2023 Houston Roughnecks season

The 2023 Houston Roughnecks season was the second season for the Houston Roughnecks 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 Roughnecks played their home games at the TDECU Stadium and were led by head coach Wade Phillips.[1]

2023 Houston Roughnecks season
OwnerAlpha Acquico, LLC
General managerWade Phillips
Head coachWade Phillips
Home fieldTDECU Stadium
Results
Record7–3
Division place1st XFL South
Playoff finishLost Division Finals (vs. Arlington Renegades) 11–26

Earning their first playoff berth and clinching first place in the South Division, the Roughnecks were eliminated by the Arlington Renegades in the South Division title game in the playoffs.[2]

This was the last season before the XFL merged with the United States Football League to form United Football League (UFL). As part of the merger agreement leading up to the 2024 season, the XFL's Roughnecks would disband and the USFL's Houston Gamblers would take over the Roughnecks name.[3]

Final Roster

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2023 Houston Roughnecks final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Offensive linemen
  • 75 Jachai Baker T
  • 76 Sage Doxtater T
  • 78 Dylan Pasqualli T
  • 77 Ryan Pope T
  • 55 Alex Mollette C
  • 79 James Moore T
  • 56 Dareuan Parker G
  • 64 Jack Snyder G
  • 70 John Yarbrough C

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

  •  8 Austin Jones K
  • 42 Brian Khoury LS
  • 46 Race Porter P
Reserve lists


51 active, 10 inactive

Schedule

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All times Central

Week Day Date Kickoff TV Opponent Results Location Attendance
Score Record
1 Saturday February 18 7:30 p.m. ESPN/FX Orlando Guardians 33–12 1–0 TDECU Stadium 12,784
2 Sunday February 26 6:00 p.m. ESPN2 Arlington Renegades 23–14 2–0 TDECU Stadium 11,765
3 Sunday March 5 7:00 p.m. ESPN2 San Antonio Brahmas 22–13 3–0 TDECU Stadium 11,309
4 Saturday March 11 6:00 p.m. FX at Orlando Guardians 44–16 4–0 Camping World Stadium 10,013
5 Thursday March 16 9:30 p.m. ESPN at Seattle Sea Dragons 14–21 4–1 Lumen Field 9,231
6 Monday March 27 6:00 p.m. ESPN2 at DC Defenders 26–37 4–2 Audi Field 12,492
7 Sunday April 2 1:00 p.m. ESPN St. Louis BattleHawks 15–24 4–3 TDECU Stadium 12,013
8 Sunday April 9 2:00 p.m. ABC at San Antonio Brahmas 17–15 (OT) 5–3 Alamodome 12,243
9 Saturday April 15 11:30 a.m. ABC Vegas Vipers 28–21 6–3 TDECU Stadium 10,967
10 Sunday April 23 2:00 p.m. ESPN at Arlington Renegades 25–9 7–3 Choctaw Stadium 12,821

[4][5]

Game summaries

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Week 1: vs. Orlando Guardians

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Week 1: Orlando Guardians at Houston Roughnecks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Guardians 6 0 0612
Roughnecks 6 15 01233

at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: February 18
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 51 °F (11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 12,784
  • Referee: Chris Coyte
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Lowell Galindo, Sam Acho, and Taylor McGregor
  • [1]
Game information

Week 2: vs. Arlington Renegades

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Week 2: Arlington Renegades at Houston Roughnecks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Renegades 0 14 0014
Roughnecks 11 0 6623

at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas

Game information

Week 3: vs. San Antonio Brahmas

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Week 3: San Antonio Brahmas at Houston Roughnecks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Brahmas 7 0 6013
Roughnecks 8 14 0022

at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: March 5
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C)
  • Game attendance: 11,309
  • Referee: Jason Autrey
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Tom Hart, Greg McElroy, and Cole Cubelic
  • [3]
Game information

Week 4: at Orlando Guardians

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Week 4: Houston Roughnecks at Orlando Guardians – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Roughnecks 20 6 61244
Guardians 0 10 6016

at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida

Game information

Week 5: at Seattle Sea Dragons

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Week 5: Houston Roughnecks at Seattle Sea Dragons – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Roughnecks 0 0 01414
Sea Dragons 6 9 0621

at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: March 16
  • Game time: 9:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C)
  • Game attendance: 9,231
  • Referee: Jason Autrey
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Lowell Galindo, Sam Acho, and Taylor McGregor
  • [5]
Game information

Week 6: at DC Defenders

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Week 6: Houston Roughnecks at DC Defenders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Roughnecks 8 0 61226
Defenders 3 14 91137

at Audi Field, Washington, DC

Game information

Week 7: vs. St. Louis BattleHawks

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Week 7: St. Louis BattleHawks at Houston Roughnecks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
BattleHawks 6 11 0724
Roughnecks 0 9 0615

at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: April 2
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C)
  • Game attendance: 12,013
  • Referee: Jeff Heaser
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Tom Hart, Greg McElroy, and Cole Cubelic
  • [7]
Game information

Week 8: at San Antonio Brahmas

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Week 8: Houston Roughnecks at San Antonio Brahmas – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Roughnecks 6 3 60217
Brahmas 3 3 09015

at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

Game information

Week 9: vs. Vegas Vipers

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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

Game information

Week 10: at Arlington Renegades

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Week 10: Houston Roughnecks at Arlington Renegades – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Roughnecks 12 0 10325
Renegades 3 6 009

at Choctaw Stadium, Arlington, Texas

  • Date: April 23
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 51 °F (11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 12,821
  • Referee: Jason Autrey
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Barrie, Eric Mac Lain, and Tiffany Blackmon
  • [10]
Game information

Standings

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North Division[6]
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[6]
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


Postseason

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Schedule

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Week Day Date Kickoff TV Opponent Results Location Attendance
Score Record
Division Finals Saturday April 29 6:00 p.m. ESPN Arlington Renegades 11–26 0–1 TDECU Stadium 13,558

Game summaries

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XFL South Division Finals: vs. (2) Arlington Renegades

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XFL South Division Finals: (2) Arlington Renegades vs (1) Houston Roughnecks  – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Renegades 6 17 0326
Roughnecks 0 8 3011

at TDECU StadiumHouston, Texas

Game information

Staff

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Houston Roughnecks staff
Front office
  • Director of team operations – Danielle Lee
  • Director of player personnel – Marc Lillibridge
Head coach
Offensive Coaches
 
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Team Operations

References

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  1. ^ Slovak, Bob (January 6, 2023). "Houston Roughnecks return to XFL in 2023 season". KTRK-TV. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  2. ^ Marrion, Jack (April 29, 2023). "Renegades take down Roughnecks for XFL South title". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  3. ^ "Houston has team in new United Football League, but Roughnecks will do it without Wade Phillips". Houston Chronicle. January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  4. ^ Young, Matt (January 5, 2023). "Houston Roughnecks to open XFL season in prime-time slot, get three straight home games to start". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  5. ^ Taylor, Brittany (January 5, 2023). "XFL Houston Roughnecks releases new schedule for 2023 season". KPRC-TV. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "XFL Standings". XFL.com. February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.