Los Angeles Cobras

The Los Angeles Cobras were a professional arena football team based in Los Angeles, California that played one season (1988) in the Arena Football League.

Los Angeles Cobras

Founded	1988
Folded	1988
Team history	Los Angeles Cobras (1988)
Based in	Los Angeles Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California
Home arena	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (1988)
League	Arena Football League (1988)
Colors	Navy, goldenrod, white
Personnel
Head coach	Ray Willsey
Playoff appearances (1)
1988

History

Main article: 1988 Los Angeles Cobras season

On March 16, 1988, it was announced that team would be nicknamed the Cobras, as well as the introduction of head coach Ray Willsey.^[1] The Cobras played their home games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, which they shared with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association. The team's logo consisted of an interlocking "LA" in which the left upright of the "A" was formed by the hooded head and "neck" of a cobra.

The team debuted April 30, 1988 against the New York Knights.^[2] The Cobras started the season 0–3,^[3] but finished the season 5–3–1, clinching a playoff spot.^[4]

Despite a lineup that featured former NFL all-pro receiver Cliff Branch, ex-UCLA quarterback Matt Stevens^[5] and future Arena Football Hall of Famer Gary Mullen, Los Angeles drew dismal crowds: just 7,507 per game, second-worst in the AFL.^[4] The Cobras lost in the semifinals to the Chicago Bruisers, 29–16.^[6] It turned out to be their last game ever as the Cobras folded after the 1988 season, temporarily cutting the league down

Season-by-season

Season records

Season	W	L	T	Finish	Playoff results
1988	5	6	1	4th	Lost Week 1 (Chicago 29-16)
Totals	5	7	1	(including playoffs)

Notable players

Roster

1988 Los Angeles Cobras roster
Quarterbacks  5 Eric Beavers 28 Michael Mendoza 10 Matt Stevens Wide receivers/Defensive backs 42 Mike Benson 22 Cliff Branch 26 Derrick Donald 20 Joe Kelly  1 Gary Mullen	Running backs/Linebackers 42 Rob DeVita 65 Paul Green 40 Yepi Pauu 34 Richard Prather 32 Ed Zeman Offensive linemen/Defensive linemen -- Eric Arrington 55 Brian Clark 60 Chuck Harris 72 Dwayne Jackson 84 Michael Jones 80 Tony Palamara 82 Louis Sorrentino 64 Dester Stowers 66 Wes Walton	Wide receivers/Linebackers 92 Wade Lockett 93 Matthew McKnight 25 Richard Rodgers Kickers  2 Nick Mike-Mayer  2 Ken Olson  2 Marty Zendejas Rookies in italics Roster updated February 5, 2013 28 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS

Arena Football League Hall of Famers

Los Angeles Cobras Hall of Famers
No.	Name	Year inducted	Position(s)	Years w/ Cobras
1	Gary Mullen	1995	WR/DB	1988

All-Arena players

The following Cobras players were named to All-Arena Teams:

• QB Matt Stevens
• WR/DB Gary Mullen

Notable coaches

Head coaches

Name	Term	Regular season				Playoffs		Awards
		W	L	T	Win%	W	L
Ray Willsey	1988	5	6	1	.458	0	1

Staff

• Head coach: Ray Willsey
• Assistant coach: Lew Erber
• Running back & special teams coach: Russ Steele
• Football operations coordinator: Larry Westbrook
• Trainer: Nick Ortenzo
• Equipment manager: Marty Hopkins

Media

• The Cobras are also featured in the film Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects starring Charles Bronson. One scene takes place during a Cobras/Bruisers game, presumably the final regular season contest played July 14, 1988 (this game also had the distinction of ending 37-37, making it the first tie game in arena football history). The film was released in early 1989.
• The Cobras were also featured as an unlockable team in EA Sports' Arena Football.