Washington Valor

Washington Valor
Current season
Established 2016
Play in Capital One Arena
in Washington, D.C.
WashingtonValor.com
HelmetLogo
League/conference affiliations
Arena Football League (2017–present)
Team colors Red, navy blue, silver, white
                   
Personnel
Owner(s) Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Chairman Ted Leonsis
President Roger Mody
Head coach Benji McDowell
Team history
  • Washington Valor (2017–present)
Championships

League championships (1)

Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (1)

The Washington Valor are a professional arena football team based in Washington, D.C. that began play in the Arena Football League (AFL) in 2017. The team's home arena is the Capital One Arena. The Valor is owned by Monumental Sports and Entertainment (Ted Leonsis, chairman), which also owns the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL), Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League and fellow AFL team the Baltimore Brigade.

The initial announcement was made in February 2016 of being close to a deal. The official announcement was made in March 10, 2016. The team name "Valor", and colors of red, white, blue and silver were announced in July 2016. The Valor were the first AFL franchise to play in the DC market since the Washington Commandos folded in 1990. The Valor are the current (as of 2018) Arena Football League champions, having defeated fellow Monumental property Baltimore in ArenaBowl XXXI.

History of AFL in Washington, D.C.

The Verizon Center in 2017

Washington Commandos

In 1987, one of the charter teams to play in the new league was the Washington Commandos. The team played its home games during its first season at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland in 1987. The Commandos did not play in 1988, but returned as the Maryland Commandos the following season. The team moved to Virginia in 1990, again as the Washington Commandos and played at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. The team was folded after the 1990 season.

Washington Warriors

In 1999, Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder announced his purchase of an expansion franchise to play in 2003. Snyder named the team the Washington Warriors. He attempted to trademark the name Warriors, but after legal battles, the trademarks were nullified.[1] After years of promising to put a franchise on the field, the Warriors expansion franchise never materialized and was abandoned.[2]

Washington Valor

On February 10, 2016, The Washington Post and radio station WTOP-FM first broke the story that Monumental Sports and Entertainment (Ted Leonsis, chairman), which also owns the NBA's Washington Wizards, WNBA's Washington Mystics, and NHL's Washington Capitals were "close to a deal" in bring a new Arena Football League expansion franchise to the Capital One Arena.[3][4] On March 10, 2016, AFL commissioner Scott Butera announced that the deal was finalized and that the new Washington, D.C., team would begin play in 2017.[5] The official website, Facebook and Twitter pages launched on March 15, 2016. On July 14, 2016, the teams name was announced as the Washington Valor with the teams colors being red, white and blue.[6] Jerseys and helmets designs were released on December 10, 2016. Valor owners Monument Sports and Entertainment also acquired a franchise in Baltimore on November 14, 2016.[7] The team's name was later revealed as the Baltimore Brigade. The Valor's first game was on April 7, 2017, in the Verizon Center against the Brigade. The Valor were the first AFL franchise to play in the DC market since the Commandos.[8] On July 28, 2018 the Washington Valor upset the Baltimore Brigade 69-55 at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore in Arena Bowl XXXI, despite having won only two regular-season games in 2018. Washington QB Arvell Nelson was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

Roster

The Valor playing the Philadelphia Soul in 2017
Washington Valor roster
Quarterbacks

Fullbacks

  • Currently vacant

Wide receivers

 Offensive linemen
  • 70 James Atoe
  • 53 Devonte Danzey
  • 72 Anthony Parker
  • 75 Jordan Mudge
  • 74 Dionte Savage
  • 60 Siosifa Tufunga

Defensive linemen

  • 52 Zack Bullock
  • 42 Lanford Collins
  • 99 Jake Payne
  • 40 David Washington
 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Kickers

 Injured reserve
  • 23 Dominic Addison DB (IR)
  • -- Josh Atkinson WR (IR)
  • 90 Austin Brown DL (IR)
  • 44 Will Corbin FB (IR)
  • 10 Qua Cox DB (IR)
  • 10 Nick Davila QB (IR)
  • 25 Michael Everett DB (IR)
  • 12 Roosevelt Falls DL (IR)
  • 93 Roderick Henderson DL (IR)
  •  5 Greg Reid DB (IR)
  • 58 Khreem Smith DL (IR)
  • 11 Reggie Wilson DL (IR)
  • 16 Rod Windsor WR (IR)

Other league exempt

  • Currently vacant

League suspension

  • -- Ben Curtis OL (Susp.)
  • 15 Justin Wilson WR (Susp.)

Refused to report

  • Currently vacant

Inactive reserve

  • Currently vacant

Recallable reassignment

  • Currently vacant

Rookies in italics
Roster updated July 19, 2018
25 Active, 15 Inactive

→ More rosters

Notable coaches

Head coaches

Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
W L Win% W L Win%
Dean Cokinos 2017–2018 3 15 .167 0 0 –
Benji McDowell 2018–present 2 6 .250 2 1 .667

Staff

Washington Valor staff
Front Office   Coaches
  • Head Coach – Benji McDowell
  • Offensive Coordinator – vacant
  • Defensive Coordinator – Benji McDowell
  • Player Coordinator – Cos Dematteo
  • Strength and Conditioning – Ben Jenkins
  • Team Physician - Dr. Jeffrey Mayer, MD

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dave McKenna (April 29, 1995). "Warriors, Come In to Play!". Washington City Paper.
  2. ↑ Scott Allen (February 11, 2016). "'Washington Maul' and 12 other name ideas for D.C.'s future Arena Football League team". The Washington Post.
  3. ↑ Ted Leonsis close to securing Arena Football League team to play at Verizon Center, Jonathan O'Connell and Dan Steinberg, Washington Post, February 10, 2016
  4. ↑ Ted Leonsis to announce D.C. is getting an Arena Football League team, Scott Allen, The Washington Post, March 10, 2016
  5. ↑ AFL Lands New Team in Nation's Capital, ArenaFootball.com, March 10, 2016
  6. ↑ Russell, Jake. "And the name of D.C.'s arena football team is … the Washington Valor". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  7. ↑ NEWSROOM MONUMENTAL SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES AFL TEAM TO PLAY IN BALTIMORE, Monumental Sports and Entertainment website, November 14, 2016
  8. ↑ Scott Allen (March 10, 2016). "Ted Leonsis to announce D.C. is getting an Arena Football League team". The Washington Post.
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