History
The Arizona Rattlers are part of the Arena Football League (AFL) and compete in the Western Division of the National Conference. Since the team's establishment in 1992, the Rattlers have won seven division titles and have played in seven ArenaBowl Championship games, winning championships in 1994, 1997, and 2012.
In early years, the Rattlers played their home games at America West Arena, which they shared with the Phoenix Suns. The arena was renamed US Airways Center in 2005 and the Rattlers continue to play their home games there and share the arena with the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury. They conduct practices at Gene Autry Park in Mesa, Arizona.
The coaching staff includes Head Coach Kevin Guy, Assistant Head Coach Kani Kauahi, Defensive Coordinator Omarr Smith and Wide Receivers Coach Siaha Burley.
The Rattlers current roster includes members of the National Football League such as San Francisco 49ers placekicker Fabrizio Scaccia and Cleveland Browns WR Rod Windsor.
The Rattlers remain one of the AFL’s leading franchises with the third longest tenure in one city followed only by the Tampa Bay Storm and the Orlando Predators.
Previous head coaches include Gene Nudo, Todd Shell and former Dallas Cowboys and Arizona State University quarterback, and punter, Danny White, who led the Rattlers to their ArenaBowl championships and was named 1993 AFL Coach of the Year.
Notable former Arizona Rattlers players include former Arizona Cardinal quarterback Sherdrick Bonner, former kicker Kyle Pooler former San Diego Chargers defensive specialist Cecille Doggette, former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Randy Gatewood, former New Orleans Saints lineman Mark Tucker and former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Chris Horn.
On May 12, 2011, Ron Shurts became the new majority owner of the Rattlers franchise.
In 2011, the Rattlers won 16 games in the regular season, a league-record for wins in a single regular season. In the playoffs, by winning the National Conference championship, they clinched a berth in ArenaBowl XXIV. They lost the game to the Jacksonville Sharks when Jacksonville quarterback Aaron Garcia threw a game-winning touchdown pass on the game's final play. The Rattlers redeemed themselves the following season, winning ArenaBowl XXV over the Philadelphia Soul to win their first title in 15 years.
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