2002 Arena Football League season
LeagueArena Football League
SportArena football
DurationApril 19, 2002 โ€“ August 18, 2002
ArenaBowl XVI
ChampionsSan Jose SaberCats
  Runners-upArizona Rattlers
Finals MVPJohn Dutton, SJ
2002 Arena Football League season is located in the United States
Firebirds
Firebirds
Fury
Fury
Rampage
Rampage
Rush
Rush
Avengers
Avengers
Desperados
Desperados
Rattlers
Rattlers
SaberCats
SaberCats
Cobras
Cobras
Force
Force
Predators
Predators
Storm
Storm
Dragons
Dragons
Destroyers
Destroyers
Phantoms
Phantoms
Gladiators
Gladiators
National: Eastern, Southern
American: Western, Central

The 2002 Arena Football League season was the 16th season of the Arena Football League. It was succeeded by 2003. The league champions were the San Jose SaberCats, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVI. In the process the SaberCats came closer to a perfect season than any other team in the history of the league, winning sixteen of seventeen games.

Offseason

The Dallas Desperados joined the league as an expansion team based in Dallas, Texas.

The Florida Bobcats, the Houston Thunderbears, the Milwaukee Mustangs, and the Oklahoma Wranglers folded, the Bobcats and Thunderbears both folded due to poor attendance, the Mustangs folded because the teams lease at Bradley Center expired and the Wranglers were dissolved by the AFL. Meanwhile, the Nashville Kats relocated to Atlanta to become the Georgia Force because the team was unable to negotiate a deal with Bridgestone Arena.

Standings

Team[1] Overall Division
Wins Losses Percentage Wins Losses Percentage
National Conference
Eastern Division
New Jersey Gladiators 9 5 0.643 4 2 0.667
Buffalo Destroyers 6 8 0.429 5 1 0.833
Toronto Phantoms 5 9 0.357 1 5 0.167
New York Dragons 3 11 0.214 2 4 0.333
Southern Division
Orlando Predators 7 7 0.500 3 3 0.500
Carolina Cobras 6 8 0.429 3 3 0.500
Tampa Bay Storm 6 8 0.429 3 3 0.500
Georgia Force 6 8 0.429 3 3 0.500
American Conference
Central Division
Chicago Rush 9 5 0.643 5 1 0.833
Grand Rapids Rampage 8 6 0.571 2 4 0.333
Indiana Firebirds 7 7 0.500 5 1 0.833
Detroit Fury 1 13 0.071 0 6 0.000
Western Division
San Jose SaberCats 13 1 0.929 5 1 0.833
Arizona Rattlers 11 3 0.786 4 2 0.667
Los Angeles Avengers 8 6 0.571 1 5 0.167
Dallas Desperados 7 7 0.500 2 4 0.333
  • Green indicates clinched playoff berth
  • Purple indicates division champion
  • Grey indicates best regular season record

Playoffs

Wild Card Round Quarterfinals Semifinals ArenaBowl XVI
            
1 San Jose 55
12 Tampa Bay 48
5 Los Angeles 41
12 Tampa Bay 66
1 San Jose 52
7 Orlando 40
7 Orlando 32
10 Buffalo 27
4 New Jersey 46
7 Orlando 49
1 San Jose 52
2 Arizona 14
2 Arizona 61
11 Carolina 59
6 Grand Rapids 64
11 Carolina 72
2 Arizona 46
3 Chicago 35
8 Dallas 47
9 Indiana 46
3 Chicago 60
8 Dallas 47

All-Arena team

Position[2] First team Second team
Quarterback Mark Grieb, San Jose Sherdrick Bonner, Arizona
Fullback/Linebacker Leroy Thompson, Indiana Chad Dukes, Los Angeles
Wide receiver/Defensive back Dameon Porter, Chicago
Barry Wagner, San Jose
Mike Furrey, New York
Willis Marshall, Grand Rapids
Wide receiver/Linebacker Greg Hopkins, Los Angeles Cory Fleming, Carolina
Offensive specialist Chris Horn, Arizona James Hundon, San Jose
Offensive lineman/Defensive lineman R-Kal Truluck, Detroit
Chris Snyder, Indiana
James Baron, Chicago
John Moyer, Chicago
Ernest Allen, Orlando
Mike Ulufale, San Jose
Defensive specialist Clevan Thomas, San Jose
Kenny McEntyre, Orlando
Cecil Doggette, Arizona
Damon Mason, New Jersey
Kicker Steve Videtich, New Jersey Steve McLaughlin, Buffalo

References

  1. โ†‘ "2002 Arena Football League Standings". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  2. โ†‘ "2002 Arena Football League". StatsCrew.com. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
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