Michigan Panthers | News, Roster, Schedule, Scores & Coach

The name Michigan Panthers embodies the legacy of two unique professional American football teams, each with captivating tales.

The Original Panthers: USFL Champions (1983-1984)

In 1982, the emergence of the United States Football League (USFL) presented a competitive challenge to the NFL. The Michigan Panthers, among the 12 original franchises, selected the Pontiac Silverdome as their headquarters. A. Alfred Taubman, a notable real estate magnate, spearheaded the ownership group’s vision to encompass the essence of the entire state, transcending beyond the boundaries of Detroit.

Coaching Staff of Michigan Panthers

Michigan Panthers Roster

Michigan Panthers USL Schedule

Coaching and Star Power:

Jim Stanley, an experienced coach in college football and the Canadian Football League (CFL), took on the role of Head Coach for the Panthers. This decision was a major milestone for the team. Additionally, the Panthers strategically acquired the University of Michigan star receiver, Anthony Carter, in the territorial draft, enhancing their offensive lineup with a new promising dimension.

A Memorable Debut:

The inaugural Monday Night game of the USFL showcased the Panthers facing off against the Birmingham Stallions. In a climactic conclusion, Novo Bojovic secured a 9-7 triumph for Michigan with a game-winning field goal in the final seconds.

Championship Run:

The Panthers, under Stanley’s exceptional leadership, thrived during their inaugural season with a remarkable 6-2 record. Their journey culminated in the USFL Championship game, where they fiercely battled the Philadelphia Stars and emerged victorious with a score of 24-22, securing the prestigious title of the first-ever USFL champions in the year 1983.

Short-Lived Success:

After their championship win, the Panthers commenced the 1984 season with a successful Monday Night victory. However, financial difficulties loomed over the USFL, ultimately resulting in the league’s dissolution after only three seasons. Despite the Panthers’ early successes, they were merged with the Oakland Invaders in 1985.

The Rebooted Panthers: A New Chapter (2022-Present)

USFL Revival: In 2021, a resurgence of the USFL brought back the Michigan Panthers among the original eight teams.
Home at Ford Field: The Panthers established Ford Field in Detroit as their headquarters, reinforcing their connection with Michigan’s football aficionados.
Coaching Changes: Initially led by former NFL Head Coach Jeff Fisher, the team saw a transition to Mike Nolan in 2023 due to personal reasons.
Draft Day and Challenges: Shea Patterson, the Michigan quarterback, was the top pick in the 2022 USFL draft. Despite this, the team encountered difficulties in their inaugural season, suffering losses in the first two games.
Future Prospects: The USFL and its competitor, the XFL, announced a merger in September 2023. Details regarding the setup of the new league are pending, raising uncertainties about the future of the Michigan Panthers brand within the United League.

Coaching Staff of Michigan Panthers

Name	Position
Mike Nolan	Head Coach
Steve Kazor	General Manager
Collin Bauer	Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line
Marcel Bellefeuille	Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Jaron Fairman	Special Teams/Wide Receivers
Tim Holt	Offensive Line
Brock Marion	Defensive Backs
Jordan Pavlisin	Running Backs
Christian Runza	Linebackers
Gary Watkins	Tight Ends

Who is the Coach of the Michigan Panthers

The head coach of the Michigan Panthers, Mike Nolan, assumed the role as the USFL Michigan Panthers Head Coach in February 2023. Under his guidance, the team secured a playoff appearance in his inaugural season.

Discussions regarding a potential merger involving the USFL and XFL continue, but no official announcements have been made thus far. It is expected that Nolan will continue leading the Panthers in the 2024 season, contingent upon the team’s continued participation in the USFL.

Michigan Panthers Roster

No. This stands for “Number” and typically represents the player’s jersey number.
Pos: This stands for “Position” and indicates the player’s role on the team, such as quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker, etc.
Ht: This stands for “Height” and denotes the player’s vertical measurement in feet and inches.
Wt: This stands for “Weight” and indicates the player’s mass in pounds.

Position:

Cornerback (CB), Quarterback (QB), Wide Receiver (WR), Outside Linebacker (OLB), Running Back (RB), Tight End (TE), Defensive Lineman (DL), Defensive Back (DB), Offensive Tackle (OT), Offensive Guard (OG), Punter (P), Center (C), Defensive Tackle (DT), Linebacker (LB), Long Snapper (LS), Guard (G), Kicker (K), Defensive End (DE)

Name	No.	Pos	Ht	Wt	College	Hometown	Age
Adonis Alexander	36	CB	6’3″	190	Virginia Tech	Charlotte, NC	27
Corrion Ballard	7	SAF	6’3″	205	Utah	Houston, TX	26
Jake Bates	38	K	6’1″	204	Arkansas	Tomball, TX	25
Nate Brooks	3	CB	6’0″	190	North Texas	Whitehouse, TX	28
Jacob Burton	73	OL	6’5″	312	Baylor	Alpine, CA	26
Cohl Cabral	69	C	6’5″	304	Arizona State	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	26
T.J. Carter	96	DE	6’3″	290	Kentucky	Mableton, GA	25
Ron’dell Carter	97	DE	6’3″	269	James Madison	Baltimore, MD	26
Matthew Colburn II	26	RB	5’10”	201	Wake Forest	Irmo, SC	26
Noah Dawkins	10	LB	6’1″	235	Citadel	Spartanburg, SC	26
Derrick Deese Jr.	82	TE	6’4″	235	San Jose State	La Palma, CA	25
Josh Dunlop	64	OT	6’7″	315	UTSA	Zionsville, IN	26
Danny Etling	8	QB	6’2″	222	LSU	Terre Haute, IN	29
Frank Ginda	5	OLB	6’0″	235	San Jose State	Los Banos, CA	26
Keith Gipson Jr.	6	CB	6’2″	200	Mary-Hardin Baylor	Killeen, TX	29
Devin Gray	15	WR	6’0″	192	Cincinnati	Reno, NV	28
Kiante Hardin	24	DB	5’10”	170	Pittsburg State	Webb City, MO	27
John Hightower	16	WR	6’2″	190	Boise State	Landover, MD	27
Cole Hikutini	80	TE	6’4″	240	Louisville	San Francisco, CA	29
Wes Hills	31	RB	6’2″	218	Slippery Rock	Wildwood, NJ	28
Jarrett Horst	79	T	6’5″	300	Michigan State	Middleton, WI	24
Noah Johnson	61	C	6’1″	290	Kansas State	Lee’s Summit, MO	25
Brian Lewerke	19	QB	6’3″	212	Michigan State	Phoenix, AZ	27
Sean Mahone	29	SAF	5’11”	203	West Virginia	Liberty Township, OH	26
Garrett Marino	55	DT	6’2″	290	UAB	Mission Viejo, CA	29
Nate McCrary	28	RB	6’0″	213	Saginaw Valley State	Muskegon, MI	24
Brock Miller	41	P	6’0″	195	Southern Utah	San Diego, CA	33
Kai Nacua	21	FS	6’1″	205	BYU	Las Vegas, NV	29
Ryan Nelson	75	T	6’6″	325	Virginia	Buena Park, CA	24
Gunnar Oakes	84	TE	6’4″	252	Eastern Michigan	Swanton, OH	24
Jordan Ober	44	LS	6’1″	225	Nebraska	Las Vegas, NV	27
Chim Okorafor	72	T	6’6″	315	Benedictine	Upland, CA	24
Walter Palmore	99	DT	6’3″	317	Missouri	Columbus, GA	27
E.J. Perry	4	QB	6’1″	208	Brown	Andover, MA	25
Ryan Pope	77	T	6’7″	315	San Diego State	Inglewood, CA	27
Trey Quinn	18	WR	6’0″	200	SMU	Lake Charles, LA	28
Devin Ross	12	WR	5’9″	196	Colorado	Los Angeles, CA	28
Marcus Simms	9	WR	6’0″	194	West Virginia	Bowie, MD	26
Breeland Speaks	57	DE	6’3″	285	Ole Miss	Jackson, MS	28
Jordan Suell	2	WR	6’6″	205	Southern Oregon	Vancouver, WA	26
Mika Tafua	52	DE	6’3″	249	Utah	Laie, HI	27
Levonta Taylor	1	CB	5’10”	186	Florida State	Virginia Beach, VA	26
Bryce Torneden	13	SAF	5’9″	190	Kansas	Lawrence, KS	25
James Walker	65	OT	6’4″	310	Southeastern Oklahoma St.	Red Oak, TX	25
Dashaun White	30	LB	6’0″	214	Oklahoma	North Richland Hills, TX	24
Javin White	11	LB	6’2″	211	UNLV	Oakland, CA	27
Kedrick Whitehead Jr.	32	SAF	5’10”	199	Delaware	Middletown, DE	24
Kenny Willekes	48	DE	6’3″	264	Michigan State	Rockford, MI	26
Daniel Wise	95	DT	6’3″	279	Kansas	Lewisville, TX	28

Venue of Michigan Panthers

The Michigan Panthers host their home games at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, which is also the home stadium of the NFL’s Detroit Lions.

Attribute	Details
Address	2000 Brush St, Detroit, MI 48226, United States
Capacity	65,000
Opened	August 24, 2002
Construction Cost	US$500 million ($847 million in 2023 dollars)
Owner	Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority
Team	Detroit Lions
Surface	FieldTurf
Renovated	2017
Coordinates	42°20′24″N 83°2′44″W / 42.34000°N 83.04556°W
Phone	+1 313-262-2000
Record Attendance	WrestleMania 23: 80,103 (April 1, 2007)
Architect	Rossetti Architects; Hamilton Anderson Associates, Inc. Kaplan, McLaughlin, Diaz Architects
Services Engineer	SmithGroup