The Orlando Renegades were a professional American football team that played in Orlando, Florida, in the United States Football League (USFL) for a single season in 1985. Before its season in Orlando, the franchise played in Washington, D.C., as the Washington Federals for two seasons, in 1983 and 1984.
The franchise was the worst in the USFL in terms of both game play – a combined record of 7 wins and 29 losses, and attendance during its two seasons in Washington, prompting the move to Orlando. In Orlando, attendance was better and the team's performance on the field began to improve over the course of the season despite a 5–13 record, but the USFL folded before the team could play a second season in Orlando.
In Washington
Creation of the franchise
United States Football League founder Donald Dixon was a strong proponent of a USFL franchise in Washington, D.C., and insisted on one despite the dominance of the National Football League′s Washington Redskins in the Washington market. the Federals were still starved for capital. Years later, Bernhard said that he had seriously underestimated the expenses associated with pro football.
1984 Washington Federals schedule and results
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!style=""| Week
!style=""| Date
!style=""| Opponent
!style=""| Result
!style=""| Record
!style=""| Venue
!style=""| Attendance
|-
! colspan="9" style=""|Preseason
|-
! 1
| colspan=8|Bye
|-
! 2
|
| vs. Tampa Bay Bandits
| L 9–28
| 0–1
| Fort Lauderdale, Florida
| 17,225
|-
! 3
|
| vs. Pittsburgh Maulers
| L 7–31
| 0–2
| Melbourne, Florida
| 6,000
|-
! 4
|
| vs. New Jersey Generals
| L 24–27
| 0–3
| Orlando, Florida
| 3,784
|-
! colspan="9" style=""|Regular season
|-
! 1
| February 26
| at Jacksonville Bulls
| L 14–53
| 0–1
| Gator Bowl Stadium
| 49,392
|-
! 2
| March 4
| Philadelphia Stars
| L 6–17
| 0–2
| RFK Stadium
| 12,067
|-
! 3
|
| at Arizona Wranglers
| L 7–37
| 0–3
| Sun Devil Stadium
| 25,218
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 4
| March 18
| Pittsburgh Maulers
| L 7–16
| 0–4
| RFK Stadium
| 10,121
|-
! 5
| March 25
| at New Jersey Generals
| L 6–43
| 0–5
| Giants Stadium
| 38,075
|-
! 6
|
| Chicago Blitz
| L 20–21
| 0–6
| RFK Stadium
| 7,373
|-
! 7
|
| at Houston Gamblers
| L 13–31
| 0–7
| Houston Astrodome
| 16,710
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 8
|
| Oklahoma Outlaws
| L 16–20
| 0–8
| RFK Stadium
| 6,075
|-
! 9
| April 22
| at Oakland Invaders
| W 31–17
| 1–8
| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
| 14,828
|-
! 10
|
| at Tampa Bay Bandits
| L 19–37
| 1–9
| Tampa Stadium
| 42,810
|-
! 11
| May 6
| Memphis Showboats
| L 10–13
| 1–10
| RFK Stadium
| 4,432
|-
! 12
| May 11
| New Jersey Generals
| W 31–17
| 2–10
| RFK Stadium
| 11,367
|-
! 13
| May 20
| San Antonio Gunslingers
| L 14–30
| 2–11
| RFK Stadium
| 6,159
|-
! 14
| May 27
| at Pittsburgh Maulers
| L 6–15
| 2–12
| Three Rivers Stadium
| 15,153
|-
! 15
| June 3
| Los Angeles Express
| L 21–35
| 2–13
| RFK Stadium
| 5,263
|-
! 16
| June 10
| at Birmingham Stallions
| L 21–42
| 2–14
| Legion Field
| 22,100
|-
! 17
|
| at Philadelphia Stars
| L 8–31
| 2–15
| Veterans Stadium
| 22,582
|-
! 18
| June 24
| New Orleans Breakers
| W 20–17
| 3–15
| RFK Stadium
| 6,386
|}
Sources
1984 Washington Federals opening day roster
{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#009B48; color:white; text-align:center;"|Washington Federals 1984 Opening Day Roster (at 26-Feb-84)
|-
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Quarterbacks
- Reggie Collier
- Mike Hohensee
Running backs
- Craig James RB
- Eric Robinson RB/KR
- Billy Taylor FB
- Rickey Claitt FB
Wide receivers
- Joey Walters
- Ricky Simmons
- Mike Harris
- Greg Taylor
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Offensive linemen
- Joel Patten LT
- Jeff Sevy RT
- David Sullivan OT
- Dave Pacella LG
- Ed Fulton RG
- Chuck Slaughter G
- James Farr G
- Brian Musselman C/LS
- Tony Loia C
Defensive linemen
- Bennie Smith LDT
- Gurnest Brown RDT
- Ed Jackson DT
- Robert Cobb LDE
- Richard Tharpe RDE
- Mike Matocha DE
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Linebackers
- Ben Apuna LLB
- Mike Muller MLB
- Joe Hines RLB
- Mike Corvino LB
- Harold Randolph LB
- Darnell Dailey LB
- Danny Triplett LB
Defensive backs
- Jeff Brown LCB
- D. D. Hoggard RCB
- Victor Jackson FS
- Greg Jones FS
- Mike Guess SS
- Dennis Coit SS
Special teams
- Sandro Vitiello K
- Dana Moore P
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Developmental squad
- Lou Pagley QB
- Curtis Bledsoe RB
- Randy Burke WR
- Charles Chisley WR
- Mike Fisher WR
- Lonnie Harris WR
- Kevin Kellin DE
- Bernard West LB
- Mike Thurman DB
- Willie Holley CB
<small>rookies in italics<br />
40 Active, 10 Developmental</small>
|}
1984 Washington Federals final roster
{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#009B48; color:white; text-align:center;"|Washington Federals 1984 Final Roster (at 24-Jun-84)
|-
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Quarterbacks
- Reggie Collier
- Mike Hohensee
Running backs
- Curtis Bledsoe RB
- Eric Robinson KR
- Johnnie Wright RB
- Billy Taylor FB
- Rickey Claitt FB
Wide receivers
- Joey Walters
- Ricky Simmons
- Mike Harris
- Randy Burke
- Mike Fisher
Tight ends
- McDonald Oden
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Offensive linemen
- Joel Patten LT
- Jeff Sevy RT
- Chuck Slaughter LG
- James Farr RG
- Dave Pacella G
- Ed Fulton G
- Brian Musselman C/LS
- Tony Loia C
Defensive linemen
- Bennie Smith LDT
- Gurnest Brown RDT
- Ed Jackson DT
- Richard Tharpe LDE
- Kevin Kellin RDE
- Angelo Wells DE/DT
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Linebackers
- Darnell Dailey LLB
- Mike Muller MLB
- Joe Hines RLB
- Mike Corvino LB
- Harold Randolph LB
- Bernard West LB
- Danny Triplett LB
Defensive backs
- Jeff Brown LCB
- Mike Thurman RCB
- Willie Holley CB
- Cookie Jackson CB
- Victor Jackson FS
- Kevin Donnalley FS
- Mike Guess SS
Special teams
- Jeff Brockhaus K
- Dave Smigelsky P
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Developmental squad
- Lou Pagley QB
- Joe Gilliam QB
- David Sullivan T
- Leroy Robinson G
- Greg Taylor WR
- Charles Chisley WR
- Ben Apuna LB
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Injured reserve
- Dennis Coit SS
- Dana Moore P
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Other Players active in 1984
- Harold Woods CB
- Greg Porter K
<br/>
<small>rookies in italics<br />
43 Active, 7 Inactive</small>
|}
Moving the franchise
In March 1984, with the Federals failing on the field and at the gate for a second straight season, Bernhard decided to sell the franchise. Dizney rejected the idea of the Renegades being involved in any merger, fearing he would lose credibility in Orlando if he agreed to move the Renegades out of the Orlando area.
1985 Orlando Renegades opening day roster
{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:blue; color:white; text-align:center;"|Orlando Renegades 1985 Opening Day Roster (at 26-Feb-85)
|-
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Quarterbacks
- Jerry Golsteyn
- Steve Pisarkiewicz
Running backs
- Curtis Bledsoe RB
- William Miller KR
- Henry Odom FB
- Randy Johnson FB
Wide receivers
- Joey Walters
- Ricky Simmons
- Jerry Parrish KR
- Tom Mut
Tight ends
- Bob Niziolek
- Don Echols
- Tom Wheeler
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Offensive linemen
- Jerry Doerger LT
- Joel Patten RT
- David Sullivan T
- Don Corbin LG
- Ed Fulton RG
- Mark Fischer C
- Brian Musselman C/G
Defensive linemen
- James Scott LDT
- Joe Ehrmann RDT
- Ken Times DT
- Ed McAleney DT
- Kevin Kellin LDE
- Scott Hutchinson RDE
- Mike Summerfield DE
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Linebackers
- Kelvin Atkins LLB
- Jeff Gabrielson RLB
- Harold Randolph LB
- Mike Corvino LB
- Ed Jackson LB
- Bernard West LB
Defensive backs
- Lupe Sanchez LCB
- Elbert Gray RCB
- Fred Nichols CB
- Mike Guess FS
- Neal Colzie NB
- Victor Jackson FS
- James Stewart SS
Special teams
- Jeff Brockhaus K
- Bruce Byrom LS
- Greg Cater P
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Inactives
- Reggie Collier QB
- Jackie Flowers WR
- Jeff Smith WR
- James Farr G
- Val Brown DE
- Fred McCallister LB
- Ron Freeman LB
<br/>
<small>rookies in italics<br />
43 Active, 7 Inactive</small>
|}
1985 Orlando Renegades final roster
{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:blue; color:white; text-align:center;"|Orlando Renegades 1985 Final Roster (at 22-Jun-85)
|-
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Quarterbacks
- Reggie Collier
- Jerry Golsteyn
Running backs
- Curtis Bledsoe RB
- Richard Crump RB
- Lonnie Johnson KR
- Cornelius Quarles FB
Wide receivers
- Joey Walters
- Ricky Simmons
- Jerry Parrish KR
- Jackie Flowers
- Jeff Smith
- Wilford Morgan
Tight ends
- Bob Niziolek
- Don Echols
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Offensive linemen
- Ed Muransky LT
- Joel Patten RT
- Jerry Doerger T/C
- Thom Dornbrook LG
- Ed Fulton RG
- Ron Mikolajczyk G/T
- Brian Musselman C/LS
- Mark Fischer C
Defensive linemen
- David Graham LDT
- James Scott RDT
- Ed McAleney DT
- Kevin Kellin LDE
- Scott Hutchinson RDE
- Charles Riggins DE
- Ike Griffin DE
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Linebackers
- Kelvin Atkins LLB
- Ron Freeman MLB
- Ed Jackson RLB
- Bernard West LB
- Harold Randolph LB
- Fred McCallister LB
Defensive backs
- Jeff George LCB
- Elbert Gray RCB
- Victor Jackson FS
- Kevin McGowan FS
- Lupe Sanchez SS/CB
- James Stewart SS
Special teams
- Jeff Brockhaus K
- Bruce Byrom LS
- Greg Cater P
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Inactives
- Steve Pisarkiewicz QB
- Ricky Claitt FB
- James Farr G
- Dan Doubiago G
- Joe Ehrmann DT
- Jeff Gabrielson LB
- Mike Guess CB
<br/>
<small>rookies in italics<br />
43 Active, 7 Inactive</small>
|}
Single season leaders
Rushing Yards: 1080 (1984), Curtis Bledsoe
Receiving Yards: 1510 (1984), Joey Walters
Passing Yards: 2766 (1984), Mike Hohensee
Season-by-season results
|-
! colspan="6" style=""|Washington Federals
|-
|1983 || 4 || 14 || 0 || 4th Atlantic Division || –
|-
|1984 || 3 || 15 || 0 || T-3rd Atlantic Division || –
|-
! colspan="6" style=""|Orlando Renegades
|-
|1985 || 5 || 13 || 0 || 7th Eastern Conference || –
|-
!Totals || 12 || 42 || 0
|colspan="2"|