The United Football League revealed that the new name for the Rhode Island franchise will be known as the Breakers on Sunday at a launch party at Centreville Bank Stadium, where they will play for the upcoming 2027 season.
This will be the first professional football team for Rhode Island since the Providence Steam Roller of the NFL from 1925 to 1931. The team won the 1928 NFL Championship. The Steam Roller played at Kinsley Park, where they became the first team to play a night game in NFL history on November 6, 1929, against the Chicago Cardinals.
“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 President and CEO Russ Brandon.
“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!”
The UFL’s Breakers will also pay homage to spring football history and the USFL team. The Breakers were originally in Boston in 1983, where they played at Nickerson Field, and went 11-7 for the season. In 1984, the Breakers moved to New Orleans, where they played at the Louisiana Superdome, finishing 8-10 for the season. In 1985, the team moved to Portland, playing at Civic Stadium, where they finished 6-12. The team folded after the 1985 season.
The Breakers were resurrected in the new USFL in 2022. In 2022, they played their games at Protective Stadium and Legion Field, finishing with a 6-4 record, and losing to the eventual champion Birmingham Stallions. In 2023, they went 7-3, losing the Divisional finals again to the Birmingham Stallions. The Rhode Island Breakers will establish their own identity, building a long-lasting connection with fans throughout the region.
The Rhode Island Breakers will be coached by A.J. McCarron, who coached the Birmingham Stallions in 2026. In addition, the rest of Birmingham’s roster will follow McCarron to Rhode Island. The Breakers will look to improve their roster in the coming months with the UFL Showcase, free agents, and the 2027 UFL Draft in St. Louis. The Breakers will have the 3rd overall pick in the First Round and the 2nd pick in the Second Round. The 2027 UFL Schedule will be released at a later date.
