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Legends Team Formation
The Atlanta Legends were a professional American football franchise based in Atlanta, Georgia, and one of the eight members of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), which played one season from February 2019 to April 2019. They played their home games at Georgia State Stadium on the campus of Georgia State University. The Legends were one of two AAF teams based in a city that already had an NFL team (the Atlanta Falcons; the other team was the Arizona Hotshots, where the NFL’s Cardinals were based). The Legends were coached by Kevin Coyle, one of two AAF coaches without prior head coaching experience after the position became available when Brad Childress resigned a month before the season began. Billy Devaney was the general manager.
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AAF and Legends file Chapter 7
On April 2, 2019, the league’s football operations were reportedly suspended, and on April 4 the league allowed players to leave their contracts to sign with NFL teams. The league filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on April 17, 2019.
The Atlanta Legends are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia and are charter members of the Alliance of American Football. The Legends were the 2nd of 8 teams announced for the new league, which is set to play in February 2019.
The Alliance Atlanta team was announced by the league on April 25, 2018, as its second initial team. Additionally, the head coach, Brad Childress, and offensive coordinator, Michael Vick, were announced. On September 20, the league announced for four eastern inaugural franchises’ names and logos including Atlanta as the Atlanta Legends. The name and colors (purple, gold, white) are tributes to famous historical figures from the city, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Hank Aaron.
Childress resigned a month before the start of the 2019 season, and Kevin Coyle, initially hired as the team’s defensive coordinator, took Childress’s place. On February 7, 2019, two days before their first game, head coach Coyle announced that Vick would be unable to fill his role as offensive coordinator and would instead act as an advisor to the team. Rich Bartel, who replaced Vick as de facto offensive coordinator and play-caller, abruptly resigned two days before the team’s home opener, prompting the team to hire Ken Zampese to lead the offense.
The team’s first game was at Spectrum Stadium against the Orlando Apollos on Saturday, February 9, 2019, where they lost 40–6. Their first home game was on February 24 against the Birmingham Iron, where they lost 28–12. After starting the season 0–3, the Legends recorded their first win against the Arizona Hotshots on March 3, 2019.
The AAF closed down operation on April 2, 2019, and Legends finished with a record of 2 wins and 6 losses. The Legends finished tied for 3rd place of the Eastern Conference.
Established
2018
City
Atlanta
League History
2019 / Alliance of American Football
Team History
2019 / Atlanta Legends
Nickname
Legends – Players come and go, legends live forever. Atlanta is a city of legends, those who are heroic, larger-than-life, celebrated and storied on and off the field. From Hank Aaron and Chipper Jones to our very own Michael Vick, the greats come to Atlanta to be immortalized. Some of the biggest legends of the civil rights movement have called Atlanta home. Centennial Park stands as a monument to the achievements of Olympic legends. Atlanta houses legendary establishments such as the historic Fox Theatre. This is where legends are made.
Championship
AAF Championships 0
Stadium
2019 / Georgia State Stadium
Owner
2019 / Alliance of American Football
Coach
2019 / Brad Childress
*Blue is this team’s history