Dallas Desperados The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team . The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now - defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008 . The franchise began play in as an expansion team , and have posted a winning record in all but one of their seasons in existence . The team was owned by Jerry Jones , who also owns the Dallas Cowboys . Jones ' son - in - law Shy Anderson was the COO of the team , and oversaw the day - to - day operations of the franchise . The original franchise folded effective August 4 , 2009 , upon the dissolving of the AFL . History . During a halftime interview at a Cowboys preseason game on August 12 , 2000 , Jerry Jones revealed to Babe Laufenberg that the AFL had granted him an expansion franchise to begin play in 2002 . The team was originally going to be named the " Dallas Texans " , following in the footsteps of Dallas ’ former AFL franchise which existed from 1990 - 1993 . However , that same year he sold the rights to the name " Texans " for a reported $ 10 million to the upstart Houston franchise . After a contest in which fans voted via the team ’ s official website , the new Dallas team was eventually named the Desperados . Jones appointed Cowboys special teams coach Joe Avezzano as head coach , and on November 21 , 2001 in the AFL expansion draft , they acquired their first player , lineman Aaron Hamilton . Avezzano , along with starting quarterback Andy Kelly , led the team to a respectable 7 - 7 record and a playoff appearance in the teams first season of play , and a 10 - 6 record and a second consecutive playoff berth in 2003 under new quarterback Jim Kubiak . However , Avezzano was fired from the Cowboys staff that season , and subsequently resigned as Desperados head coach when he accepted a job with the Oakland Raiders . Before the 2004 season , Jones hired Will McClay to replace Avezzano , and McClay struggled to a 6 - 10 record his rookie season as coach . The team improved to 8 - 7 - 1 the following season and barely missed making the playoffs , and under the helm of quarterback / offensive coordinator Clint Dolezel , posted a 13 - 3 record in 2006 and made their first appearance in an AFL conference championship game , losing to the Orlando Predators . The following season saw the Desperados post an AFL record fifteen wins and the team appeared destined to make their first ArenaBowl appearance , but they were shocked by the Columbus Destroyers , who had entered the playoffs with a 7 - 9 record , in the first round . The upset is ranked by many among the greatest of all time . The following season saw no relief to the postseason failure as the Desperados at 12 - 4 lost to the 8 - 8 New York Dragons in Dallas . After the New Orleans VooDoo folded , the league placed the Desperados in the South Division after the team had spent five seasons as an Eastern Division powerhouse . With the exception of one playoff game and the entirety of the 2003 season , the Desperados have played all of their home games at American Airlines Center , and the team ’ s official mascot is Kid Coyote . Memorable Desperados moments . On June 9 , 2007 , the Desperados faced the 4 - 9 New Orleans VooDoo . The 13 - 1 Desperados found themselves losing late in the game . But Dallas Quarterback Clint Dolezel threw a touchdown with 30 seconds left on the clock to give the Desperados the lead . On the ensuing kickoff , the VooDoo fielded the ball off the net and found themselves looking at a long way to the endzone from their own one - yard line . They managed to put together a lengthy drive and were able to score with 1 . 7 seconds left to make the score 80 - 79 . Rather than tie the game with an extra point , they elected to go for the win with a two - point conversion . VooDoo Quarterback Steve Bellisari dropped back and was sacked by 2007 AFL lineman of the year Colston Weatherington on the ten . The game was over along with the VooDoo playoff hopes . In the end , Dallas won 80 - 79 . The game was voted 2007 " Game of the Year " leaguewide in July 2007 . Awards and honors . 2002 . Individual Award Winners Commissioner ' s Award All - Rookie Team 2008 . Individual Award Winners First Team All - Arena Team Second Team All - Arena Team All - Ironman Team All - Rookie Team