Texas Syndicate Becomes the 1st Entry into the Southern Division
- CoFL Staff
- Sep 18
- 5 min read
A New Era of Summer Football in Central Texas
When the Continental Football League (CoFL) was reintroduced earlier this year, one of its central promises was to bring football back to the communities that live and breathe the game, but often go overlooked by the NFL. Today, that promise takes another step forward with the announcement of the Texas Syndicate, the newest member of the CoFL and the first official franchise in the league’s Southern Division.
The Syndicate will call the Austin area home, drawing from Pflugerville, Round Rock, and the broader Central Texas region. With its arrival, fans across the Lone Star State can prepare for something both new and familiar—a professional football team that plays in the summer months, rooted in community, opportunity, and tradition.
Why Austin? Why Central Texas?
It’s no secret that Texas lives and breathes football. Friday nights belong to high school lights. Saturdays bring the roar of college football across the state. Sundays have their place in the NFL. But the summers? Until now, they’ve been wide open.
That’s what makes Austin and Central Texas such a perfect fit for the CoFL. The area is booming, with a growing, young, and vibrant population that embraces both tradition and innovation. Add to that the region’s deep football culture, and you have fertile ground for a franchise like the Texas Syndicate.
As CoFL Commissioner Mike Kelly has emphasized, the league isn’t looking to compete with the NFL—it’s filling the spaces the NFL doesn’t touch. For Austin, that means a professional summer football option that is both affordable and local, but still high quality.
A Veteran at the Helm
At the heart of the Texas Syndicate is Quincy Workman, a U.S. Army veteran with 23 years of leadership experience. Workman is more than just a team owner—he’s a steward for a vision. His career in both the military and private sector, where he’s worked in project management and biomedical operations, prepared him for the challenge of leading a professional sports organization.
But for Workman, this isn’t just about football—it’s about people.
“This isn’t a vanity project. This is a serious operation with real goals,” Workman explained. “The Syndicate is about more than football. It’s about uniting talent, families, and neighborhoods under one banner. Central Texas deserves a team that reflects its grit, its pride, and its hustle.”
Those words aren’t just rhetoric. Alongside the football operations, Workman is launching the Texas Syndicate Foundation, slated for early 2026. The foundation will focus on athlete mental health, youth support, and local community development—issues that go hand in hand with building a sustainable sports culture.
Building the Syndicate Identity
From day one, the Texas Syndicate has been unapologetically Texan. The team’s colors—deep navy, burnt orange, gunmetal gray, silver, and white—reflect strength, ambition, and tradition. Its motto, “Unite the Hustle,” is more than a slogan; it’s a rallying cry.
That identity isn’t being built in a boardroom, but in the community. The Syndicate is already planning events that go beyond the game itself: youth football camps, mentorship initiatives, halftime performances by local artists, and partnerships with local schools. In short, the Syndicate wants to be woven into the fabric of Austin life.
The CoFL has always emphasized that its franchises are more than just teams—they’re community anchors. With the Syndicate, that vision is coming to life in Central Texas.
Football Operations: A Foundation for Success
The Syndicate has named Ned Herrington as its General Manager. A Texas native, Herrington brings experience in team building, sponsorship strategy, and long-term planning. He’s focused on laying the groundwork for sustainable success on and off the field.
Coaching hires are in progress, and while details are being kept under wraps for now, the emphasis is clear: recruit local standouts and overlooked athletes who want a chance to prove themselves. With so much talent in Texas, from high school to college programs, the Syndicate will have no shortage of players eager for the opportunity.
As Commissioner Kelly has pointed out, the CoFL is designed to be a developmental bridge. It’s a place where athletes can showcase their skills, sharpen their game, and, for some, earn opportunities at the next level. The Syndicate’s player pipeline will be a major part of that mission.
The Bigger Picture: The CoFL’s Bold Mission
The return of the Continental Football League is about more than nostalgia. While the league nods to its history in the 1960s—when franchises like the Wheeling Ironmen, Charleston Rockets, and Orlando Panthers made headlines—it’s also been reimagined for today’s football landscape.
The New Continental Football League is:
Community-owned and fan-first. The league is designed to be accessible and engaging for fans at the local level.
Developmental. It’s a bridge between college football and higher professional opportunities, filling a critical gap.
Sustainable. With disciplined structures and a focus on regional identity, the CoFL avoids the pitfalls of short-lived “pop-up” leagues.
Adding the Texas Syndicate is a natural step forward. As the first Southern Division franchise, the Syndicate expands the league’s footprint into one of the most football-rich regions of the country and signals that the CoFL is serious about reaching markets where the game is both a passion and a tradition.
More Than Fans—Believers
If you ask Workman what he wants most from the Austin community, the answer isn’t just ticket sales.
“We don’t just want fans—we want believers. This team is here to build something real,” he said.
That’s the essence of the Syndicate. It’s not about chasing headlines—it’s about creating roots. By uniting athletes, families, and neighborhoods, the Texas Syndicate is positioning itself not only as a football team, but as a cultural force in Central Texas.
Looking Ahead
As the CoFL prepares for its inaugural season, the Texas Syndicate stands as a symbol of what the league is all about: tradition, opportunity, and community. For Austin and Central Texas, that means summer football with local pride and national ambition.
Fans can follow the Syndicate’s journey on Instagram @texassyndicatefb and online at www.texassyndicategroup.com. Announcements on coaching hires, player signings, and community events will roll out in the months ahead.
The Syndicate’s debut season in the CoFL is more than just a launch. It’s the start of a new tradition in Central Texas—one where hustle, grit, and pride unite under a single banner.
Did You Know? – Texas and the Original CoFL
The original Continental Football League (1965–1969) made its mark in Texas during the league’s final season. In 1969, the CoFL added a dedicated Texas Division, showcasing just how important the Lone Star State was to the league’s expansion.
Dallas Rockets (1969): Brought big-league aspirations to the Dallas–Fort Worth market.
West Texas Rufneks (Odessa/Midland, 1969): Represented the Permian Basin, a region synonymous with Friday Night Lights football.
Texarkana Titans (1969): Bridged Texas and Arkansas fans with a gritty small-market franchise.
Ft. Worth Braves (1969): Added to the competitive depth of the Texas Division.
San Antonio Toros (1969): The powerhouse of the division, they won the Texas title and advanced all the way to the league’s championship game.
Mexico Golden Aztecs (1969): Though based in Monterrey, Mexico, they competed in the Texas Division, making the CoFL the first U.S.-based league to expand across the border.
These teams highlighted Texas’ central role in the CoFL’s history. Now, decades later, the Texas Syndicate carries that legacy forward as the modern league’s first Southern Division franchise.