The 1985 season was a major step backward for the Los Angeles Express, whose campaign quickly unraveled into one of the most disappointing performances in the USFL. After a promising 1-0 start with a victory over the Birmingham Stallions, the Express could not sustain momentum. Their final record of 4-13-1 was a far cry from the 14-win playoff squad of 1984, as Los Angeles struggled with poor execution, costly turnovers, and a defense that gave up too many big plays at critical moments.
Quarterback Steve Young put up respectable yardage totals (3,212 yards passing and 431 rushing), but faced relentless pressure behind a deteriorating offensive line. He was sacked 63 times and turned the ball over far too often—throwing 23 interceptions and fumbling 10 times. Backup Frank Seurer saw significant time as well but didn’t fare much better, contributing 12 more interceptions. Despite the quarterback woes, the receiving corps was a bright spot. JoJo Townsell and Thad Jemison both crossed the 900-yard mark, with Townsell catching 11 touchdowns and showing elite explosiveness.
The rushing attack was largely ineffective, with Kevin Nelson leading the team with just 714 yards at 3.4 yards per carry. Young was again the most dynamic runner, but the lack of a reliable ground game left the offense one-dimensional. Special teams added a rare spark with Duane Gunn’s 72-yard punt return touchdown, and Tony Zendejas remained solid as ever, converting 95.3% of extra points and 69.2% of field goals. Still, these isolated bright spots couldn’t mask the team’s deeper issues.
Defensively, the unit bent and often broke. The Express surrendered 30+ points in six different games, and while linebacker James Warren was a tackling machine (138 total), the defense lacked consistency and finishing ability. Defensive linemen like Derrick Weaver and Charles Thompson generated some pressure, but the secondary couldn’t make enough plays despite 25 total interceptions. Ultimately, the Express collapsed down the stretch, failing to win any of their last seven games. It was a lost season that left fans wondering if the magic of 1984 was already a distant memory.
Los Angeles Express Roster
Quarterbacks
- Steve Young, QB
- Frank Seurer, QB
Running Backs
- Hughes, RB
- Kevin Nelson, RB KR
- Tony Boddie, RB KR
- Kirby Warren, RB KR
Wide Receivers
- JoJo Townsell, WR PR
- Thad Jemison, WR
- David Hersey, WR
- Scott Kimball, WR
- Duane Gunn, WR RET
- Kris Haines, WR DB KR
Tight Ends
- Gordon Hudson, TE
- Mike Sherrod, TE
- Darren Long, TE
Offensive Line
- Mark Ruether, C
- Keith Brown, C
- Gary Zimmerman, C-T
- Ralph Partida, G
- Mike Durrette, G
- Crouch, G
- Ed Fisher, G
- Jeff Hart, T
- Mark Adickes, T
Defensive Line
- Eddie Weaver, DL
- James Robinson, DL
- Ben Rudolph, DL
- George Achica, DT
- Bill Heathcock, DT
- Fletcher Jenkins, DE
- Ricky Williams, DE
- Vince DeFeice, DE
- Darryl Thompson, DE
Linebackers
- Andy Melontree, LB
- Gary Moten, LB
- Howard Carson, LB
- David Howard, LB
- Danny Rich, LB
- Jon Kimmel, LB
- Chris Keating, LB KR
Cornerbacks
- Wymon Henderson, S
- Darrell Pattillo, CB
- Trent Bryant, CB
- Edward Scott, CB
- John Higgins, CB
Safeties / Defensive Backs
- Troy West, S
- Allanda Smith, S
- John Warren, DB
- Darrell Hopper, DB PR
Special Teams
- Tony Zendejas, K
- Jeff Partridge, P