SAN ANTONIO — The future of professional football in San Antonio takes another turn with the Alliance of American Football set to touch down.

Officials believe there's a unique bond between the NFL and the Alliance that will help it be successful, and San Antonio is just one of those cities that can make it happen.

"The Alliance provides and opportunity for this city to have a professional football team we can call our own and it's recognized the love and passion San Antonio has for the game," said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

The Alliance of American Football takes the field in the Alamo City. San Antonio will have one of eight teams in the league.

Games will be played in the Alamodome and the start of the 10-week season will kick-off in February of next year.

Former Oregon State and University of Nebraska head coach Mike Riley will coach the team and long-time Dallas Cowboy Daryl Johnston is the team's General Manager.

While it's still in the early stages, organizers say the franchise is focused around fans, players, the game, changing the experience and idea of competition.

Former NFL players like Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu are helping to spearhead player relations.

"We want these guys to succeed, but at the same time it's more than just football. We want to educate our guys with life after football. So being able to provide internships for guys, not only while they're playing here, but during the off season. If they don't get a chance to make it to the next level and live out their dreams in the NFL, we want to put these guys back into the community," Ward said.

"There's 70,000 kids out there, there's only 1,700 spots to make an NFL roster. So if you've got a lot of talented kids for one reason or another whose opportunity didn't work out for them. That is everybody's dream, is to get to the NFL and play at the highest level," Johnston said.

For more information, visit aaf.com.