Hartford Colonials The Hartford Colonials , originally the New York Sentinels , were a professional American football team that played in the United Football League in its 2009 and 2010 seasons . A charter member of the UFL , the Sentinels began play in 2009 nominally representing New York City but playing its home games in three stadiums , none of which were in the city proper : Rentschler Field in East Hartford , Connecticut ; Shuart Stadium in Hempstead , New York ( on Long Island ) ; and the now - demolished Giants Stadium in East Rutherford , New Jersey . ( The Sentinels had scheduled a game for Citi Field in Queens but relocated that game to Long Island . ) As the Colonials , the team played all of its home games at Rentschler Field in East Hartford , representing the adjacent city of Hartford . League - wide financial problems and the high rate of rent at " The Rent " led to the league suspending the Colonials ' operations in August 2011 , a month before it would have begun play in its third season . The league had stated that the Colonials could be brought back for the 2012 UFL season , if it were to be played , but the announcement of the 2012 season removed Hartford ' s logo ( which had remained on the site in 2011 , with indication it had been suspended ) from the UFL Web site and did not include the team in the league ' s 2012 schedule . The Colonials and Sentinels were historically the worst of the UFL ' s five teams , having a combined record of 3 – 11 ( . 214 ) and finishing in last place in both seasons . They hold the dubious distinction of accumulating the league ' s only winless record in 2009 . The team had three head coaches in its history . Ted Cottrell coached the Sentinels in 2009 and was fired after that season . Chris Palmer coached the 2010 season , before he was hired by the Tennessee Titans as their offensive coordinator in 2011 . Former NFL head coach Jerry Glanville was named as his replacement for 2011 but the team folded before he coached a game . Franchise history . New York Sentinels ( 2009 ) . Both New York and Hartford were among the six inaugural teams originally announced for the 2009 season , along with Las Vegas , Los Angeles , Orlando , and San Francisco . When the league contracted to four teams prior to the start of that season , Hartford ' s and New York ' s teams were merged into one , maintaining the New York name . The team began play as the Sentinels in October 2009 , with home games split between Giants Stadium in East Rutherford , New Jersey , James M . Shuart Stadium in Hempstead , New York , and Rentschler Field ( one home game in each venue ) . The league had planned to play at least one game in New York City proper ( at Citi Field ) , but this never materialized , and the proposed game was moved to Shuart Stadium . Former NFL assistant Ted Cottrell was hired as the team ' s head coach . The Sentinels posted a 0 – 6 record and Cottrell was fired following the season . Hartford Colonials ( 2010 ) . In February 2010 , the team moved to Hartford , Connecticut for the 2010 season , a move initially opposed by team owner Bill Mayer . Through an online vote , fans were asked to select one of four names ( Hartford Knights , Hartford Guardians , Hartford Travelers or Connecticut Yankees ) to become the new team name , or to suggest a name not listed . The new name was announced as being the Hartford Colonials on March 14 , 2010 . " Colonials " was not one of the four names voters could choose from , but was said to become an " overwhelming favorite " among the fan suggested names . The team ' s logo and colors were revealed May 24 , 2010 to have a blue and metallic gold scheme , the first of the UFL teams to have broken from the league ' s standardized color scheme . Northland AEG , L . L . C . , the operators of Rentschler Field , purchased a stake in the franchise upon the team ' s arrival in Hartford , though exactly what size share the company owns is unknown . The team also hired former Cleveland Browns head coach Chris Palmer to be their head coach and general manager . The Colonials became the first UFL team to agree to broadcast their games on radio ; games will aired WPOP . They were also the first to sign a deal with a regional sports network , with two of the Colonials ' games carried on New England Sports Network . The Colonials presented a living history program that featured Revolutionary War soldiers with muskets , a horseman portraying Connecticut hero David Humphreys , and a period cannon and crew in the end zone that fired after every Colonials score , all interacting with fans before and during the home games . This was featured in video and on the web at their last game in 2010 against the Las Vegas Locomotives by ESPN . The Colonials were a bellwether for many of the problems that would plague the league beginning at the end of the 2010 season ; the team narrowly averted a strike in protest to a proposed transfer fee that would have effectively prevented players from signing on with a National Football League franchise after the season ended . Suspension . Palmer departed after the 2010 season to take the role of offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans of the NFL . In March 2011 , the league named Jerry Glanville as the Colonials ' head coach for the 2011 season . An agreement had not yet been secured for the team to return to Rentschler Field until June 2011 ; unpaid debts and a change in stadium management held up negotiations . The Colonials reached a deal with Rentschler Field in late June 2011 . Weeks after rumors surfaced that the team could be in danger of being contracted , the league suspended operations of the Colonials on August 10 , 2011 and offered Glanville a position as a consultant with the league . Team owner Bill Mayer was transferred to the Virginia Destroyers . Notable Football Players . Lorenzo Booker - Former NFL running back for the Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins , played for the Colonials in 2010 . Quintin Demps - NFL safety for the New York Giants , played for the Colonials in 2010 . Scott Player - Former NFL running back for the Detroit Lions , played for the Sentinels in 2009 . Danny Lansanah - NFL linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , played for the Colonials in 2010 and Sentinels in 2009 . Josh McCown - NFL quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , played for the Sentinels in 2010 . Scott Player - NFL punter who played 10 seasons in the NFL , played for the Sentinels in 2009 . Simeon Rice - Former NFL defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers , played for the Sentinels in 2009 . Season - by - season records . Records vs . teams . This includes postseason games .