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This article is about the team in the second edition of the USFL. For the team in the original USFL from the 1980s, see Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars.
Philadelphia Stars
Established 2021
Folded 2023
Played in Ford Field
in Detroit, Michigan
League/conference affiliations
United States Football League (2022–2023)
  • North Division (2022–2023)
Current uniform
Team colorsRed, orange, gold, white
       
MascotBlob
Personnel
Owner(s)National Spring Football League Enterprises Co, LLC, ( Fox Sports)
General managerMichael Woods (2023)
Head coach Bart Andrus (2022-2023)
Team history
  • Philadelphia Stars (2022–2023)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (1)
2022
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (1)
2022
Home stadium(s)

The Philadelphia Stars were a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Stars competed in the United States Football League (USFL) as a member club of the league's North division. The team played its home games at Protective Stadium and Legion Field, both in Alabama, in 2022, and Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan in 2023. Ultimately, the team would never play a game in Philadelphia. The Stars appeared in the playoffs once, won the division championship game once, and appeared in one USFL Championship Game.

On December 19, 2023, the USFL informed its players union that the Stars would not be among four USFL teams to be contracted as part of the league's upcoming merger with the XFL. [1]

History

The Philadelphia Stars were one of eight teams that were officially announced as a USFL franchise on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on November 22, 2021. [2] On January 6, 2022, It was announced on The Herd with Colin Cowherd that former CFL Head coach Bart Andrus was named the Head coach and General manager of the Stars. [3] Andrus later announced most of his staff on January 28, 2022, on the Dan Sileo Show. [4]

During the 2022 USFL draft, the Stars selected quarterback Bryan Scott with the 3rd overall pick, [5] and selected highly touted cornberback, Channing Stribling. [6]

After training camp, Scott was officially named the Stars' starting quarterback for the 2022 season by head coach Andrus. After starting the season 2–3, the Stars went 4–1 in their last five games, clinching a playoff berth in week 8 after a victory over the Michigan Panthers. [7] They went on to beat the New Jersey Generals 19–14 in the North Division Championship game, earning them their first USFL Championship Game appearance. [8] However, despite erasing a halftime 11-point deficit, they ultimately lost on a late touchdown to the Birmingham Stallions, 33–30. [9]

On December 19, 2023, the USFL informed its players union that the Stars would be among four USFL teams to be contracted as part of the league's upcoming merger with the XFL. [1]

Player History

Current NFL Players

USFL Season Pos Name NFL Team
2022 WR Maurice Alexander Detroit Lions
2022 OT Alex Akingbulu Washington Commanders
2023 DT LaBryan Ray Carolina Panthers

Notable Players

USFL Season Pos Name Notes
2023 WR Corey Coleman Former Cleveland Browns Wide Receiver, 2016 1st Round Pick
2023 TE Ryan Izzo Former New England Patriots Tight End, 2018 7th Round Pick

Coach History

Head Coach history

# Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
GC W L Win % GC W L
Philadelphia Stars
1 Bart Andrus 2022-2023 20 10 10 .500 2 1 1

*Andrus also served as the team Offensive Coordinator

Defensive Coordinator history

# Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
GC W L Win % GC W L
Philadelphia Stars
1 Brad Miller 2022-2023 20 10 10 .500 2 1 1

Championships

North Division championships

Season Coach Location Opponent Score
2022 Bart Andrus Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium ( Canton, Ohio) New Jersey Generals 19–14
Total North Division Championships won: 1

Records

All-time Stars leaders
Leader Player Record Years with Stars
Passing Yards Case Cookus 3,628 passing yards 2022-2023
Passing Touchdowns Case Cookus 27 passing touchdowns 2022-2023
Rushing Yards Matt Colburn 721 rushing yards 2022-2023
Rushing Touchdowns Matt Colburn 12 touchdowns 2022-2023
Receiving Yards Devin Gray 715 receiving yards 2022-2023
Receiving Touchdowns Diondre Overton 5 receiving touchdowns 2022-2023
Receptions Devin Gray 76 receptions 2022-2023
Tackles Cody Brown 118 tackles 2022-2023
Sacks Adam Rodriguez 15.0 sacks 2022-2023
Interceptions Channing Stribling 8 interceptions 2022-2023
Coaching wins Bart Andrus 10 wins 2022-2023

Statistics and records

Season-by-season record

Note: The Finish, Wins, Losses, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play.

Legend
USFL champions† Division champions^ Wild Card berth#
Philadelphia Stars season-by-season records
Season Team League Division Regular season Postseason results Awards
Finish Wins Losses Ties Pct
2022 2022 USFL North 2nd# 6 4 0 .600 Won Division finals ( Generals) 19–14
Lost USFL Championship Game ( Stallions) 30–33		 Maurice Alexander (ND MVP)
2023 2023 USFL North 3rd 4 6 0 .400 – –
Totals 10 10 0 .500 (2022–2023, regular season)
1 1 — .500 (2022–2023, playoffs)
11 11 0 .500 (2022–2023, regular season and playoffs)

Mascot

Blob

On April 11, 2022, the Stars unveiled their mascot, a monstrous red creature that drew comparisons to other Philadelphia sports mascots Gritty and the Phillie Phanatic. [10] [11] The Stars then held a Twitter poll asking fans whether the mascot should be named "Astro", "Cosmo", or "Blob". [12] "Blob" took 65 percent of the vote, and the name was confirmed on April 15. [13] The Stars have offered few details about Blob besides describing him as "out of this world" and noting that he enjoys dancing. [14]

References

  1. ^ a b "Four USFL teams survive merger with XFL". NBC Sports. 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  2. ^ "USFL unveils team cities, nicknames and logos for 2022 debut". FOX Sports. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  3. ^ Stephan Rachuk (January 6, 2022). "USFL Officially Reveals the First Four Head Coaches on The Herd". Pro Football Newsroom. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  4. ^ "Bart Andrus Reveals Some Philadelphia Stars Coaching Hires". Pro Football Newsroom. 2022-01-28. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
  5. ^ Michael Owen Baker (February 22, 2022). "Philadelphia Stars select quarterback Bryan Scott with the third pick of the USFL Draft". www.inquirer.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "Former Ticats DB Channing Stribling signs with Washington Commanders after all-star USFL stint". www.3downnation.com. 3DownDigital Inc. July 15, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  7. ^ Eric D. Williams (June 5, 2022). "Case Cookus, Stars roll past Panthers, clinch playoff spot". www.foxsports.com. Fox Media LLC. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  8. ^ Jeff Schudel (June 26, 2022). "Philadelphia Stars shock Generals, 19-14, in USFL semifinal". news-herald.com. MediaNews Group. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  9. ^ Barry Werner (July 3, 2022). "Birmingham Stallions defeat Philadelphia Stars in USFL championship game". www.usatoday.com. USA Today Network. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  10. ^ Conde, Ximena (April 11, 2022). "Philly has yet another weird mascot – and we don't know what it is". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  11. ^ Sykes, II, Mike D. (April 15, 2022). "The Philadelphia Stars' new 'Blob' mascot is just Dollar Tree Gritty". USA Today. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  12. ^ Herman, Adam (April 15, 2022). "Philadelphia Stars let fans name mascot, and it's hilarious". NBC Sports Philadelphia.
  13. ^ Clancy, Shamus (April 15, 2022). "Philadelphia Stars' mascot is named 'Blob'". PhillyVoice. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  14. ^ Conde, Ximena (April 15, 2022). "Meet Blob, Philly's new and mysterious USFL mascot". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
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