Vick Delivers Defenders to Atlanta
Vick Has Atlanta Ready to Defend
August 5, 2019
Atlanta, GA - Tim Armstrong along with Atlanta Sports LLC are proud to announce they were finally able to bring the Alliance to Atlanta. Minority owner Michael Vick then introduced Steve Wilks as the first Head Coach of the Atlanta Defenders.
Steve Wilks
Wilks served as the Head Coach of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals in 2018. Prior to that position, Wilks was the Defensive Coordinator for the Carolina Panthers from 2012 to 2017 and a DBs coach for the Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers for a combined six seasons.
Atlanta Defenders
Joining Wilks in Atlanta will be Pep Hamilton as the Offensive Coordinator and Charlie Strong as the Defensive Coordinator. Pep spent last season as the Offensive Coordinator for the Philadelphia Soul. Prior to that he was the Offensive Coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts from 2013 to 2015, the Cleveland Browns in 2016 and for the University of Michigan from 2017 to 2018. Strong was the Defensive Coordinator for the University of Florida from 2003 to 2009 before becoming the Head Coach at the University of Louisville, Texas and then South Florida from 2009 to 2019.
Doug Whaley will serve as the General Manager of the Defenders. Whaley was the General Manager of the Buffalo Bills from 2010 to 2017. He was a Personnel Director for the Pittsburgh Steelers for ten years prior to that position.
The Defenders will be playing their home games at Georgia State Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Cardale Jones Signs with the Defenders
August 12, 2019
Atlanta, GA - Cardale Jones, the starting QB of the Washington Valor for the 2019 season signed with the expansion Atlanta Defenders as the designated franchise player for the 2020 season. In an attempt to save money, Washington Valor owner Ted Leonsis decided against making Jones the Valor's designated franchise player. Jones will be making $1M playing for the Defenders opposed to the $159k the Valor was paying him.
Philadelphia Soul Hire Offensive Coordinator
August 19, 2019
Philadelphia, PA - After OC Pep Hamilton decided to accept the same position with the Atlanta Defenders, the Philadelphia Soul had to find a new Offensive Coordinator. This morning they hired Edgar Bennett for the position. Bennett served as the OC for the Green Bay Packers from 2015 to 2017. He was currently serving as the WRs Coach for the Oakland Raiders.