The Dallas Cowboys started former Orlando Apollos quarterback, Garrett Gilbert, on Sunday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Th Apollos were part of the most recent failed spring football league in Central Florida, the Alliance of American Football or AAF.

Gilbert got the nod for “America’s Team” after injuries to Dak Prescott and Andy Dalton. Dallas started Ben DiNucci last week but failed to get anything going against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The AAF were a joke of an organization, which left many of it’s players unpaid and failed to complete even one season in 2019.

Despite terrible league leadership, the Orlando Apollos managed to be a bright spot for the organization and a pleasant diversion during the spring for the City Beautiful. Coached by Steve Spurrier, the Apollos were the best team in the AAF and the favorite of many to have won the championship if the league would have finished their season.

But that never happened and the AAF became yet another failed spring football experiment and Orlando still doesn’t have a professional football team.

Gilbert actually left the Apollos for a spell during the season to play for the Carolina Panthers that year.

The line for Gilbert was 21/38 for 243 with 1 TD and 1 INT in a 24-19 loss to the undefeated Steelers. His play was well received online but his status for next week is unclear with Andy Dalton possibly returning from injury.