1991 Birmingham Fire season
Position Selection Player College
Running backs 9 Joe Henderson Iowa State
Running backs 12 David Clark Dartmouth
Running backs 29 Steve Avery Northern Michigan
Running backs 32 Harvey Reed Howard
Running backs 49 Charles Sanders Slippery Rock
Running backs 52 Byron Sanders Northwestern State
Placekickers 4 Win Lyle Auburn
Placekickers 17 James Campbell Eastern Kentucky
Punters 7 Kent Elmore Chattanooga
Punters 14 Kirk Maggio UCLA
The 1991 Birmingham Fire season was the first for the franchise in the inaugural season for the World League of American Football (WLAF). The team was led by head coach Chan Gailey, and played their home games at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of five wins and six losses (5-6), as the North America West division champions and with a loss against the Barcelona Dragons in the WLAF semifinals. The Fire franchise was established in April 1990, and by November 1990 league officials announced play to begin in March 1991. With former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Chan Gailey selected as head coach, the league held its inaugural draft in February 1991. Birmingham opened the season with a home loss to Montreal followed by a win over Sacramento. The Fire then alternated pairs of wins and losses for the remainder of the season. Although they finished with a record of only 5-5, the Fire qualified for the playoffs as the North America West division champions. In the WLAF semifinals, Birmingham lost to Barcelona 10-3 to finish the season 5-6.