- 2001
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Hitmen Team Formation
The team’s general manager was former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, and New Jersey native, Drew Pearson. The Hitmen were part of the Eastern Division with the Birmingham Thunderbolts, Orlando Rage, and Chicago Enforcers. They finished in 3rd place with a 4-6 record. The head coach was former NFL assistant Rusty Tillman, who was not a fan of the league’s gimmicks ...
History of the Hitmen
The New York-New Jersey Hitmen was one of the original eight teams in the XFL, a short-lived professional football league that operated for just one season in 2001. The team was based out of Giants Stadium and had an impressive roster featuring some big names from college football, such as Mike Furrey and John Avery. Despite having a talented squad on paper, the Hitmen struggled throughout their only season due to poor coaching decisions by head coach Rusty Tillman. They finished with a 3–8 record overall and failed to make it into post-season play despite being considered contenders before kickoff.
Despite failing on the field during its existence, there are still plenty of reasons why sports fans should remember this franchise fondly. For starters, they were part of something extraordinary – an attempt at creating another major professional football league outside of NFL/AFL dominance at that point in history; plus, they featured some great players who would go on to have successful careers elsewhere (such as QB Tim Rattay). Furthermore, many games saw huge attendance numbers, demonstrating how passionate these fans were about their team even when things weren’t going well on game day itself!
In conclusion, then - while it may not have been around for long or achieved much success - there is no denying that New York-New Jersey Hitmen will remain firmly entrenched within sports fan's collective memory forevermore, thanks mainly due to its unique place within pro gridiron history combined with exciting player performances along the way too!
Hitmen Products
Established
1999
City
New York / New Jersey
League History
2001 / XFL
Team History
2001 / New York-New Jersey Hitmen
Nickname
Hitmen – The New York-New Jersey Hitmen are one of the most iconic teams in the XFL, and their nickname has a unique origin story that any sports fan should know. The name “Hitmen” was created by former head coach Rusty Tillman as an homage to his days playing for the Washington Redskins.
Tillman played defensive back for Washington from 1972 to 1979, earning two Pro Bowl appearances. During those years, he earned himself a reputation as one of the hardest-hitting players in all of football – hence why he chose “Hitmen” when it came time to pick out a team name for New York-New Jersey's entry into the XFL competition.
The combination of "New York" and "Jersey" also had special significance for Tillman; it represented both sides coming together. It was symbolic because this would be his first professional coaching job since leaving Washington nearly 20 years prior! He wanted something that could unite fans from both states while still paying tribute to where he started his football journey: with those legendary Redskins defenses under George Allen's leadership.
Not only is this nickname steeped in history, but its power remains just as strong today - especially considering how well they've done over their three seasons so far! Whether you're rooting them on or simply admiring their legacy, there's no denying that these Hitmen have impacted modern-day sports culture thanks mainly to their memorable moniker and inspiring backstory behind its creation.
Championship
XFL Championships 0
Stadium
2001 / Giants Stadium
Owner
2001 / World Wrestling Federation
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Coach
2001 / Rusty Tillman
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history
