The 2023 season was the Houston Gamblers' 2nd and final season in the United States Football League and their 1st under head coach/general manager tandem of Curtis Johnson and Robert Morris.
Draft
2023 Houston Gamblers draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 3 Chase Brice Quarterback Appalachian State 2 10 Justin Ford Defensive end Montana 3 18 Joseph Fisher Offensive guard Shepherd 4 26 Scott Matlock Defensive tackle Boise State 5 34 Jeffrey Johnson Defensive tackle Oklahoma 6 42 Keenan Issac Defensive back Alabama State 7 50 Alex Jensen Offensive tackle South Dakota 8 58 Brady Russell Tight end Colorado 9 66 Jason Taylor II Safety Oklahoma State 10 74 Colby Reeder Linebacker Iowa State
Final roster
Staff
Schedule Regular season Week Date Time (ET) Opponent Result Record TV Venue Recap1April 1612:00 p.m.vs. Michigan PanthersL 13–290–1NBCSimmons Bank Liberty StadiumRecap2April 2212:30 p.m.at New Orleans BreakersL 31–380–2USAProtective StadiumRecap3April 297:00 p.m.vs. Memphis ShowboatsW 30–261–2FoxSimmons Bank Liberty StadiumRecap4May 61:00 p.m.at Philadelphia StarsW 41–162–2FoxFord FieldRecap5May 134:00 p.m.at Birmingham StallionsW 27–203–2FoxProtective StadiumRecap6May 214:00 p.m.vs. New Jersey GeneralsW 16–104–2FoxSimmons Bank Liberty StadiumRecap7May 283:00 p.m.at Memphis ShowboatsL 20–234–3USASimmons Bank Liberty StadiumRecap8June 312:00 p.m.at Pittsburgh MaulersW 20–195–3USATom Benson Hall of Fame StadiumRecap9June 111:00 p.m.vs. Birmingham StallionsL 15–385–4NBC, PeacockSimmons Bank Liberty StadiumRecap10June 181:00 p.m.vs. New Orleans BreakersL 10–175–5FS1Simmons Bank Liberty StadiumRecap Bold indicates divisional opponent.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. Michigan Panthers
The Gamblers hosted the Michigan Panthers for their season opener. The Panthers began the scoring with a Marcus Baugh 22-yard reception from Josh Love. The Gamblers responded with a long drive capped off with a 2-yard rushing touchdown from T.J. Pledger to tie the game at 6–6. The Panthers extended their lead with a 35-yard field goal from Cole Murphy before the Gamblers answered with a T.J. Pledger 2-yard rushing touchdown on the back of a muffed punt by the Panthers, closing out the first half with Houston up 13–9. The second half began with a Panthers punt before Panthers cornerback William Saba intercepted Kenji Bahar to set the Panthers up 2-yards to score, which they capitalized off of with a Stevie Scott 2-yard run to put them in lead 16–13. The third quarter ended with a Houston fumble and a Michigan punt. In the fourth quarter, the Panthers drove the ball down the field, ending with a Trey Quinn 24-yard reception to put the Panthers ahead by 22–13. With Panthers defensive end Breeland Speaks forcing a fumble in the redzone, the Panthers quickly drove 82 yards down the field to score on a Joe Walker 34-yard reception to extend the Panthers' lead to 29–13, which would be the final score.
Standings
Notes
References