1984 Arizona Wranglers

In one of the more bizarre trades of all time, the owners of the Arizona Wranglers and Chicago Blitz actually traded franchises before the '84 season. Thus, the '84 Wranglers were the former '83 Blitz. As Arizona posted a dismal 4-14 record in 1983 and since Chicago went 11-7 and made the playoffs, fans in the desert were ecstatic.

Expectations were high but the team got off to a 6-8 start, with some calling for coach George Allen to be fired. The team went on a four game winning streak to make the playoffs and then used a smothering defense to stop Jim Kelly and the Gamblers to setup a memorable Western Conference final with the Steve Young and Los Angeles Express. The game should have been played in Los Angeles, but the '84 Summer Games made that impossible, so the game was moved to Sun Devil Stadium. Because of the scorching July weather in desert, the game was moved to the evening, but it was still 100 degrees at kickoff. The Wranglers beat the Express 35-23, but lost the championship to the Philadelphia Stars in Tampa.

1984 Arizona Wranglers 1984 Arizona Wranglers 1983/1985   ARIZONA WRANGLERS     Week 1 OAKLAND W 35-7     Week 2 TAMPA BAY L 20-17     Week 3 WASHINGTON W 37-7     Week 4 at Michigan L 31-26     Week 5 OKLAHOMA W 49-7     Week 6 at Denver L 17-7     Week 7 PHILADELPHIA L 22-21     Week 8 at New Jersey W 20-3     Week 9 at Houston L 37-24     Week 10 SAN ANTONIO L 24-23     Week 11 at New Orleans W 28-13     Week 12 at Oakland L 14-3     Week 13 DENVER W 41-6     Week 14 at Los Angeles L 24-17     Week 15 at Birmingham W 38-28     Week 16 JACKSONVILLE W 45-14     Week 17 at Chicago W 36-0     Week 18 LOS ANGELES W 35-10     REGULAR SEASON   1984 Record:  10-8 (tied for 1st in Pacific) Head Coach: George Allen Stadium: Sun Devil Stadium Attendance: 25,568 #1 Draft Pick: Keith Millard DE Washington State Team Leaders Passing:    Rushing:   Receiving:   Interceptions:   Sacks:   Postseason Beat Houston 17-16 Beat Los Angeles 35-23 Lost to Baltimore 23-3

USFL Bibliography
Books:
The $1 League: The Rise and Fall of the USFL by Jim Byrne
The Sporting News Official USFL Guide and Register, 1984
The Sporting News Official USFL Guide and Register, 1985
USFL Media Guides (each team published one each year)

Magazines:
Kickoff Magazine (published by league; 9 issues per year + playoffs; sold at games)
The Sporting News (regular coverage + special "preview" inserts)

These and many other USFL items can be found at eBay - check our links on the far right of this page!