance

Announced attendance figures for each home game. In the weekly columns, dashes indicate away games, while bold font indicates the highest attendance of each team. Games marked "N/A" were not played.
Team / Week12345678910TotalAverage
San Antonio Commanders27,85729,17630,34523,504'
Orlando Apollos20,19120,39418,358'
San Diego Fleet20,01914,78920,82320,986'
Birmingham Iron17,03917,3196,53913,31017,328'
Memphis Express11,98013,62113,75812,417'
Atlanta Legends10,71710,82910,61911,416'
Arizona Hotshots11,7518,8659,3519,760'
Salt Lake Stallions10,4129,3028,1508,405'
Total76,83878,49456,31238,32754,31358,11365,27961,654
Average19,21019,62414,0789,58213,57814,52816,32015,414

Source:

Awards

Players of the week

Statistical leaders

Records reflect statistics through the eight regular season games played by all teams.
TypeStatisticQtyPlayerTeam
PassingYards2,152Garrett GilbertOrlando Apollos
PassingTouchdowns14John WolfordArizona Hotshots
PassingInterceptions9Mike BercoviciSan Diego Fleet
RushingYards431Jhurell PressleyArizona Hotshots
RushingTouchdowns11Trent RichardsonBirmingham Iron
RushingLongest run83Ja'Quan GardnerSan Diego Fleet
RushingFumbles6Josh WoodrumSalt Lake Stallions
ReceivingYards687Charles JohnsonOrlando Apollos
ReceivingTouchdowns7Rashad RossArizona Hotshots
ReceivingReceptions45Charles JohnsonOrlando Apollos
ReceivingLongest reception83L'Damian WashingtonBirmingham Iron
DefenseTackles52DeMarquis GatesMemphis Express
DefenseSacks7.5Jayrone ElliottSan Antonio Commanders
DefenseInterceptions4Ryan Moeller
De'Vante Bausby
Kameron Kelly
San Diego Fleet
San Antonio Commanders
San Diego Fleet
Special TeamsField Goals made14Nick Rose
Younghoe Koo
Donny Hageman
Elliott Fry
San Antonio Commanders
Atlanta Legends
San Diego Fleet
Orlando Apollos
Special TeamsLongest Field Goal55Nick FolkArizona Hotshots
Special TeamsPunting yards2,024Colton SchmidtBirmingham Iron
Special TeamsLongest Punt69Joseph ZemaSan Antonio Commanders

Officials

The league used the eight-official system, also seen in NCAA college football. There were six officiating crews, staffed with officials from FBS conferences.
The officiating crews included one former NFL official—Jimmy DeBell, a back judge on the Smith crew—and three former NFL players: Nate Jones, Terry Killens, and Mike Morton.

Broadcasting

, Turner Sports and NFL Network served as the Alliance's broadcast partners for the 2019 season. The CBS Sports deal was announced at the time the league launched, while the Turner Sports and NFL Network contracts were announced less than two weeks before the season began.
In millions of viewers
Broadcaster12345678TotalAverage
CBS3.3'
NFL Network0.60.40.50.50.30.4DNRDNR><
NFL Network0.40.50.4DNRDNRDNRDNR><
TNT1.00.50.30.5'
Total>
Average <

One decimal place is shown in table but three decimal places are used in all calculations. None of CBS Sports Network's broadcasts register in the Nielsen Ratings and thus viewership estimates for those games are not available.

Local radio coverage

Each AAF team had a local radio partner, and Sirius XM Radio carried a game of the week package.

Signees to other professional leagues

NFL

On April 4, the AAF announced players could leave their contracts to sign with NFL teams following the reported suspension of league football operations. The following 99 players signed with NFL teams:
PlayerPositionAAF teamDateNFL teamRef.
Garrett GilbertQBOrlando ApollosApril 5Cleveland Browns
Keith ReaserCBOrlando ApollosApril 5Kansas City Chiefs
Derron SmithFSSan Antonio CommandersApril 5Minnesota Vikings
Duke ThomasCBSan Antonio CommandersApril 5Minnesota Vikings
Parker CollinsOTAtlanta LegendsApril 5Carolina Panthers
Kitt O'BrienGBirmingham IronApril 5Carolina Panthers
Alex BarrettDESan Diego FleetApril 5Oakland Raiders
J. C. HassenauerCBirmingham IronApril 5Pittsburgh Steelers
Jack TochoFSBirmingham IronApril 5Pittsburgh Steelers
Damontre MooreDESan Diego FleetApril 5San Francisco 49ers
Rashad RossWRArizona HotshotsApril 8Carolina Panthers
Brandon GreeneOTBirmingham IronApril 8Carolina Panthers
Thomas DuarteTEArizona HotshotsApril 8Carolina Panthers
T. J. BarnesDTAtlanta LegendsApril 8Carolina Panthers
Andrew LauderdaleOTArizona HotshotsApril 8Arizona Cardinals
Jeremiah PoutasiGSalt Lake StallionsApril 8Arizona Cardinals
Logan WoodsideQBSan Antonio CommandersApril 8Tennessee Titans
Keith TowbridgeTEAtlanta LegendsApril 8Tennessee Titans
De'Vante BausbyCBSan Antonio CommandersApril 8Denver Broncos
Winston CraigDTSan Antonio CommandersApril 8Pittsburgh Steelers
J. T. JonesDEAtlanta LegendsApril 8Pittsburgh Steelers
Kameron KellyCBSan Diego FleetApril 8Pittsburgh Steelers
Andrew AnkrahLBOrlando ApollosApril 8Washington Redskins
Salesi UhatafeGSalt Lake StallionsApril 8Washington Redskins
De'Mornay Pierson-ElWRSalt Lake StallionsApril 8Oakland Raiders
Shakir SotoDTSan Diego FleetApril 8Dallas Cowboys
Luis PerezQBBirmingham IronApril 9Philadelphia Eagles
Greg Ward Jr.WRSan Antonio CommandersApril 9Philadelphia Eagles
Charles JohnsonWROrlando ApollosApril 9Philadelphia Eagles
Michael DunnGBirmingham IronApril 9Miami Dolphins
Jayrone ElliottLBSan Antonio CommandersApril 9Miami Dolphins
Kenneth FarrowRBSan Antonio CommandersApril 9Miami Dolphins
Jaryd Jones-SmithOTSan Antonio CommandersApril 9Miami Dolphins
Tyrone HolmesLBSan Antonio CommandersApril 9Miami Dolphins
Reece HornWRMemphis ExpressApril 9Miami Dolphins
Joey MbuDTSan Antonio CommandersApril 9Miami Dolphins
Karter SchultDESalt Lake StallionsApril 9Minnesota Vikings
Cole MazzaLSBirmingham IronApril 9Los Angeles Chargers
Casey SaylesDEBirmingham IronApril 9Pittsburgh Steelers
Brandon SilversQBMemphis ExpressApril 10New York Jets
Cody BrownSSSalt Lake StallionsApril 10Jacksonville Jaguars
Orion StewartFSSan Antonio CommandersApril 10Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Greer MartiniLBSalt Lake StallionsApril 10Minnesota Vikings
Jordan MartinFSSan Diego FleetApril 10Minnesota Vikings
John WolfordQBArizona HotshotsApril 10Los Angeles Rams
Henre' ToliverCBSalt Lake StallionsApril 11New York Giants
DeMarquis GatesLBMemphis ExpressApril 11Washington Redskins
Daniel BrunskillOTSan Diego FleetApril 12San Francisco 49ers
Elliott FryKOrlando ApollosApril 12Chicago Bears
Chris OdomDESalt Lake StallionsApril 16Atlanta Falcons
Brant WeissOTArizona HotshotsApril 16Arizona Cardinals
Josh WoodrumQBSalt Lake StallionsApril 18Washington Redskins
Trey JohnsonCBBirmingham IronApril 18Denver Broncos
Mike PurcellDTSalt Lake StallionsApril 22Denver Broncos
Ishmael HymanWROrlando ApollosApril 25Cleveland Browns
Jeremiah KoloneOGSan Diego FleetApril 29Los Angeles Rams
Taylor BertoletKSalt Lake StallionsApril 29Denver Broncos
Marcus BaughTESan Diego FleetApril 30Carolina Panthers
Cole HuntTESan Antonio CommandersApril 30Carolina Panthers
Ryan WinslowPMemphis ExpressMay 2Arizona Cardinals
Aaron AdeoyeLBBirmingham IronMay 6Baltimore Ravens
Terrell BondsCBMemphis ExpressMay 6Baltimore Ravens
Jalin MarshallWROrlando ApollosMay 7Oakland Raiders
Jamar SummersCBBirmingham IronMay 12Miami Dolphins
Bug HowardTEAtlanta LegendsMay 13Denver Broncos
Greg GilmoreDTMemphis ExpressMay 13Pittsburgh Steelers
Colton JumperLBMemphis ExpressMay 13New Orleans Saints
D'Ernest JohnsonRBOrlando ApollosMay 16Cleveland Browns
Tony AdamsCAtlanta LegendsMay 16Miami Dolphins
Austin LarkinLBSan Antonio CommandersMay 29Atlanta Falcons
Sione TeuhemaLBArizona HotshotsJune 11Carolina Panthers
Montay CrockettWRAtlanta LegendsJune 11Oakland Raiders
Jordan McCrayCOrlando ApollosJune 13Chicago Bears
Obum GwachamDEArizona HotshotsJune 13Indianapolis Colts
Mark MyersCBOrlando ApollosJune 13New York Jets
Austin TraylorTESalt Lake StallionsJuly 22Detroit Lions
Daniel WilliamsWRMemphis ExpressJuly 24Seattle Seahawks
Isaiah WilliamsOGAtlanta LegendsJuly 26Baltimore Ravens
Amba Etta-TawoWRBirmingham IronJuly 27New York Giants
Hugh ThorntonOGArizona HotshotsJuly 31Washington Redskins
Scott OrndoffTEOrlando ApollosJuly 31Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris ThompsonWROrlando ApollosAugust 3San Francisco 49ers
Wes SaxtonTEBirmingham IronAugust 3Seattle Seahawks
Tracy SprinkleDTAtlanta LegendsAugust 3Cleveland Browns
Matt SimmsQBAtlanta LegendsAugust 3Atlanta Falcons
Nick TruesdellTESalt Lake StallionsAugust 4New York Jets
Malcolm BuncheOGArizona HotshotsAugust 5New York Giants
Davis TullLBMemphis ExpressAugust 9Jacksonville Jaguars
Brandon BarnesTEMemphis ExpressAugust 9Oakland Raiders
Justin StocktonRBArizona HotshotsAugust 10Detroit Lions
Akeem HuntRBOrlando ApollosAugust 10Tennessee Titans
Demetrius RhaneyCMemphis ExpressAugust 10Buffalo Bills
Ben JohnsonTESan Diego FleetAugust 14Los Angeles Chargers
Cameron NizialekPAtlanta LegendsAugust 17Baltimore Ravens
Scooby WrightLBArizona HotshotsAugust 25New England Patriots
Siupeli AnauNTArizona HotshotsAugust 26Arizona Cardinals
Jacob OhnesorgeCArizona HotshotsAugust 27Arizona Cardinals
Younghoe KooKAtlanta LegendsOctober 4New England Patriots
Nick FolkKArizona HotshotsOctober 30New England Patriots

Nine players who were under contract with AAF teams at the time the league ceased operations made initial NFL 53-man active rosters on August 31, 2019: offensive tackle Brandon Greene with the Carolina Panthers, quarterback Garrett Gilbert and running back D'Ernest Johnson with the Cleveland Browns, cornerback De'Vante Bausby and defensive tackle Mike Purcell with the Denver Broncos, long snapper Cole Mazza with the Los Angeles Chargers, kicker Taylor Bertolet with the New York Jets, cornerback Kameron Kelly with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and offensive tackle Daniel Brunskill with the San Francisco 49ers.

CFL

The following players signed with Canadian Football League teams:
PlayerPositionAAF teamDateCFL teamRef.
Terrance PlummerLBOrlando ApollosApril 4Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Kennan GilchristLBSalt Lake StallionsApril 17Toronto Argonauts
Daniel BravermanWRSan Antonio CommandersApril 17Calgary Stampeders
David DeanDTAtlanta LegendsApril 23Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Leon JohnsonOTSalt Lake StallionsApril 26Calgary Stampeders
Josh StewartWRSan Antonio CommandersApril 29Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Shay FieldsWRSan Diego FleetApril 29Calgary Stampeders
Nick TempleLBSan Antonio CommandersApril 30Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Kevin AndersonQBOrlando ApollosApril 30Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Dylan WynnDTArizona HotshotsMay 8Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Josh HuffWRArizona HotshotsMay 8Calgary Stampeders
Chris MartinOTOrlando ApollosMay 8Ottawa Redblacks
Jeremy FaulkDEBirmingham IronMay 10Saskatchewan Roughriders
Avery YoungOTBirmingham IronMay 13Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Darnell LeslieLBSan Antonio CommandersMay 14Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Meffy KoloamatangiDESan Diego FleetMay 15BC Lions
Brett BoykoOTSan Diego FleetMay 16BC Lions
Jonathan MassaquoiDLBirmingham IronMay 17Calgary Stampeders
Shaheed SalmonLBBirmingham IronMay 19Ottawa Redblacks
Quan BrayWRBirmingham IronMay 19Montreal Alouettes
Antonio SimmonsDEAtlanta LegendsMay 20Montreal Alouettes
Marquis BundyWRArizona HotshotsMay 20BC Lions
Freddie BishopLBMemphis ExpressMay 22Toronto Argonauts
Ciante EvansCBSalt Lake StallionsMay 22Montreal Alouettes
Latarius BradyDTMemphis ExpressMay 23Montreal Alouettes
Jordan LeslieWRSalt Lake StallionsMay 23Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Rannell HallWROrlando ApollosMay 26Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Travis FeeneyLBSan Diego FleetMay 29Montreal Alouettes
Jake BennettCSalt Lake StallionsJune 28Saskatchewan Roughriders
Earl OkineDEOrlando ApollosJuly 14Saskatchewan Roughriders
Da'Sean DowneyLBArizona HotshotsJuly 21Calgary Stampeders
Anthony JohnsonDEMemphis ExpressAugust 13Calgary Stampeders
Channing StriblingCBMemphis ExpressSeptember 23Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Shaquille RichardsonCBArizona HotshotsOctober 15Toronto Argonauts
Bishop SankeyRBSan Diego FleetOctober 24Toronto Argonauts

The AAF reportedly blocked AAF players from signing with CFL teams, claiming their AAF contracts were "assets in potential bankruptcy proceedings." Plummer, Gilchrist, and Braverman had signed contracts with AAF teams, but had not yet been activated to the roster from their respective teams' rights lists at the time that the AAF suspended football operations. By April 18, CFL players were allowed to sign AAF players.

AFL

The following players signed with Arena Football League teams:
PlayerPositionAAF teamDateAFL teamRef.
Dwayne HollisCBAtlanta LegendsApril 6Philadelphia Soul
Joe PowellSBirmingham IronApril 7Baltimore Brigade
Anthony AmosWRArizona HotshotsApril 8Columbus Destroyers
Daronte BouldinGMemphis ExpressApril 8Columbus Destroyers
Ervin PhilipsWRAtlanta LegendsApril 10Baltimore Brigade
Malachi JonesWRAtlanta LegendsApril 10Albany Empire
Darius PrinceWRSan Antonio CommandersApril 13Philadelphia Soul
Giorgio NewberryDEOrlando ApollosApril 15Washington Valor
Jordan ThomasCBSan Antonio CommandersApril 17Columbus Destroyers
Antonio GueradDTOrlando ApollosMay 8Albany Empire
Saqwan EdwardsCBArizona HotshotsMay 8Baltimore Brigade
Trenton ThompsonDTArizona HotshotsMay 9Washington Valor
Fred LauinaOGSan Antonio CommandersMay 13Philadelphia Soul
Tuni KanuchOGSalt Lake StallionsMay 14Columbus Destroyers

Wide receiver Malachi Jones received first-team All-Arena, Receiver of the Year, and Offensive Player of the Year honors at the conclusion of the 2019 AFL season, which was also the AFL’s final season before shutting down afterwards. Wide receiver Fabian Guerra was named co-Rookie of the Year as well.

NAL

The following three players signed with National Arena League teams:
PlayerPositionAAF teamDateNAL teamRef.
Corey CrawfordDEMemphis ExpressApril 3Carolina Cobras
Fabian GuerraWRMemphis ExpressApril 9Carolina Cobras
Tre' JacksonOGOrlando ApollosMay 17Massachusetts Pirates