The Orlando Guardians were a professional American football team that played in the XFL. Originally founded as the New York Guardians in 2020 by Vince McMahon's Alpha Entertainment, the team was later relocated to Orlando and played at Camping World Stadium during the 2023 season. The Guardians were owned by Dwayne Johnson’s Alpha Acquico, who took over the XFL in 2020.
History
In 2020, the team played their inaugural season under the name New York Guardians at MetLife Stadium. Under the leadership of head coach Kevin Gilbride, they won their first game in franchise history, defeating the Tampa Bay Vipers. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the suspension of the XFL season in March 2020, and the league subsequently filed for bankruptcy. The Guardians finished with a 3–2 record before the season was halted.
In 2023, the Guardians were rebranded as the Orlando Guardians when the XFL returned under the ownership of Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia. The team was relocated to Orlando and played their home games at Camping World Stadium. Unfortunately, the Guardians struggled during the 2023 season, finishing with a 1–9 record, with their only win coming against the DC Defenders. Terrell Buckley served as the head coach during the 2023 season.
Player and Coaching History
The team attracted notable players, including Paxton Lynch, a former Denver Broncos quarterback, and Eli Rogers, a former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver. Despite some individual successes, such as Cody Latimer leading the team in receiving yards, the Guardians struggled overall on the field.
The coaching staff included Kevin Gilbride, who had led the team in its 2020 season, and Terrell Buckley, who coached the 2023 Guardians. Buckley’s tenure, however, was marked by challenges, as the team ended the season with a .100 win percentage.
Rivalries
The Guardians faced fierce competition within the XFL, particularly with teams like the DC Defenders, Vegas Vipers, and Arlington Renegades. Despite the rivalry, the Guardians managed a 1–1 record against the Defenders, one of their most notable matchups.
Merger and Future
In September 2023, the XFL and USFL announced plans to merge into a unified football league. The Orlando Guardians were excluded from this new league, marking the end of their run in the XFL. The merger, which was finalized in December 2023, set the stage for the United Football League (UFL) to begin in 2024, but without the Guardians as part of the new structure.
Legacy and Impact
While the Orlando Guardians had a short-lived existence in the XFL, they contributed to Orlando’s sports landscape, joining teams like the Orlando Magic, Orlando City SC, and Orlando Solar Bears as part of the city’s professional sports community. The Guardians' brief but memorable run provided a platform for emerging talent and helped fuel interest in spring football in Florida.
Despite the team's struggles, the Guardians' legacy lives on through the memories of the players and coaches who participated in their games. The 1-9 record in 2023 marks a chapter in Orlando's sports history, and their relocation to the UFL represents a shift in the professional football landscape.
2020: The Inception as New York Guardians
The Orlando Guardians were originally founded as the New York Guardians in 2019 by Vince McMahon's Alpha Entertainment. The team was part of the XFL’s 2020 relaunch, a professional football league aiming to bring high-quality football to cities across the United States. The Guardians were based in the New York metropolitan area, with their home games played at MetLife Stadium. The first head coach appointed was Kevin Gilbride, a former offensive coordinator for the New York Giants.
The team's first player was Matt McGloin, a former Oakland Raiders quarterback, who became the face of the franchise. The Guardians played their inaugural game in 2020 against the Tampa Bay Vipers, winning 23–3, with McGloin scoring the team’s first touchdown. However, despite a strong start, the Guardians faced challenges on the field, and their 3–2 record was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The XFL season was suspended on March 12, 2020, and later canceled, with the league filing for bankruptcy, leading to the termination of all team operations.
2021: No Season
Due to the ongoing pandemic and the league’s financial struggles, the XFL did not hold a season in 2021. This period of uncertainty left the future of all XFL teams, including the Guardians, in limbo.
2022: The Move to Orlando and Rebranding
In 2022, the XFL was bought by a group led by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia, marking a new era for the league. Early reports indicated that Orlando was being considered for a new team, as the city had previously hosted professional football teams like the Orlando Apollos in the Alliance of American Football (AAF) in 2019. Orlando, being one of the largest cities without an NFL team, was a prime location for the XFL to build its fanbase.
By July 25, 2022, the XFL confirmed that Orlando would receive a team in 2023, and Tampa Bay would no longer have a franchise. The Orlando Guardians were rebranded from the New York Guardians and moved to Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The team was now part of the revamped XFL under the new ownership, which brought a more exciting vision for the league and the teams.
2023: A New Era and Struggles
The 2023 Orlando Guardians season was marked by a fresh start, with Terrell Buckley, a former NFL cornerback, hired as the head coach. Despite the optimism surrounding the rebranded franchise, the season was challenging for the Guardians. The team finished with a 1–9 record, with their only victory coming against the DC Defenders. They struggled both offensively and defensively, finishing in the bottom of the XFL South Division.
Notable players during this era included Paxton Lynch, a former Denver Broncos first-round draft pick, and Cody Latimer, a wide receiver who had previously played for the Denver Broncos. Despite individual successes, such as Latimer leading the team in receiving yards, the Guardians faced difficulties in finding consistent success on the field.
2023 and Merger Talks
As the 2023 season ended, news broke that the XFL was in talks to merge with the USFL in a move that would reshape the landscape of professional spring football. The XFL and USFL confirmed their intent to merge in September 2023, but by December 2023, it was confirmed that the Orlando Guardians would not be part of the merged league. This marked the end of the Guardians’ brief tenure in the XFL, with the team not being included in the new unified league, which would continue under the United Football League (UFL) name starting in 2024.
Legacy and Impact
The Orlando Guardians had a short-lived history, but they were an important part of Orlando's sports landscape. They were one of the few professional football teams to represent the city and played a key role in reviving interest in spring football in the region. While their on-field performance left much to be desired, the team drew attention to Orlando as a growing market for professional sports.
Despite their 1–9 record in 2023, the Guardians helped establish the XFL in Orlando, contributing to the city’s sports culture alongside teams like Orlando City SC and the Orlando Magic. The team’s journey, though short, reflects the volatility and challenges of professional football leagues outside of the NFL, and their final season ended with the franchise’s exit from the league in the wake of the XFL and USFL merger.
The Orlando Guardians were owned by the Alpha Acquico group, led by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Dany Garcia. This ownership group acquired the XFL in 2020 after the league filed for bankruptcy following the COVID-19 pandemic. Johnson, a globally recognized actor and entrepreneur, and Garcia, a successful businesswoman and producer, brought a fresh vision to the league, with an emphasis on entertainment, community engagement, and sustainability. Under their leadership, the Orlando Guardians became a key component of the XFL’s return in 2023, as part of a broader strategy to expand the league's presence in major cities across the U.S.
The direction set by Johnson and Garcia for the Guardians involved a strong focus on building a community-oriented team while maintaining a high entertainment value. Their ownership emphasized engaging with fans both in-stadium and through digital media, leveraging Johnson's fame and Garcia's experience in the entertainment industry to generate interest in the league.
However, following a challenging 2023 season with a 1-9 record, the Guardians' future took a significant turn. As the XFL announced its merger with the USFL in 2023, the Guardians were excluded from the new league structure, effectively ending their time as part of the XFL.
The organizational structure of the Orlando Guardians was similar to many professional sports teams but with a focus on football operations, coaching, and player development. The team management was overseen by the league, with the XFL front office working closely with the Guardians' coaching staff and leadership.
The staff of the Orlando Guardians was a combination of football professionals, including experienced coaching staff, strength and conditioning trainers, and medical personnel, all working together to support the players. The football operations team included various specialized roles in player scouting, recruitment, and analytics.
As the team played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, much of the operational focus was placed on ensuring smooth game-day operations, fan experience, and logistical coordination. The stadium staff worked closely with the Guardians' marketing and events teams to create a fan-friendly environment, including organizing tailgates, merchandise sales, and fan interactions.
The financial structure of the Orlando Guardians was heavily influenced by the broader financial situation of the XFL. The Guardians' finances were tied to the league's overall revenue model, which included ticket sales, broadcasting rights, and sponsorships. As a team in the XFL’s initial revival phase, the Guardians faced the challenge of building a fanbase while competing with established NFL teams and other entertainment options in Orlando.
The change in ownership in 2020, with the Rock and Garcia taking over the XFL, provided the Guardians with a new level of resources and brand recognition. The ownership group’s emphasis on entertainment and fan engagement led to a boost in the team’s marketing efforts and media presence. However, the team’s financial situation remained precarious, as the 2023 season saw limited returns, both in terms of fan engagement and on-field performance.
With the merger of the XFL and USFL in 2023, the Orlando Guardians' finances took another hit. The announcement that the Guardians would not be part of the merged league left their future uncertain, and the team’s structure and staff were faced with transitioning to new ventures.
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