The 2002 Arena Football League season was the 16th season of the Arena Football League. It was succeeded by 2003. The league champions were the San Jose SaberCats, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVI. In the process the SaberCats came closer to a perfect season than any other team in the history of the league, winning sixteen of seventeen games.
Offseason The Dallas Desperados joined the league as an expansion team based in Dallas, Texas.
The Florida Bobcats, the Houston Thunderbears, the Milwaukee Mustangs, and the Oklahoma Wranglers folded, the Bobcats and Thunderbears both folded due to poor attendance, the Mustangs folded because the teams lease at Bradley Center expired and the Wranglers were dissolved by the AFL. Meanwhile, the Nashville Kats relocated to Atlanta to become the Georgia Force because the team was unable to negotiate a deal with Bridgestone Arena.
Standings Team Overall DivisionWinsLossesPercentageWinsLossesPercentage National Conference Eastern Division New Jersey Gladiators950.643420.667 Buffalo Destroyers680.429510.833 Toronto Phantoms590.357150.167 New York Dragons3110.214240.333 Southern Division Orlando Predators770.500330.500 Carolina Cobras680.429330.500 Tampa Bay Storm680.429330.500 Georgia Force680.429330.500 American Conference Central Division Chicago Rush950.643510.833 Grand Rapids Rampage860.571240.333 Indiana Firebirds770.500510.833 Detroit Fury1130.071060.000 Western Division San Jose SaberCats1310.929510.833 Arizona Rattlers1130.786420.667 Los Angeles Avengers860.571150.167 Dallas Desperados770.500240.333
Green indicates clinched playoff berth Purple indicates division champion Grey indicates best regular season record
Playoffs
All-Arena team PositionFirst teamSecond teamQuarterbackMark Grieb, San JoseSherdrick Bonner, ArizonaFullback/LinebackerLeroy Thompson, IndianaChad Dukes, Los AngelesWide receiver/Defensive backDameon Porter, ChicagoBarry Wagner, San JoseMike Furrey, New YorkWillis Marshall, Grand RapidsWide receiver/LinebackerGreg Hopkins, Los AngelesCory Fleming, CarolinaOffensive specialistChris Horn, ArizonaJames Hundon, San JoseOffensive lineman/Defensive linemanR-Kal Truluck, DetroitChris Snyder, IndianaJames Baron, ChicagoJohn Moyer, ChicagoErnest Allen, OrlandoMike Ulufale, San JoseDefensive specialistClevan Thomas, San JoseKenny McEntyre, OrlandoCecil Doggette, ArizonaDamon Mason, New JerseyKickerSteve Videtich, New JerseySteve McLaughlin, Buffalo
References