With the 2025-2026 NFL season at a close, and the Houston Texans season at an end, it is now time for the city to turn its attention to a new brand of football, the Houston Gamblers. The Houston Gamblers are part of the United Football League (UFL), a professional spring league, where they will make their 3rd consecutive appearance competing for a national championship. With a new home, new leadership, and new players, are the Gamblers ready to compete for a UFL championship? Before we can dive into the specifics, let’s take a look at who the Houston Gamblers are, and their history in spring football. 

1983 – 1986: The Initial Attempt

Before the current UFL, there was an initial attempt at establishing a spring football league with the United States Football League (USFL). The team was known for helping introduce the Run & Shoot offense to pro football. Although the league was short-lived, the Gamblers first run ended with playoff appearances in both seasons finishing with a record at 13-5 and 10-8.  

Stadium: Astrodome

Head Coach: Jack Pardee

2022 – 2023: USFL

Competing with another professional spring football league, the XFL, the USFL was created and established a franchise in Houston. This would be Houston’s second professional spring football team as the XFL also had the Houston Roughnecks playing at the same time. However, they never had a home stadium and instead all games were played in Birmingham, Alabama as part of the league’s hub model to minimize cost. In 2023, the Gamblers played their games at Simons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. Their seasons ended at 3-7 under Kevin Sumlin and 5-5 under Curtis Johnson.

Stadium: Protective Stadium 

Head Coach: Kevin Sumlin (2022) and Curtis Johnson (2023)

2024 – 2025: Houston Roughnecks and the USFL/XFL Merger

On December 31, 2023, the USFL and XFL announced that they would merge together and create one entity, the UFL. The new merger combined the Roughnecks and Gamblers, keeping the Roughnecks name and the Gamblers coaching staff and players. The Roughnecks originally played at TDECU stadium at the University of Houston however, renovations to the stadium caused them to move to a new home and play their games at Rice Stadium. In the 2025 UFL season the Roughnecks returned to TDECU stadium. Their records ended at 1-9 and 5-5.

Stadium: Rice Stadium and TDECU Stadium

Head Coach: Curtis Johnson

2026: Rebranding

On October 7, 2025 the UFL announced that Roughnecks would be rebranded back to the Gamblers, after initial rumors that the team would be relocated due to decreasing attendance. The change was made hoping to bring back a historic franchise and improve attendance for this upcoming season. The Gamblers also have a new home field at Shell Energy Stadium, a 20,000 seat arena which is home to Houston’s MLS team the Houston Dynamo’s.