1989 Arena Football League season

The 1989 Arena Football League season was the third season of the Arena Football League (AFL). The league champions were the Detroit Drive, who defeated the Pittsburgh Gladiators in ArenaBowl III.

1989 Arena Football League season
League	Arena Football League
Sport	Arena football
Duration	July 7, 1989 – August 5, 1989
Regular season
Season champions	Detroit Drive
Season MVP	George LaFrance, DET
League postseason
1 vs 4 Semifinals champions	Detroit Drive
1 vs 4 Semifinals runners-up	Chicago Bruisers
2 vs 3 Semifinals champions	Pittsburgh Gladiators
2 vs 3 Semifinals runners-up	Denver Dynamite
ArenaBowl III
Champions	Detroit Drive
Runners-up	Pittsburgh Gladiators
Finals MVP	George LaFrance, DET

Bruisers

Commandos

Drive

Dynamite

Gladiators

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AFL teams

Standings

1989 Arena Football League standings
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	PF (Avg.)	PA (Avg.)	STK
xy-Detroit Drive	3	1	0	.750	154	84	38.5	21	W 1
x-Pittsburgh Gladiators	3	1	0	.750	159	147	39.75	36.75	W 1
x-Denver Dynamite	3	1	0	.750	94	97	23.5	24.25	W 2
x-Chicago Bruisers	1	3	0	.250	167	155	41.75	38.75	L 1
Maryland Commandos	0	4	0	.000	79	170	19.75	42.5	L 4

y – clinched regular-season title

x – clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

	Semifinals					ArenaBowl III
	1	Detroit	43
	4	Chicago	10
						1	Detroit	39
						2	Pittsburgh	26
	2	Pittsburgh	39
	3	Denver	37

Awards and honors

Regular season awards

Award	Winner	Position	Team
Most Valuable Player	George LaFrance	Wide Receiver/Defensive Back	Detroit Drive
Ironman of the Year	Dwayne Dixon	Wide Receiver/Defensive Back	Chicago Bruisers
Coach of the Year	Babe Parilli	Head coach	Denver Dynamite

All-Arena team

Position	First team
Quarterback	Willie Totten, Pittsburgh
Fullback/Linebacker	Lynn Bradford, Detroit
Wide receiver/Defensive back	George LaFrance, Detroit Carl Aikens, Chicago Alvin Williams, Pittsburgh
Offensive lineman/Defensive lineman	Quinton Knight, Denver Chuck Harris, Maryland Reggie Mathis, Detroit
Kicker	Gary Gussman, Denver

Team notes

# of Teams	Expansion Teams	Folded Teams	Suspended Teams	Teams returning from previous season	Teams returning after hiatus	Relocated Teams	Name Changes
5		Los Angeles Cobras New England Steamrollers New York Knights		Chicago Bruisers Pittsburgh Gladiators Detroit Drive	Denver Dynamite Maryland Commandos