PAWTUCKET- The United Football League today unveiled the name and logo of its newest addition to the league – the Rhode Island Breakers, set to begin play in Spring 2027. The announcement was made at a team launch party inside Centreville Bank Stadium, the home of the Breakers, in front of thousands of the team’s First Wave of fans.
The introduction of the Rhode Island Breakers marks a new chapter in the state’s storied professional football history, which dates back over a century. The original Providence Steam Roller, founded in 1916, was a charter member of the NFL and notably won the league championship in 1928 – the first and only time a now-defunct team has won the title. First playing in Kinsley Park, where they became the first NFL team to play a night game under the lights, and later at the unique bicycle-racing stadium called the Cycledrome, the Steam Roller established a legacy of tough, trench-tested football in New England. The arrival of the UFL’s Breakers resurrects this deep-rooted heritage, reawakening a passionate fanbase and connecting the Ocean State to its pathfinder pro football past.
While the Breakers name also pays homage to spring football history and the USFL team that played in Boston, New Orleans, and Portland from 1983-1985, the Rhode Island Breakers will begin establishing their own identity in Rhode Island, building a long-lasting connection with fans throughout the region.
“We’re incredibly proud to introduce the Rhode Island Breakers to the community and fans across the Ocean State. This state deserved a team that proudly bears the name ‘Rhode Island’ and we couldn’t be more excited to kick off play right here at Centreville Bank Stadium this spring,” said UFL leadership. “When we thought about nicknames, Breakers was the perfect fit and was met with universal enthusiasm from our team. Not only does the nickname give a nod to professional spring football history, but it’s the perfect fit for the region’s tough coastal community. The Breakers are named for the relentless waves that crash against Rhode Island’s rocky shores, a force that never backs down, never lets up, and just keeps coming. We know this team is going to take on the shared characteristics of Rhode Islanders and their Head Coach AJ McCarron – a tough, gritty team that will take great pride in playing for the Ocean State!”
Rooted in Rhode Island’s rich maritime heritage, the logo brings the state’s interlocking initials to life with a lighthouse representing the “I” rising from the bold “R”. The lighthouse has its lamp lit to guide the way as the franchise embarks on this exciting new era of spring football.