It has been quite an eight-year run for Arena Football in Chicago. Eight trips to the playoffs, four Central Division titles, capacity crowds at Allstate Arena, the addition of NFL Hall-of-Famer and Chicago icon Mike Ditka to the ownership group and, of course, the ArenaBowl XX title are just some of the headlines from the first eight seasons of the Chicago Rush.

It actually all began in the summer of 1999 when NFL Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, along with California businessmen Arthur Price, Alan Levin and Peter Levin, acquired the rights to an AFL franchise in Chicago. The newly awarded team would begin play in the spring of 2001.

The first step toward building a winning franchise took place with the hiring of an AFL veteran to develop and run the team's football operations. On September 26, 2000, the Chicago Rush introduced Mike Hohensee as the team's first head coach and director of football operations. Hohensee brought to Chicago a resume that included a standout college career as a University of Minnesota quarterback, a pro career that included stops in the CFL, USFL, NFL and the AFL, and a successful 12-year AFL coaching career.

During his eight seasons with the Rush, Hohensee has proven to be a wise hire, compiling an 83-57 overall record and leading the team to the ArenaBowl XX title.

2001 Season:
By combining AFL free agents with talented rookies and players claimed off the waiver wire, Hohensee compiled an impressive inaugural season roster in Chicago. Subsequently, the Rush finished the 2001 regular season 7-7, upset the defending champion Orlando Predators in the playoffs and laid the foundation for a bright and successful future. With its first-round playoff win in Orlando, the Rush became the lowest-seeded team (11th) to ever win an AFL playoff game and the first expansion team to win a playoff game since the 1995 Iowa Barnstormers.

On the field, WR/DB Dameon Porter emerged as the leader of the Chicago Rush. Claimed off waivers from New Jersey in training camp, Porter tied the AFL record with 12 interceptions during the 2001 season. He was named the AFL's Ironman of the Year, Breakout Player of the Year and voted to the league's first-team All-Arena squad.

2002:
In its second campaign, the Rush finished the 2002 regular season with a 9-5 record and ownership of the AFL's Central Division title. Chicago's play earned the team the league's third playoff seed and a quarterfinal home game against the Dallas Desperados. In front of 12,774 screaming fans and a national television audience, the Rush defeated Dallas 60-47 to advance to the semifinals. Unfortunately, Chicago's playoff run ended in the desert, with a 46-35 loss to the Arizona Rattlers. Although the Rush finished its season one game short of an ArenaBowl, several players were rewarded for their outstanding seasons. Porter again led the league in interceptions with 10 and was named first-team All-Arena, while linemen James Baron and John Moyer, who helped anchor a line that pressured opposing quarterbacks and limited opponents to just three sacks, were voted first and second team All-Arena, respectively. Rookie Antonio Chatman stepped into the offensive specialist role to lead the Rush in receiving, touchdowns and kick returns, while earning a place on the AFL's All-Rookie team.

2003:
Despite a 3-6 start and a roster riddled with injuries, the 2003 Rush reached the playoffs for the third consecutive season thanks to veteran leadership and a coaching staff that would not let the team give up.

Injuries to nine key players, including QB Billy Dicken, defensive specialists Cedric Walker and Marvin Taylor, WR/LB Lindsay Fleshman and kicker Keith Gispert, hurt the Rush early in the season.

But the team never stopped believing, however, and behind strong performances by Dicken, Chatman and Moyer, rallied to go 5-2 in its last seven games, finishing 8-8 and qualifying for the playoffs.

2004:
The 2004 season brought a complete overhaul to the team’s roster. After the disappointment of 2003, the Rush acquired free agent quarterback Raymond Philyaw – known for his mobility and ability to protect the ball – to lead the team. Chicago surrounded Philyaw with two new receivers – offensive specialist Jeremy McDaniel and All-Rookie WR/LB Etu Molden, as well as an impressive running attack led by Bob McMillen. The combination worked, and the Rush offense averaged 53 points a game and set an AFL record with 49 rushing touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, John Moyer enjoyed his best season, recording a career-high 10 sacks as the leader of a fierce pass rush. Moyer was named the AFL’s Lineman of the Year and voted first team All-Arena and All-Ironman.

The success of both the offense and defense led the Rush to its second Central Division title, as the team finished 11-5 and earned the AFL’s third playoff seed. After a 59-49 quarterfinal win against the Orlando Predators, the Rush advanced to the AFL semifinals against the San Jose SaberCats. However, on the first play of the second quarter in San Jose, the Rush lost Philyaw with a torn ACL in his right knee. The Rush was unable to recover from the loss of its QB and, for the second time in three seasons, Chicago’s playoff run ended in the semifinals, falling 49-35 to the SaberCats.

As a result of its success both on and off the field, the Rush was awarded the 2004 Commissioner’s Award, given annually to the AFL’s Organization of the Year.

2005:
Chicago’s fifth-anniversary season began with a major announcement, as Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Mike Ditka was introduced as a new owner of the Rush at a press conference on December 16, 2004. Ditka’s addition was just the first of many bright spots in 2005. Attendance rose, again, at Allstate Arena as the Rush averaged 14,500 fans en route to a 5-3 home record. Overall, the Rush finished the year 9-7 and qualified for the playoffs for a fifth-consecutive season, making the Rush one of only four teams to qualify for the playoffs every year since 2001.

Individually, Philyaw returned from his knee injury to set career highs in passing yards and TDs; Moyer was voted second team All-Arena after leading the Rush with six sacks and four blocked kicks; Molden was named All-Ironman and was a finalist for the AFL Ironman of the Year award after leading the Rush in receiving for a second-consecutive year; and rookie C. J. Johnson emerged as a possible AFL star of the future.

The postseason opened with an American Conference matchup with the Los Angeles Avengers. After falling behind by 18 points early in the third quarter, the Rush defense stiffened and Chicago stormed back for a 52-45 win to advance to the AFL semifinals for a second-consecutive season.

The Rush tried its come-from-behind formula the following week in the semifinals against John Elway’s Colorado Crush. After falling behind 20-0 in the second quarter, the Rush again fought back, taking a 40-36 lead with seven minutes to play. However, the Rush could not hold the lead, eventually losing in overtime 49-43.

2006:
The 2006 season saw the Rush finally get over the conference championship hump and win the AFL title, defeating the Orlando Predators 69-61 in ArenaBowl XX.

The ArenaBowl victory capped an amazing six-game streak in which the Rush recorded convincing victories over Utah and Grand Rapids to close the season and qualify for the playoffs, followed by four-consecutive road playoff victories to capture the championship.

The playoff streak began with a 55-47 win at Nashville in which the Rush defense recorded four sacks and two interceptions, and Rush QB Matt D’Orazio completed 21 of 28 passes for 276 yards and five touchdowns in his first career playoff start.

Next, it was on to Denver for a playoff rematch with John Elway’s defending champion Colorado Crush. The Rush jumped on the Crush early and opened up a 13-0 lead behind a D’Orazio TD run and a 45-yard interception return for a TD from Dennison Robinson. The Rush then continued to pour it on Colorado, intercepting a second pass and forcing two fumbles – one of which was returned 20 yards for a TD by DeJuan Alfonzo. When the game ended the Rush had secured a 63-46 victory and advanced to the American Conference championship in San Jose.

The following week in San Jose, the Rush fell behind 21-10 in the second quarter before turning the tables on the SaberCats. An Alfonzo 51-yard kick return for a TD and a John Moyer sack and forced fumble – which led to a TD – gave the Rush the lead. A five touchdown performance by offensive specialist Bobby Sippio helped pace the Rush to a 59-56 victory and the team’s first trip to the ArenaBowl.

In Las Vegas the Rush faced off against the National Conference champion Orlando Predators, a team making its seventh trip to the ArenaBowl. Against Orlando the Rush continued the recipe for success it had used the five previous weeks, mixing efficient offensive drives with strong defense. D’Orazio passed for 250 yards and six touchdowns, including three TDs to Sippio, while rushing for two more scores. The defense forced two turnovers, including another interception return for a touchdown from Dennison Robinson, and the Rush defeated Orlando 69-61 for the ArenaBowl XX title.

2007:
The momentum from the 2006 ArenaBowl title carried over into the 2007 season as the Rush posted a 12-4 record and won its third Central Division title. An average of more than 15,600 fans watched the Rush go 8-1 at Allstate Arena, including a thrilling 52-20 win over Los Angeles in the divisional round of the playoffs.

The Rush offense, led by First Team All-Arena wide receiver Bobby Sippio, scored a team record 869 points for an average of 54.3 points per game. Sippio had one of the best offensive seasons in AFL history, setting career highs and Rush records by catching 125 passes for 1,739 yards and an amazing 53 touchdowns – even though he missed nearly four games with a sprained ankle. Despite the injury, Sippio still finished the season as the AFL leader in touchdowns and scoring (318 points), and was ranked fourth in receiving yards and eighth in receptions.

The Rush defense finished the season ranked first in the AFL in scoring defense, giving up just 44.9 points per game; first in takeaways with 44; and first in opponent passer rating, holding opposing QBs to a rating of just 91.4.

Linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo was named First Team All-Arena after setting an AFL record by scoring five defensive touchdowns– three via interceptions and two via fumble recoveries. In addition, he tied an AFL record by recovering six fumbles.

By virtue of its playoff win over Los Angeles, the Rush advanced to the American Conference final in San Jose. It was the fourth year in a row, and fifth time in team history, that the Rush had advanced to the AFL semifinals. However, Chicago’s dream of repeating as champions ended in San Jose, when quarterback Matt D’Orazio, who had battled a back injury for weeks, was forced to leave the game in the second quarter and the Rush fell to the SaberCats 61-49.

After the season, as a result of its success both on and off the field, the Rush was awarded the 2007 Commissioner’s Award, given annually to the AFL’s Organization of the Year. It was the second time in four years that the Rush had won the award.

2008:
Forced to replace six of its eight starters on offense – including quarterback Matt D’Orazio, wide receiver Bobby Sippio and fullback Bob McMillen – the Rush was as active as it had ever been prior to the start of the 2008 season.  The team used free agency to sign a quartet of big names, including QB Sherdrick Bonner, WR Damian Harrell and fullbacks Matt Kinsinger and Dan Alexander.  The group’s goal was to help the Rush maintain its status among the league’s elite teams.

And while the Rush did not miss a beat in 2008, finishing the regular season with an 11-5 record and its second-consecutive Central Division title, the story of the season did not solely revolve around the team’s free-agent acquisitions. 

An injury to Bonner opened the door for second-year QB Russ Michna.  Michna took over the reigns Week 7 in Kansas City and played so well that head coach Mike Hohensee named him the permanent starter just two weeks later.  Michna finished the season with an 8-3 record under center and ranked third in the AFL in completion percentage (68.5) and fourth in passer rating (122.5). 

Michna’s favorite target turned out to be rookie Donovan Morgan, who emerged to lead the Rush with 113 receptions for 1,300 yards on his way to being named the AFL’s Rookie of the Year. 

As a whole, the Rush offense set a team record for points scored, averaging 57.9 points per game, nearly four points per game more than the team’s previous record set in 2007.

On the other side of the ball, the Rush defense continued to be one of the best in the AFL.  For the second consecutive season, the Rush defense surrendered the fewest points in the league, giving up an average of just 47.8 points per game. 

DB Dennison Robinson was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year after tying the AFL record with 13 interceptions.  He was aided by another All-Arena season from linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo and a strong defensive line that was bolstered by the return of James Baron, who led the Rush with six sacks.

Off the field, Chicago’s support of the Rush continued to grow as the team averaged 15,874 fans at Allstate Arena, including five sellouts.  The great crowds again made Allstate Arena one of the league’s toughest places to play, as the team went 7-2 while before its home faithful. 

Chicago again was the most-televised team in the AFL – with eight games broadcast nationally on either ESPN or ESPN2 – and saw its TV ratings rise by 40 percent from 2007.  The team’s success led to the Rush being featured in a series of national commercials for Discover Card and a pair of commercials for ESPN’s SportsCenter.

After the season concluded, the Rush again was awarded the 2008 Commissioner’s Award, given annually to the AFL’s Organization of the Year – marking the second consecutive season – and third time in five years – that the Rush had won the award.   In addition, Rush president/general manager Mike Polisky was named the league’s Executive of the Year for his role in the overall success of the franchise.