2023 Vegas Vipers season

The 2023 Vegas Vipers season was the second season for the Vegas Vipers as a professional American football franchise. They played as charter members of the XFL, one of eight teams to compete in the league for the 2023 season. The Vipers played their home games at the Cashman Field and were led by head coach Rod Woodson.[1]

2023 Vegas Vipers season
OwnerAlpha Acquico, LLC
General managerRod Woodson
Head coachRod Woodson
Home fieldCashman Field
Results
Record2–8
Division place4th XFL North
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The franchise relocated from Tampa, Florida to Las Vegas, Nevada prior to the season, changing the team's name from Tampa Bay Vipers to Vegas Vipers..[2][3]

On January 1, 2024, it was announced that the 2023 season was the last season for the Vipers.[4][5]

Roster

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2023 Vegas Vipers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

  • 18 Brian Burt
  •  8 John Lovett
  • 32 Shai McKenzie
  • 15 Rod Smith

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

  • 17 Michael Carrizosa P
  • 40 Adam Higuera LS
  • 38 Sam Sloman K

Reserve

Rookies in italics
51 active, 8 reserve

Schedule

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All times Pacific

Week Day Date Kickoff TV Opponent Results Location Attendance
Score Record
1 Saturday February 18 12:00 p.m. ABC at Arlington Renegades 20–22 0–1 Choctaw Stadium 12,047
2 Saturday February 25 4:00 p.m. FX DC Defenders 6–18 0–2 Cashman Field 6,023
3 Saturday March 4 4:00 p.m. FX Seattle Sea Dragons 26–30 0–3 Cashman Field 6,037
4 Sunday March 12 4:00 p.m. ESPN2 at DC Defenders 18–32 0–4 Audi Field 11,521
5 Saturday March 18 7:00 p.m. FX Orlando Guardians 35–32 1–4 Cashman Field 6,008
6 Saturday March 25 4:00 p.m. FX St. Louis BattleHawks 6–29 1–5 Cashman Field 6,033
7 Saturday April 1 12:00 p.m. ESPN2 San Antonio Brahmas 26–12 2–5 Cashman Field 6,041
8 Saturday April 8 10:00 a.m. ESPN at St. Louis BattleHawks 17–21 (OT) 2–6 The Dome at America's Center 35,167
9 Saturday April 15 9:30 a.m. ABC at Houston Roughnecks 21–28 2–7 TDECU Stadium 10,967
10 Sunday April 23 4:00 p.m. ESPN2 at Seattle Sea Dragons 9–28 2–8 Lumen Field 15,046

[1][6][7]

Game summaries

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Week 1: at Arlington Renegades

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Week 1: Vegas Vipers at Arlington Renegades – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vipers 6 8 0620
Renegades 3 0 12722

at Choctaw Stadium, Arlington, Texas

  • Date: February 18
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 51 °F (11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 12,047
  • Referee: Mike Vandervelde
  • TV announcers (ABC): Tom Hart, Greg McElroy, Cole Cubelic and Katie George
  • [1]
Game information

Week 2: vs DC Defenders

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Week 2: DC Defenders at Vegas Vipers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Defenders 0 0 31518
Vipers 6 0 006

at Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada

Game information

Week 3: vs Seattle Sea Dragons

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Week 3: Seattle Sea Dragons at Vegas Vipers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Sea Dragons 6 3 61530
Vipers 6 3 11626

at Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada

Game information

Week 4: at DC Defenders

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Week 4: Vegas Vipers at DC Defenders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vipers 3 3 01218
Defenders 6 8 61232

at Audi Field, Washington, DC

Game information

Week 5: vs. Orlando Guardians

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Week 5: Orlando Guardians at Vegas Vipers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Guardians 7 6 61332
Vipers 8 9 61235

at Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada

Game information

Week 6: vs. St. Louis BattleHawks

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Week 6: St. Louis BattleHawks at Vegas Vipers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
BattleHawks 0 17 6629
Vipers 0 0 066

at Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada

  • Date: March 25
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C)
  • Game attendance: 6,033
  • Referee: Jason Autrey
  • TV announcers (FX): Lowell Galindo, Sam Acho, Ian Fitzsimmons and Taylor McGregor
  • [5]
Game information

Week 7: vs. San Antonio Brahmas

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Week 7: San Antonio Brahmas at Vegas Vipers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Brahmas 6 6 0012
Vipers 8 11 7026

at Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada

Game information

Week 8: at St. Louis BattleHawks

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Week 8: Vegas Vipers at St. Louis BattleHawks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Vipers 8 3 06017
BattleHawks 0 8 09421

at The Dome at America's Center, St. Louis, Missouri

  • Date: April 8
  • Game time: 10:00 a.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 35,167
  • Referee: Mike Vandervelde
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Lowell Galindo, Sam Acho, Ian Fitzsimmons and Taylor McGregor
  • [7]
Game information

Week 9: at Houston Roughnecks

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Week 9: Vegas Vipers at Houston Roughnecks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vipers 6 6 0921
Roughnecks 0 6 13928

at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: April 15
  • Game time: 9:30 a.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C)
  • Game attendance: 10,967
  • Referee: Chris Coyte
  • TV announcers (ABC): Tom Hart, Greg McElroy, Cole Cubelic and Katie George
  • [8]
Game information

Week 10: at Seattle Sea Dragons

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Week 10: Vegas Vipers at Seattle Sea Dragons – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vipers 0 0 369
Sea Dragons 0 6 14828

at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: April 23
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C)
  • Game attendance: 15,046
  • Referee: Jeff Heaser
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): John Schriffen, Tom Luginbill, Harry Douglas and Stormy Buonantony
  • [9]
Game information

Standings

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North Division[8]
Team W L PCT GB TD+/- TD+ TD- DIV PF PA DIFF STK
(y) DC Defenders 9 1 .900 0 -2 33 35 6–0 298 240 58 W3
(x) Seattle Sea Dragons 7 3 .700 2 +10 30 20 3–3 243 177 66 W2
(e) St. Louis Battlehawks 7 3 .700 2 +9 32 23 3–3 249 202 47 W1
(e) Vegas Vipers 2 8 .200 7 0 28 28 0–6 184 252 -68 L3
South Division[8]
Team W L PCT GB TD+/- TD+ TD- DIV PF PA DIFF STK
(y) Houston Roughnecks 7 3 .700 0 +4 30 26 6–0 247 182 65 W3
(x) Arlington Renegades 4 6 .400 3 -8 15 23 3–3 146 194 -48 L2
(e) San Antonio Brahmas 3 7 .300 4 -8 16 24 3–3 169 183 -14 L1
(e) Orlando Guardians 1 9 .100 6 -5 32 37 0–6 204 310 -106 L3
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (y)–clinched division; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention


Staff

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Vegas Vipers staff
Front office
  • Director of team operations / Team president – Temeko Richardson
  • Director of player personnel - Joey Clinkscales
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
 
Defensive coaches
Team Operations
  • Quality control – Franco Arellanos
  • Athletic Trainer - Justin Bland
  • Asst Athletic Trainer - Annie Wilkerson
  • Equipment Manager: Bob Wick

*Offensive Coordinator Duane Taylor was fired after Week 3[9] and Wide Receivers Coach Ray Sherman took over play-calling duties.

*After week 5, Mike Newton was hired as an assistant coach.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b Seeman, Matthew (January 5, 2023). "Vegas Vipers of XFL to play home games at Cashman Field". KSNV. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "Las Vegas XFL team to be named Vipers". KVVU-TV. October 31, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "XFL debuts brand-new team Las Vegas Vipers ahead of 2023 season kickoff". KTNV-TV. October 31, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  4. ^ Zalucki, Rachel (January 1, 2024). "Vegas Vipers are no more following merger of XFL, USFL". KTNV-TV. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  5. ^ Schreiber, Evan (January 1, 2024). "Las Vegas loses football franchise as new league is formed". KSNV. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  6. ^ Hill, Adam (January 5, 2023). "XFL's Vegas Vipers get home, schedule for 2023 season". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  7. ^ Seifert, Kevin (January 5, 2023). "Vipers-Renegades to kick off XFL's 2023 season on Feb. 18". ESPN. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "XFL Standings". XFL.com. February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  9. ^ Duran, Gavin. "Las Vegas Vipers Relieve Duane Taylor Of Offensive Coordinating Duties". xflnewshub.com. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  10. ^ "Vegas Vipers Hire Mike Newton As Assistant Coach, Make 3 Other Roster Moves". xflnewshub.com.