| Los Angeles Cobras | |
| Helmet: | Los Angeles Cobras helmet logo 1988.png |
| Founded: | 1988 |
| Folded: | 1988 |
| City: | Los Angeles Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California |
| Colors: | Navy, goldenrod, white |
| Coach: | Ray Willsey |
| League: | Arena Football League |
| Team History: |
|
| No League Champs: | 0 |
| No Conf Champs: | 0 |
| No Div Champs: | 0 |
| No Playoff Appearances: | 1 |
| Arena Years: | |
The Los Angeles Cobras were a professional arena football team based in Los Angeles, California that played one season (1988) in the Arena Football League.
See main article: 1988 Los Angeles Cobras season. On March 16, 1988, it was announced that team would be nicknamed the Cobras, as well as the introduction of head coach Ray Willsey.[1] The Cobras played their home games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, which they shared with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association. The team's logo consisted of an interlocking "LA" in which the left upright of the "A" was formed by the hooded head and "neck" of a cobra.
The team debuted April 30, 1988 against the New York Knights.[2] The Cobras started the season 0–3,[3] but finished the season 5–3–1, clinching a playoff spot.[4]
Despite a lineup that featured former NFL all-pro receiver Cliff Branch, ex-UCLA quarterback Matt Stevens[5] and future Arena Football Hall of Famer Gary Mullen, Los Angeles drew dismal crowds: just 7,507 per game, second-worst in the AFL. The Cobras lost in the semifinals to the Chicago Bruisers, 29–16.[6] It turned out to be their last game ever as the Cobras folded after the 1988 season, temporarily cutting the league down
|-|1988 || 5 || 6|| 1 || 4th || Lost Week 1 (Chicago 29-16)|-!Totals || 5 || 7 || 1|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)|}
| Los Angeles Cobras Hall of Famers | |||||
| width=60px style="background: goldenrod; color: navy" | No. | Name | Year inducted | Position(s) | Years w/ Cobras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995 | 1988 | |||
The following Cobras players were named to All-Arena Teams: