After AAF folded, Carl was selected by the XFL Houston Roughnecks during the open phase of the league draft.
In 5 games, Carl posted 5 combined tackles, 2 sacks, 2 quarterback hits, and one tackle for loss.
NOTES:
I didn’t really have much else of Carl Bradford left except for his Sage card. A few days later I got in his Upper Deck that I hoped to eventually get signed but the league folded before that happened.
At the season ticket holders party, Carl was a great ambassador for the XFL. His exuberance and excitement was infectious to all the fans around him. He was willing to sign anything you had and gave you his full attention while doing so. We chatted briefly about the AAF and the card he had, to which he told me he had a stack of the player issued cards at home somewhere, and he had an amazing experience playing for the Hotshots.
Recorded 379 tackles and 5 sacks playing for the Buckeyes from 1982-1985.
New York Giants 2nd Round pick out of Ohio State in 1986 who was penciled in to play inside linebacker replacing Harry Carson.
Equally adept dropping into pass coverage or laying down the wood on opposing ball carriers.
Giants leading tackler in 1988, 1990-1992.
Pepper joined the Cleveland Browns in 1993, reuniting him with former Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, who used him at both inside and outside linebacker.
Johnson led the Browns in tackles with 207 in 1994, and 195 in 1995.
Went on to play for the Lions (96), and Jets (97/98).
Joined coaching staff of the Patriots in 2000 as a positional coach, and coached there through 2013.
Later Pepper coached for the Bills (14), Jets (15/16), in the AAF with the Memphis Express (2019), and briefly with the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL (2020).
In 2021 Pepper coached for IMG Academy in Florida.
Topps AAF 2019 #78
ACCOLADES:
Pepper is a two time Pro Bowler (90/94).
First team All-Pro (90).
Two time Super Bowl champion as player (XXI, XXV).
Three time Super Bowl champion as coach (XXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX)
NOTES:
Pepper’s given name is Thomas. His nickname came from his habit of sprinkling pepper on his cereal as a child.
Pepper’s time in the XFL as a defensive coach lasted just one game as defensive coordinator of the Wildcats in 2020. He was fired after the team allowed 4 TD passes against the Houston Roughnecks in their season opener.
This is an absolutely terrible card of Dennis. They could have actually airbrushed his face a bit more, but instead he looks like a craggily zombie with that green filter. Dennis has a pretty interesting coaching tree under him that includes Jim Zorn, Tommy Tuberville, Dan Quinn, Ed Orgeron, and Jim Mora Jr.
W
L
T
PCT
40
56
0
.417
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
