Milwaukee Pro Football Names Team Silverbacks
The new Continental Football League franchise takes its name from Samson, a silverback gorilla at the Milwaukee County Zoo.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football
Live Poll
Would you attend a Milwaukee Silverbacks football game next summer?
Milwaukee Pro Football unveiled the Milwaukee Silverbacks as the name of its new professional football team at a Friday press conference. The team also named former Green Bay Packers players Andre Rison and Keith McKenzie as offensive and defensive coordinators.
Why it matters
The team was described as an opportunity for local athletes to continue their football careers without leaving Milwaukee. The Silverbacks are scheduled to begin play in May 2027 in the Continental Football League.
The Continental Football League plays full-field, 11-on-11 football, and the preliminary plan calls for three home games. The Silverbacks' home venue has not yet been determined.
The players
Gilbert Brown
Gilbert Brown is a former Green Bay Packers defensive lineman who now serves as head coach of the Milwaukee Silverbacks.
Andre Rison
Andre Rison is a former Green Bay Packers wide receiver and a Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee who was named offensive coordinator of the Silverbacks.
Keith McKenzie
Keith McKenzie is a former Green Bay Packers defensive end who was named defensive coordinator of the Silverbacks.
Darius Jenkins
Darius Jenkins is the general manager of the Milwaukee Silverbacks.
The details
Milwaukee Pro Football solicited community input on the team name and venue in September before the Friday unveiling at Kelly's Bleachers, 5218 W. Blue Mound Rd. Gilbert Brown is head coach, Darius Jenkins is general manager, and Rison and McKenzie lead the offense and defense.
Timeline
September: Team announced and community input solicited on name and venue.
Friday, November 6, 2026: Team name and coaching staff unveiled at press conference.
January 2027: Player tryouts scheduled.
May 2027: Season scheduled to begin.
July 3, 2027: Continental Football League championship game scheduled.
Season Trajectory
The Silverbacks join the Continental Football League, which expects eight teams in 2027 and holds its championship game July 3. The franchise gives Milwaukee a professional football team in a league whose structure is still taking shape.
Local football players now have a professional option in Milwaukee for the 2027 season. Tryouts in January 2027 are the first concrete step for athletes hoping to join the roster.
The takeaway
The Silverbacks give Milwaukee-area players a local path into professional football, with tryouts set for January 2027 and a season beginning in May. Watch for the venue decision, which remains open.
What happens next
Silverbacks player tryouts are scheduled for January 2027, and the team is set to begin play in May 2027.
Further reading
Explore more Milwaukee Football coverage to follow the Silverbacks' progress toward their 2027 debut.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Urban Milwaukee.
Live Poll
Would you attend a Milwaukee Silverbacks football game next summer?
