Tampa Bay Bandits
| Tampa Bay Bandits | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| General information | |||
| Founded | 1982 | ||
| Folded | 1986 | ||
| Headquartered | Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida | ||
| Colors | Red, Silver, Black, White | ||
| Mascot | Smokey | ||
| Personnel | |||
| Owners | John F. Bassett (managing general partner) Stephen Arky (general partner) Burt Reynolds (general partner) Stan Gelt (general partner) 26 other partners | ||
| Head coach | Steve Spurrier | ||
| Team history | |||
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| Home fields | |||
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| League / conference affiliations | |||
United States Football League (1983–1985)
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| Playoff appearances (2) | |||
| 1984, 1985 | |||
The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football team in the United States Football League (USFL) which was based in Tampa, Florida. The Bandits were a charter member of the USFL and was the only franchise to have the same principal owner (John F. Bassett), head coach (Steve Spurrier), and home field (Tampa Stadium) during the league's three seasons of play (1983–1985). The Bandits were one of the most successful teams in the short-lived spring football league both on the field and at the ticket booth. Spurrier's "Bandit Ball" offense led them to three winning seasons and two playoff appearances, and their exciting brand of play combined with innovative local marketing helped the Bandits lead the league in attendance. However, the franchise folded along with the rest of the USFL when the league suspended play after the 1985 season.
Prominent alumni from the Bandits include future NFL Pro Bowlers Nate Newton and Gary Anderson and coach Steve Spurrier, who spent 25 years coaching college football after his successful first stint as a head coach with the Bandits and was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.