# Memphis Showboats (2022)

The Memphis Showboats are a professional American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Showboats compete in the United Football League (UFL) as a member of the USFL Conference. The team is owned and operated by Dwayne Johnson's Alpha Acquico and Fox Corporation. The Showboats play their home games at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

## History

The Showboats name and branding is based on the original Memphis Showboats of the original United States Football League. On November 15, 2022, it was announced that the Showboats were joining the United States Football League (USFL) to fill the Tampa Bay Bandits' spot after the team announced their hiatus for the 2023 USFL season. On the same day, Todd Haley was announced as the Showboats' inaugural head coach. Players and coaches from the existing Bandits team were transferred to the Showboats.
The Showboats finished the 2023 USFL season with a 5–5 record, placing third in the USFL South Division. The did not make the playoffs in 2023.
After the 2023 season, the showboats fired Head Coach Todd Haley.
In September 2023, Axios reported that the XFL was in advanced talks with the USFL to merge the two leagues prior to the start of their 2024 seasons. On September 28, 2023, the XFL and USFL announced their intent to merge, pending regulatory approval. The merger was made official on December 31, 2023, and the league intends to begin its combined season on March 30, 2024.
On January 3, 2024, the Showboats hired former New Orleans Breakers Head Coach and NFL Offensive Coordinator John DeFilippo.
The Showboats concluded the inaugural 2024 UFL season season with a 2–8 record, placing third in the USFL Conference and missing the playoffs. On June 2, 2024, the Showboats played the Houston Roughnecks, who were tied for last place with the showboats. It was announced that the winner of the game would receive the number one overall pick in the 2024 UFL draft. The Showboats would win 19-12, earning the number one pick, which would eventually be Jason Bean.
On August 2, 2024, the Showboats General manager Dennis Polian stepped down from his position.
On August 9, 2024, DeFilippo and the Showboats parted ways after a 2-8 season in 2024.
On September 23, 2024, the Showboats hired Former Tennessee Titans Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt. This came after the departure of Head Coach John DeFilippo. The Showboats also hired Jim Monos as their new General Manager on the same day.

## Player history
### Notable players

| Season | Pos | Name | Notes |
| 2023 | RB | Alex Collins | Former NFL running back, 2016 NFL draft, 5th-round pick |
| 2025–present | TE | Ryan Izzo | Former New England Patriots Tight End, 2018 7th Round Pick |
| 2025–present | S | Obi Melifonwu | Former New England Patriots Safety, 2017 2nd Round Pick |
| 2025–present | CB | Cameron Dantzler | Former Minnesota Vikings Cornerback, 2020 3rd Round Pick |

## Coaches history
### Head coaches

| No. | Name | Term | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Awards |
| No. | Name | Term | GC | W | L | Win % | GC | W | L | Awards |
| Memphis Showboats |||||||||||
| 1 | Todd Haley | 2023 | 10 | 5 | 5 | .500 | - | - | - | |
| 2 | John DeFilippo | 2024 | 10 | 2 | 8 | .200 | - | - | - | |
| 3 | Ken Whisenhunt | 2025–present | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |

### Offensive coordinators

| No. | Name | Term | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Awards |
| No. | Name | Term | GC | W | L | Win % | GC | W | L | Awards |
| Memphis Showboats |||||||||||
| 1 | Bob Saunders | 2023 | 10 | 5 | 5 | .500 | - | - | - | |
| 2 | Doug Martin | 2024 | 10 | 2 | 8 | .200 | - | - | - | |
| 3 | Ken Whisenhunt | 2025–present | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |

### Defensive coordinators

| No. | Name | Term | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Awards |
| No. | Name | Term | GC | W | L | Win % | GC | W | L | Awards |
| Memphis Showboats |||||||||||
| 1 | Carnell Lake | 2023–2024 | 20 | 7 | 13 | .350 | - | - | - | |
| 2 | Jarren Horton | 2025–present | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |

## Records

All-time Showboats leaders :
| Leader | Player | Record | Years with Showboats |
| Passing yards | Cole Kelley | 1,534 passing yards | 2023 |
| Passing touchdowns | Cole Kelley Case Cookus | 7 passing touchdowns | 2023 2024 |
| Rushing yards | Darius Victor | 391 rushing yards | 2024 |
| Rushing touchdowns | Darius Victor | 4 rushing touchdowns | 2024 |
| Receiving yards | Vinny Papale | 649 receiving yards | 2023–2024 |
| Receiving touchdowns | Vinny Papale | 8 receiving touchdowns | 2023–2024 |
| Receptions | Vinny Papale | 69 receptions | 2023–2024 |
| Tackles | Delrick Abrams | 82 tackles | 2023–2024 |
| Sacks | Greg Reaves | 8.0 sacks | 2023–2024 |
| Interceptions | Delrick Abrams | 2 interceptions | 2023–2024 |
| Coaching wins | Todd Haley | 5 wins | 2023 |

## Statistics and records
### Season by season records

| UFL champions$^†$ (2024–present) | USFL champions$^§$ (2022–2023) | Conference champions$^*$ | Division champions$^^$ | Wild Card berth$^#$ |
| Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Postseason results | Awards | Head coaches | Pct. |
| Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Finish | W | L | Postseason results | Awards | Head coaches | Pct. |
| 2023 | 2023 | USFL | | South | 4th | 5 | 5 | | Derrick Dillon (STPOY) | Todd Haley | .500 |
| 2024 | 2024 | UFL | USFL | | 3rd | 2 | 8 | | Darius Victor (SMOY) | John DeFilippo | .200 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 7 | 13 | All-time regular season record (2023–2024) | All-time regular season record (2023–2024) | All-time regular season record (2023–2024) | .350 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | All-time postseason record (2023–2024) | All-time postseason record (2023–2024) | All-time postseason record (2023–2024) | – |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 7 | 13 | All-time regular season and postseason record (2022–2024) | All-time regular season and postseason record (2022–2024) | All-time regular season and postseason record (2022–2024) | .350 |

## Rivalries
### Houston Gamblers/Roughnecks

The Memphis Showboats shared Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee with the Houston Gamblers (now called the Roughnecks) during the 2023 season. In 2024, the two teams played against each other in the season finale for the number one overall pick in the 2025 UFL draft. The winner would get the number one pick, the Showboats won the game 19–12 and earned the 2025 number one pick. Currently the Showboats have a 3–1 record against Houston.

### Franchise matchup history

| Team | Record | Pct. |
| New Jersey Generals | 1–0 | 1.000 |
| Pittsburgh Maulers | 1–0 | 1.000 |
| Houston Gamblers/Roughnecks | 3–1 | .750 |
| New Orleans Breakers | 1–1 | .500 |
| Michigan Panthers | 1–2 | .333 |
| Arlington Renegades | 0–1 | .000 |
| DC Defenders | 0–1 | .000 |
| Philadelphia Stars | 0–1 | .000 |
| San Antonio Brahmas | 0–1 | .000 |
| St. Louis Battlehawks | 0–1 | .000 |
| Birmingham Stallions | 0–4 | .000 |
* Defunct teams in light gray