Florida Tuskers The Viginia Destroyers are a professional American football team based in Virginia Beach , Virginia that play in the United Football League . Known as the Florida Tuskers from 2009 – 2010 , the team played its home games at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando , Florida . Their head coach for the 2009 season was Jim Haslett , who led the team to the 2009 UFL Championship Game . Their head coach and general manager for the 2010 was Jay Gruden , who remained the Destroyers ' head coach following their move to Virginia in 2011 . The team plays its home games at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex . Franchise history . Florida Tuskers ( 2009 – 2010 ) . 2009 season . Orlando was awarded a franchise for the UFL ' s 2009 season . Former New Orleans Saints and St . Louis Rams head coach Jim Haslett was named the first head coach of the team on March 11 , 2009 . Tryouts for the four teams that would play in the 2009 season took place in Orlando and Las Vegas during the summer , with the draft taking place on June 19 . With their first selection , the Tuskers picked Fred Bledsoe , who had gone undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft before signing with the Green Bay Packers as a practice squad member . The team ' s name , along with its colors and uniforms , were unveiled to the public in August , two months before the start of the season . < / ref > On the same day it was announced that the Tampa Bay Rays had bought interest in the team . In their inaugural season , the Tuskers were led by quarterback Brooks Bollinger , and wide receiver Taye Biddle . Bollinger was the league leader in passing yards , while Biddle led in receiving yards . On the defensive side of the ball , Odell Thurman led the team in tackles , Patrick Chukwurah was the league leader in sacks , and Jerome Carter led the league in interceptions . The team was noted for having a large number of former players from the nearby Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Among the Buccaneer alumnus were Matt Bryant , who once kicked a game - winning 62 - yard field goal as time expired , which is also the third - longest successful attempt in NFL history , Micheal Spurlock , the first player in Tampa Bay history to return a kickoff for a touchdown , and Super Bowl XXXVII MVP Dexter Jackson . The Tuskers put together a league - best undefeated 6 – 0 record in the regular season , clinching a spot in the championship game in Week 4 . However in the championship game , the Tuskers were beaten by the Las Vegas Locomotives , losing on a game - winning field goal in overtime . Despite the team being unable to complete a perfect season , Jim Haslett was named Coach of the Year , while Bollinger was given the league ' s MVP award . 2010 season . In January 2010 , head coach Jim Haslett left the team to become the defensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins . On February 9 , 2010 , UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue named Jay Gruden as head coach and general manager . On the same day it was announced that the Tampa Bay Rays had sold their interest in the team , meaning the Tuskers would be fully based in Orlando for the 2010 season . After several months of league ownership , a group led by Joe Theismann purchased the team in October 2010 . The Tuskers signed WYGM as their radio affiliate , becoming the second UFL team to have one . Florida extended their regular season winning streak to seven games when they defeated the Las Vegas Locos in their opener on September 18 , 27 – 20 . The Tuskers lost their first regular season game in franchise history in week 2 when they were defeated by the Sacramento Mountain Lions , 24 – 20 . They dropped their next contest on September 30 against the Locos , 20 – 17 , the first time Las Vegas had beaten Florida in a regular season matchup . After splitting their next two games , the Tuskers were 2 – 3 and in danger of being eliminated from championship contention . After backup quarterback Chris Greisen became the new starter in week 8 , the Tuskers went on to win their final three games , sending them back to the championship game , once again facing Las Vegas . Virginia Destroyers . 2011 season . The UFL originally announced an expansion team based in Virginia Beach , Virginia , to begin play in 2011 . Jim Speros , owner of the Baltimore Stallions and ( briefly ) the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League , was named as the team ' s owner , but relinquished control of the team to the league on August 23 , 2010 opening up bidding to other parties . Former NFL and USFL quarterback Doug Williams later was named the team ' s general manager .