Thunderbolts Primary LogoThunderbolts Alternate LogoEstablished 1999 City Birmingham League History 2001 / XFL Team History 2001 / Birmingham Thunderbolts Nickname Thunderbolts – The Birmingham Thunderbolts, a former XFL team that played in the league’s only season in 2001, have an exciting nickname origin story. The name was chosen by fans who voted on it through a nationwide poll conducted by …