Event Date: February 14th, 1996
Event Description: Ralston Will Lead New Grid League
Source: Football News
SAN FRANCISCO -- John Ralston is back in professional football.
Today, it was announced Ralston had been named commissioner of the fledgling All American Football League. Terms of his agreement were not disclosed except that he had signed a two-year deal.
“I'm happy to be back in pro football,” Ralston said at the news conference announcing his signing.
Ralston grew up in Oakland, played football at the University of Califorina and served as head coach at Stanford for nine years, leading the Cardinals to Rose Bowl victories in 1971 and 1972. He left Stanford to serve as head coach and general manager of the Denver Broncos.
Ralston has also coached in the USFL and Canadian league with Toronto. In more recent years, he served as head coach of the San Jose State Spartans.
The new league is still in the process of confirming its final lineup of eight cities. However, it has been confirmed that clubs will be based in Memphis, Birmingham, San Antonio, and most likely Houston. The league has also received applications from ownership groups in Miami, Las Vegas, Oakland, New Orleans, Shreveport, and Portland.
The former Canadian based teams will also have to deal with the process of renewing and securing player contracts as many players became free agents on January 1st.