Louisiana Pelicans

Pelicans helmet and logo

The **Louisiana Pelicans** are an American professional football team based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They are members of the south division of conference one in the North American Continental Football League. The Pelicans have appeared in one Raven Bowl in Raven Bowl III, a loss to the Toronto Tracers.

The team was established in 2025 as an expansion team along with the Panama Steamrollers, Guadalajara Chihuahuas, Guatemala Relentless, Portland Bolts, Detroit Detriments, Ottawa Orioles, and the Anchorage Aggravators.

The Pelicans have gone 55-35 in the regular season and 7-3 in their playoff experiences.

## Roster

* **10** *Arch Manning*
* **14** Kyle Trask

**Running Backs**
* **33** Aaron Jones
* **34** Dariq Faso

**Wide Receivers**
* **7** Garret Wilson
* **9** Pedro Sacron
* **5** Ty Johnson
* **1** *Mill Scott*
* **11** Deshaun Tuckman

**Tight Ends**
* **87** Robert Tonyan
* **85** C.J. Uzomah

**Offensive Linemen'**
* **89** Alec Teven
* **99** *Peter Jensen*
* **67** Elgton Jenkins
* **72** *Malik Williams*
* **95** Donovan Mitchell
* **64** Tristram Venables
* **92** *David Pent*
* **86** Kingsley Keke
* **83** John Prince

**Linebackers**
* **15** Devin Bush
* **22** *David Gregg*
* **2** *Wesley Parks*
* **19** *Lucas Lawson*
* **12** *Jonah Workman*

**Defensive Backs**
* **23** Jaire Alexander
* **22** Carlton Davis
* **37** Darnell Savage
* **26** Donald Mitchell
* **27** Danielle Retro
* **35** Antonio Linvelle

**Special Teams**
* **8** Krek Vent

**Practice Squad**
* Currently vacant

*Rookies in italics*
Roster updated March 1, 2022

## Team history

### Matt Rhule era: 2025-2028

#### 2025: 12-3, Raven Bowl championship in debut season

The 2025 season was considered a success by many. In Week 1, quarterback P.J. Walker, who reunited with Matt Rhule who coached him on the NFL's Carolina Panthers, went 21-26 for 238 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions in their 29-28 win over the newly formed Panama Steamrollers. Walker eventually won NACFL MVP following the season. The Pelicans went 12-3.

In the playoffs, the Pelicans received a Wild Card bye week along with the Montgomery Flames because of their success in the regular season. They beat the Orlando Ocelots in the Divisional Round and defeated the Tigers in the South division championship, leading them to Raven Bowl III where they lost 14-17 in an overtime game to the Toronto Tracers.

The Pelicans were named the best debut team of the 2025 season.

#### 2026: 9-6, the "Upset Season"

The 2026 season was as successful for P.J. Walker as the 2025 season. He threw for 4,480 yards, 47 touchdowns, and only 6 interceptions. The Pelicans went 9-6 in the regular season and made the playoffs as the fourth seed of the South division.

The playoffs were full of upsets for the Pelicans, as they defeated the 10-5 Orlando Ocelots in the Wild Card round and the 13-2 Guatemala Relentless in the Divisional Round. They eventually failed their playoff run when they lost to the Guadalajara Chihuahuas in the South division championship game.

They finished sixth in the official final NACFL power rankings.

#### 2027: 10-5, playoff failure

The Pelicans went 10-5 in the regular season, but after a heartbreaking injury to P.J. Walker in Week 14, the Pelicans lost in the Wild Card round to the Orlando Ocelots, the eventual Raven Bowl champions.

The Pelicans ranked seventh in the official final NACFL power rankings.

#### 2028: 6-9, missing playoffs for first time in history

The 2028 season for the Louisiana Pelicans was weak and Matt Rhule was fired following the season, widely regarded as a surprising move by most NACFL fans. Matt Rhule finished his Pelican career 31-21 in the regular season and 6-2 in the playoffs.

### Deion Sanders era: 2029-present

#### 2029: 13-2, playoff failure

Deion Sanders' 2029 Pelicans were widely regarded as one of the best football teams of all time and undoubtably the best NACFL team to not win the Raven Bowl. Deion Sanders, who was nicknamed "Primetime" because of his time in the NFL, is considered one of the best cornerbacks in football history. He previously coached Jackson State in college football before coming to the Pelicans.

P.J. Walker announced his retirement after their divisional round loss to the Panama Steamrollers.

#### 2030: 5-10, missing playoffs

The 2030 Louisiana Pelicans selected Arch Manning, son of Cooper Manning and a member of the prominent Manning football family (notable members: Archie Manning, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning) with the eleventh overall pick in the 2030 NACFL draft.

Manning was underwhelming, but most of this was because he didn't have a single solid receiver to use on the field. ESPN noted that 84% of his passes were dropped, a staggering statistic. The Pelicans missed the playoffs after high hopes before the season.