Why the Continental Football League Should Relaunch the San Antonio Toros in 2026
As the Continental Football League (CoFL) gears up for its highly anticipated relaunch in the summer of 2026, the league’s blueprint emphasizes community-driven football, regional rivalries, and a nod to its storied history from the 1960s. With headquarters in Wheeling, West Virginia, and an initial slate of eight teams—including the flagship Ohio Valley Ironmen and the Texas Syndicate targeting Central Texas—the CoFL is positioning itself as a sustainable option for alternative football.
The CoFL will focus on filling the summer void with accessible, fan-owned pro football. But amid this revival, one market stands out as a no-brainer for expansion or rebranding: San Antonio. Relaunching the historic San Antonio Toros as a dedicated franchise would honor the league’s roots and tap into a passionate football city hungry for a pro team. Drawing from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Roadrunners’ proven success and the area’s deep-seated desire for professional football, San Antonio offers a blueprint for loyalty-driven fan support that could make the Toros a cornerstone of the new CoFL.
A Historical Tie That Demands Revival
The original CoFL, which ran from 1965 to 1969, featured the San Antonio Toros as one of its most resilient and successful squads. Emerging from the Texas Football League, the Toros captured back-to-back titles in 1967 and 1968 before joining the CoFL in 1969, where they posted a 7-4 record, won the Texas Division and Western Conference crowns, and delivered an overtime thriller in the league’s final championship game against the Indianapolis Capitols. Despite the league’s fold, the Toros adapted, winning additional championships in successor leagues through 1972, showcasing their ability to thrive amid volatility.
What made the Toros special? Their unwavering loyalty to the San Antonio community. Owned by local businessman Henry Clay Hight, the team scouted heavily from regional small colleges, blending homegrown talent with pragmatic operations. They rotated venues—North East Stadium, Harlandale Memorial, and Alamo Stadium—to optimize costs and fan experience, drawing crowds of 5,000 to 10,000 in an era when minor-league football struggled for visibility. This community-centric approach fostered deep fan loyalty, proving that staying rooted in the area is key to building lasting support. Relaunching the Toros would revive this legacy, giving the CoFL an instant brand with historical cachet in a market that remembers its football heroes.
UTSA’s Attendance: Proof of San Antonio’s Football Fervor
If there’s any doubt about San Antonio’s appetite for football, look no further than the UTSA Roadrunners. Since launching their program in 2011, the Roadrunners have shattered expectations, setting NCAA records for startup attendance and consistently packing the Alamodome. Their inaugural game drew a staggering 56,743 fans—a mark that still stands as the program’s single-game record and one the team aimed to break in their 2025 home opener against Texas State. Over the years, UTSA has averaged impressive numbers: 35,521 in its debut season, an all-time high for a new program.
These figures aren’t anomalies—they reflect a city where football is woven into the cultural fabric. Recent highlights, like UTSA’s record-setting 61-13 blowout of Rice on October 11, 2025, underscore this passion. Despite a rocky start to the season, the Roadrunners drew enthusiastic crowds, with fans celebrating dominant performances that included defensive touchdowns and explosive rushing.
Coach Jeff Traylor’s emphasis on “passion” and community resilience mirrors the Toros’ ethos, showing that San Antonians rally behind teams that commit to the area. With UTSA thriving as a college program, a summer pro league like the CoFL could complement rather than compete, extending the football calendar into the heat of Texas summers—something locals have proven they’re willing to embrace.
An Underserved Market Craving Pro Football
San Antonio’s desire for a professional team is palpable. The city has flirted with pro football multiple times, from the short-lived San Antonio Gunslingers (USFL, 1984-85) to the recent UFL Brahmas, which ranked near the top in league attendance before the UFL shuttered the franchise due to “venue misalignments.” Despite the Brahmas’ strong fan turnout, their departure left a void in a market proven to sustain pro ball when the product aligns with local identity.
Enter the CoFL’s summer model: affordable, community-focused, and regionally oriented. While encompassing Central Texas (including Austin, San Marcos, and Waco), the league’s Texas Syndicate franchise presents an opportunity to carve out a San Antonio-specific team branded as the Toros. This would avoid overlapping with NFL or UFL markets like Houston or Dallas, focusing instead on the underserved South Texas region.
The Syndicate’s community initiatives, such as volunteering in and player tryouts across the area, already hint at the potential—but a dedicated Toros relaunch would amplify it, fostering rivalries with other Southern Division teams and reducing travel costs, as per the CoFL’s strategy.
Loyalty is the linchpin here. The original Toros succeeded by staying true to San Antonio: hiring local coaches like George Pasterchick, scouting regional talent, and adapting to the city’s venues and economics. In contrast, transient leagues like the UFL struggle when they fail to embed themselves in the community. San Antonians reward commitment—evident in UTSA’s “built to last” culture and the city’s high school football dominance. A relaunched Toros, with fan ownership elements as promoted by the CoFL, would lock in that support, turning summer games into must-attend events.
The Bottom Line: Yes, San Antonio Deserves the Toros!
The CoFL should absolutely choose San Antonio for a 2026 Toros relaunch. The city’s historical ties to the league, UTSA’s attendance success, and an evident yearning for pro football make it a prime market. By emphasizing loyalty—through local scouting, community engagement, and a commitment to the area—the Toros could become a flagship franchise, much like the Ironmen in Wheeling.
San Antonio’s proven fan base offers stability and excitement in a landscape where alt-football leagues rise and fall. Commissioner Mike Kelly, take note: Now is the time for the Toros to charge back onto the field!
References
CoFL. (2025, October 10). The San Antonio Toros: South Texas’ scrappy contenders of the Continental Football League. Retrieved from CoFL Football: https://www.coflfootball.com/post/the-san-antonio-toros-south-texas-scrappy-contenders-of-the-continental-football-league
CoFL Staff. (2025, Sep 8). The Continental Football League: Bold Beginnings of a Forgotten Dream. Retrieved from The Continental Football League: https://www.coflfootball.com/post/the-continental-football-league-bold-beginnings-of-a-forgotten-dream
Fun While it Lasted. (n.d.). San Antonio Toros. Retrieved from Fun While it Lasted: https://funwhileitlasted.net/2023/09/24/san-antonio-toros-football/