Orlando Predators (NAL)

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This article is about the National Arena League team that launched in 2019. For the defunct Arena Football League team that operated from 1991 to 2016 of the same name, see Orlando Predators.
Orlando Predators
Established 2019
Play in Orlando, Florida
at the Amway Center
OrlandoPredatorsFootball.com
Orlando Predators Logo.png
League/conference affiliations
National Arena League (–present)
Team colorsBlack, red, gold, white
       
Personnel
Owner(s)Nate Starling[1]
John Cheney[2]
General managerCasey Todt[3]
Head coachJeff Higgins
Team history
  • Orlando Predators (2019–present)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (1)
NAL: 2021
Home arena(s)

The Orlando Predators are a professional indoor football team based in Orlando, Florida, with home games at the Amway Center and is a member of the National Arena League. They played their first season in 2019 and are marketed as a revival of the Orlando Predators, who played 25 seasons in the Arena Football League from 1991 to 2016. The original owners of the NAL team acquired the Predators' trademarks in late 2018 after the previous owner, David A. Siegel, allowed them to lapse.[4][5]

History[]

The relaunch of the Orlando Predators was announced in January 2019 and was owned by Kenny McEntyre and Nate Starling after acquiring the trademarks for the team in late 2018.[6] McEntyre and inaugural head coach Doug Miller were both former players with the AFL incarnation of the team. In their inaugural 2019 season, the team finished with a 2–12 record and last place in the league. During the season, players claimed the team was poorly operated including failed payments and evictions from team housing.[7]

Prior to the team's second season, the ownership of the Predators were removed by the league[8] and replaced by another local ownership group composed of co-owner Nate Starling and the Trideco family.[1] The new ownership group brought in former AFL Predator Ben Bennett as head coach. The 2020 season never took place due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On May 21, 2021, the team announced the Trideco family's minority ownership had been purchased by John Cheney, allowing the Trideco family to focus on launching the expansion Albany Empire.[2] Under Bennett, the team went 4–4 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time. Bennett left the team following the season was replaced by Jeff Higgins.[9]

Current roster[]

Orlando Predators roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

  • Currently vacant

Wide receivers

  • -- Rob Brown
  • -- L. J. Castile
  • -- Keith DeVeaux II
  • -- Anthony Green
 Offensive linemen
  • -- Justin Cook
  • -- Alexander Tibbles
  • -- Darius Tolbert

Defensive linemen

  • -- Alexander Little
  • -- David Roberts
  • -- Skyler Skersick
  • -- Matthew Wells
 Linebackers
  • -- Michael Boudreau

Defensive backs

  • -- Robert Brown Jr
  • -- Dezariah Johnson
  • -- Ronnie Hardison
  • -- Eric Martin

Special teams

  • -- Nick Jakelsky
 Reserve lists
  • Currently vacant
  • Rookies in italics
  • Roster updated March 7, 2019
  • 18 Active, 0 Inactive

→ More rosters

Statistics[]

Season-by-season results[]

League champions Playoff berth League leader
Season League Regular season Postseason results
Finish Wins Losses Ties
2019 NAL 6th 2 12 0
2020 NAL Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 NAL 3rd 4 4 0 Lost semifinal (Columbus) 43–61
Totals 6 16 0 All-time regular season record (2019–2021)
0 1 — All-time postseason record (2019–2021)
6 17 0 All-time regular season and postseason record (2019–2021)

Head coaches[]

Note: Statistics are correct through the 2021 National Arena League season.

Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
W L T Win% W L
Doug Miller 2019 2 12 0 .143 0 0
Ben Bennett 2021 4 4 0 .500 0 1

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Orlando Predators Announce New Ownership and the Addition of Ben Bennett as Head Coach". NAL. October 30, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCEMENT: PREDATORS WELCOME JOHN CHENEY". Orlando Predators. May 21, 2021.
  3. ^ "TODT RETURNS TO THE PREDATORS, NAMED TEAM GM". Orlando Predators. March 26, 2021.
  4. ^ "P ORLANDO PREDATORS - Trademark Details". trademarks.justia.com. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  5. ^ "ORLANDO PREDATORS - Trademark Details". trademarks.justia.com. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  6. ^ J.C. Carnahan (January 16, 2019). "Kenny McEntyre revives Orlando Predators in National Arena League". Orlando Sentinel.
  7. ^ "Orlando Predators player claims team's financial troubles led to bounced checks, evictions". WFTV. August 2, 2019.
  8. ^ "New Faces to Join the Orlando Predators in 2020 New Ownership Group and Head Coach". NAL. October 12, 2019.
  9. ^ "NEW HEAD COACH". Orlando Predators. November 18, 2021.

External links[]


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