Ricky Williams Game-Worn Jersey USFL Tampa Bay Bandits 1984 COA 100% Authentic

Presented is a rare 1984 USFL Tampa Bay Bandits game worn jersey. It was worn by ex-NFL player, Ricky Williams.  Williams wore the offered Speedline jersey during his USFL tenure in 1984. It is a red portal fishnet main body, the craze among jerseys of the mid ’80s. Both sleeve ends are custom hemmed.   The red mesh jersey has his number “44” in white with black outline on the front and back, as well as smaller versions on each shoulder. The Bandits logo is pressed into each sleeve. “WILLIAMS” in white tackle twill on nameplate adorns the back.  The jersey exhibits an incredible amount of wear with well worn identifiers, hit marks, scrapes etc.

The Tampa Bay Bandits were the Tampa franchise of the USFL. While they were owned by Canadian businessman John Bassett, actor and former Florida State player Burt Reynolds bought in as a minority owner and became a big part of the team’s marketing. Though most fans assumed the ‘Bandits’ name was a reference to Reynolds’ popular movie franchise, Bassett said he’d named the team after his granddaughter’s dog.

Helping the team’s popularity was another local star, Steve Spurrier. The Florida star’s up-tempo, aggressive offense – which earned the nickname Bandit Ball – was usually among the best in the league. On the field, the Bandits went 11-7, 14-4, and 10-8. The team made the playoffs in two of their three seasons and played an exhibition game in London in 1984.

Ricky Williams was a member of the Tampa Bay Bandits in the United States Football League (USFL). He played for the Bandits in the 1983 and 1984 seasons. Williams later became a prominent figure in the NFL, playing for the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, and Baltimore Ravens.