Dallas Renegades Overview
The Dallas Renegades are a professional American football team based in Frisco, Texas, competing in the United Football League (UFL). The franchise was originally founded in December 2018 by Vince McMahon’s Alpha Entertainment as part of the XFL’s relaunch. After operating briefly under the Dallas Renegades name during the 2020 XFL season, the team underwent ownership changes and was rebranded as the Arlington Renegades from 2023 to 2025. The organization reverted to its original Dallas Renegades branding ahead of the 2026 UFL season and relocated to Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The team is owned by Alpha Acquico, which is controlled by actor Dwayne Johnson and Fox Corporation. The Renegades play their home games at Toyota Stadium and compete in the South Division. Their team colors are light blue, black, and red, with the mascot known as Billy the Bandit.
Founding and Organizational Origins
The Dallas Renegades franchise was announced on December 5, 2018, as one of eight cities selected to join the newly reformed XFL. Along with Dallas, the inaugural cities included Seattle, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Tampa Bay, and Washington, D.C. The league aimed to create an alternative professional football league that would differentiate itself from the NFL with altered rules and a shorter season. On February 7, 2019, the organization made a significant coaching hire by securing Bob Stoops, the longtime head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners football team, as their first head coach. Stoops became the XFL’s first head coaching hire, bringing decades of collegiate football experience and credibility to the new franchise.
The organization continued building its coaching staff throughout 2019. Chris Woods was named defensive coordinator on April 23, 2019, followed by the appointment of Hal Mumme as offensive coordinator on May 16, 2019. On October 15, 2019, the Renegades announced their first player in franchise history when former NFL quarterback Landry Jones was assigned to the team. The team name, logo, and uniforms were officially revealed on August 21, 2019, with the uniforms being released to the public on December 3, 2019. The franchise was preparing for its inaugural season with a clear vision for building a competitive roster in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.
Growth Into XFL Competition
The Renegades entered their inaugural 2020 XFL season with high expectations following the extensive organizational buildup. Bob Stoops, with his extensive college football background, was expected to provide strong leadership for the developing roster. The coaching staff had constructed a team featuring a mix of former NFL players and emerging talent, with Landry Jones serving as the primary quarterback. The franchise operated from Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas, establishing its initial home base in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Dallas Renegades Competitive Journey
The Dallas Renegades have navigated a unique competitive path through American football’s alternative leagues, experiencing both the challenges of a new league’s collapse and the triumph of championship success. The franchise has competed across three different league iterations, adapting to ownership changes, geographic relocations, and rebranding efforts while maintaining a commitment to professional football in the Texas market. Their journey reflects the broader evolution of spring professional football in the United States.
Early Seasons and Development (2020)
The Renegades opened their inaugural season on February 8, 2020, facing the St. Louis BattleHawks at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Dallas lost their first professional game by a 15-9 final score, with kicker Austin MacGinnis accounting for all Renegade points through three field goals. The team’s inability to reach the end zone proved costly as St. Louis scored nine unanswered fourth-quarter points to erase a slim deficit. Linebacker Tegray Scales recorded an impressive 13 tackles for Dallas, including three tackles for a loss.
The Renegades earned their first victory on the road against the Los Angeles Wildcats by a 25-18 margin. Running back Cameron Artis-Payne scored three touchdowns, including a pivotal 17-yard scoring run in the penultimate minute that sealed the victory. Another road victory followed in Week 3 when Dallas defeated the Seattle Dragons 24-12. A 65-yard touchdown pass from Landry Jones to Donald Parham Jr. proved decisive in the fourth quarter, with Parham reaching the end zone twice during the afternoon. The XFL announced the cancellation of the remainder of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic on April 10, 2020. The Renegades finished with a 2-3 record before league operations were suspended and all employees, players, and staff were terminated.
Breakthrough in XFL (2023)
A new chapter for the franchise began in August 2020 when a consortium led by Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Gerry Cardinale purchased the XFL for $15 million through Cardinale’s RedBird Capital Partners fund. The purchase received court approval on August 7, 2020. Bob Stoops returned as head coach on April 13, 2022, with the expectation that he would lead the Dallas franchise. On July 24, 2022, the return of an XFL franchise in the Dallas-Arlington area was confirmed under the Arlington Renegades branding. The Renegades name was officially reinstated on October 31, 2022, with a brand new logo design.
The 2023 XFL season became the franchise’s defining chapter. Despite finishing the regular season with a 4-6 record, the Arlington Renegades qualified for the playoffs as the second team in the South Division. The team defeated the Houston Roughnecks in the South Division playoff game, advancing to face the 10-1 D.C. Defenders in the XFL Championship Game at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The Renegades built a commanding 17-0 lead by halftime and never trailed in the game. Quarterback Luis Perez threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns. The team secured a 35-26 victory, capturing the franchise’s first XFL Championship while becoming the first team in professional football history to win a championship after posting a losing regular-season record.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2024–Present)
In September 2023, reports emerged that the XFL was in advanced talks with the USFL regarding a merger of the two leagues. On September 28, 2023, both leagues officially announced their intent to merge, with regulatory approval received on November 30, 2023. The merger was made official on December 31, 2023, creating the United Football League (UFL) for the 2024 season. The Renegades transitioned into the merged league while maintaining their competitive presence in the Texas market.
On October 7, the UFL announced that the franchise would relocate from Choctaw Stadium in Arlington to Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. As a result of the move outside Arlington, the organization reverted to its original Dallas Renegades branding for the 2026 UFL season. The mascot, Billy the Bandit, had been informally known by fans since 2025. Rick Neuheisel serves as the current head coach, guiding the team through its new era at Toyota Stadium. The franchise continues to be owned by Alpha Acquico, controlled by Dwayne Johnson and Fox Corporation, maintaining its connection to high-profile entertainment leadership.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
The Dallas Renegades have built their competitive identity around resilience and playoff performance. The 2023 championship run demonstrated the team’s ability to excel under pressure despite regular-season adversity. The organization prioritizes developing Quarterbacks who can perform in crucial moments, as evidenced by Luis Perez’s playoff success. The franchise has shown a preference for building around strong defensive play and special teams contributions, characteristics that proved essential during their championship season.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
The Renegades’ most significant milestone remains their 2023 XFL Championship victory, achieved with a losing regular-season record. This accomplishment marked the first time a professional football team won a championship after posting a sub-.500 regular season. The franchise has developed notable rivalries within the Texas football landscape, including competition against the San Antonio Brahmas, Houston teams, and the St. Louis BattleHawks. The 2026 rebranding and stadium relocation to Toyota Stadium represents another pivotal moment, returning the organization to its founding identity while expanding its footprint in the growing Frisco sports market.
Dallas Renegades Achievements and Results
The Dallas Renegades franchise has accumulated significant accomplishments across its competitive history, including championship titles and playoff appearances in professional football leagues. The organization has proven capable of achieving peak success despite limited regular-season records, demonstrating a championship pedigree that has established the franchise among the elite teams in the United Football League and its predecessor leagues.
XFL Achievements
The Renegades captured the XFL Championship in 2023, finishing with a 4-6 regular-season record before winning three consecutive playoff games to claim the title. The championship victory over the D.C. Defenders by a 35-26 score at the Alamodome in San Antonio marked the franchise’s first-ever championship. This achievement stands as one of the most remarkable championship runs in professional football history, as the team defeated the league’s top-seeded team despite entering the playoffs as a low seed. The Renegades’ quarterback Luis Perez delivered an exceptional championship performance with 288 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Conference Achievements
The Renegades claimed the South Division Championship in 2023, earning the second playoff seed in the division with their 4-6 regular-season record. The division title required defeating the Houston Roughnecks in the South Division playoff game, a victory that propelled the team to the championship round. This division championship represented the organization’s first major postseason accolade and demonstrated the team’s ability to perform in high-pressure division matchups.
Divisional Achievements
The franchise competed in the XFL’s West Division during the 2020 season before moving to the South Division for the 2023 campaign. The divisional realignment following the XFL-USFL merger positioned the team within the UFL’s competitive structure. The Renegades’ divisional success has been highlighted by their ability to secure playoff berths despite challenging regular-season records, showcasing the team’s competitive depth and strategic excellence in divisional play.
Series Achievements
The Renegades have developed notable rivalry matchups against conference opponents and regional competitors. The Texas Throwdown rivalry with Houston-based teams has become a signature matchup in the UFL schedule, rebranded as the Battle of Texas for 2026. The franchise has competed against the D.C. Defenders in multiple high-stakes encounters, including their championship meeting. The team holds a 2-5 record against the Defenders across their rivalry history, though the Renegades secured the most important victory in their 2023 championship matchup. Rivalry games against the St. Louis BattleHawks have generated significant competitive tension, particularly following the 2023 playoff circumstances that affected both franchises’ postseason positioning.
