Houston Gamblers – Levy’s Law. Dominate Both Sides

Vital Info

Founded: 1984
Coach: Marv Levy
Stadium: Astrodome
Division: Central

1986 Season

Current Record: 1-1
Previous Game MVP: Sam Harrell, RB, 25 – 208, 3 TD and 7 first downs
Trend: Houston’s offense is firing on all cylinders with 50+ points over the last two weeks. Their defense, however, allowed 40+.

Key Highlights

A Monday night opening loss to the Generals fueled their two recent wins.

Kelly and Harrell form a dynamic duo that put the league on notice.

The defense needs to figure some things out if they want to compete for the championship

Key Highlights

A Monday night opening loss to the Generals fueled their two recent wins.

Kelly and Harrell form a dynamic duo that put the league on notice.

The defense needs to figure some things out.

Dominance from the Start: The Jack Pardee Era (1984-1985)

The Houston Gamblers burst onto the USFL scene in 1984 under the leadership of head coach Jack Pardee, quickly establishing themselves as one of the most explosive offenses in professional football. With a high-octane “Run & Shoot” attack led by quarterback Jim Kelly, the Gamblers rewrote the record books in their inaugural season.

• 1984 Season (14-4, USFL Champions)
  • Offensive Firepower: The Gamblers led the league with a staggering 735 points, powered by Kelly’s 4,100+ passing yards and 55 TDs.
  • Star Playmakers:
    • WR Richard Johnson (1,775 total yards, 17 TDs)
    • RB Sam Harrell (701 rushing yards, 19 TDs)
    • RB Todd Fowler (1,443 rushing yards, 16 TDs)
  • Championship Glory: Houston stormed through the playoffs and defeated the New Jersey Generals to claim the 1984 USFL title.
• 1985 Season (15-3, Playoff Heartbreak)
  • Even Stronger Regular Season: The Gamblers improved to 15-3, with Kelly throwing for 6,031 yards and 51 TDs.
  • Dynamic Trio:
    • WR Richard Johnson (1,901 total yards, 19 TDs)
    • WR Ricky Sanders (1,722 receiving yards, 16 TDs)
    • RB Todd Fowler (1,247 rushing yards, 17 TDs)
  • Playoff Upset: Despite their dominance, Houston was stunned in the postseason by the Denver Gold, ending their bid for back-to-back championships.

A New Chapter: The Marv Levy Era (1986-?)

After Jack Pardee departed for the New Jersey Generals, the Gamblers turned to Marv Levy, a proven leader with a strong defensive background. The team looks to maintain its offensive identity while shoring up its defense for another title run.

Key Franchise Legends

• Jim Kelly (QB, 1984-1985) – The face of the franchise, setting USFL records in passing.
• Richard Johnson (WR, 1984-1985) – A deep-threat superstar with back-to-back 1,700+ yard seasons.
• Todd Fowler (RB, 1984-1985) – A dual-threat back with over 1,200 rushing yards each year.
• Sam Harrell (RB, 1984-1985) – A touchdown machine with 31 rushing TDs in two seasons.
• Defensive Standouts:
  • LB Kiki DeAyala (286 tackles in two seasons)
  • DL Jeff Gaylord (Fitzpatric) (16 sacks in two years)
  • DB Lewis & Myers (consistent playmakers in the secondary)

Looking Ahead

With Marv Levy at the helm, the Gamblers aim to return to championship form. The core of Kelly, Johnson, and Fowler remains intact, and if the defense can step up, Houston could soon add another USFL trophy to its case.