Austin Wranglers

Wranglers Ready To Corral The Competition!

2006 marks the 20th anniversary of the Arena Football League – making it the second-longest running football league, trailing only the National Football League.

The Austin Wranglers kick off their third season of arena football in January 2006 at the Frank Erwin Center. This summer, the Wranglers re-signed eight veterans from the 2005 squad, resulting in a total of 22 returning players for the 2006 season. This solid foundation of players puts the Wranglers in a competitive position to build on the team’s strengths and attract new talent for a winning third season.

The Wranglers have re-signed quarterback John Fitzgerald; linemen Tom Briggs, Aaron Humphrey, Eric Thomas, and Ramon Richardson; wide receiver/linebacker Darrin Chiaverini; fullback/linebacker Dane Krager; and offensive specialist Tacoma Fontaine. The Austin Wranglers also extended Coach Foster’s contract as the Wranglers head coach and offensive coordinator through the 2007 season.

You might know two returning Wranglers players – not just from their football accomplishments, but also from their movie credits! Wranglers Dane Krager (who graduated from Leander High in 1997) and Darrin Chiaverini both had roles in the movie “The Longest Yard.” Krager is the “football double” for Bill Romanowski -- providing the hard-hitting, real-life football action in the movie. Chiaverini is a player on the Guards team.

During the 2005 season, both Krager and Chiaverini earned the League-wide honor of AFL Ironman of the Week.