Dinos de Saltillo (English: Saltillo Dinos) are an American football team based in Saltillo, Mexico. The Dinos compete in the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional, the top American football league in Mexico. The team plays its home games at the Estadio Francisco I. Madero.
History The team was founded on 28 September 2016 as an expansion team in the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA), paying homage to the semi-professional team with a similar name that played in the Liga Nacional de Futbol Americano Masters from 1995 to 1996 in the city of Saltillo.
The team participated in the LFA for the first time in the 2017 season. Under head coach Guillermo Ruiz Burguete, the team finished with a 2–5 record, nevertheless, due to the competition system, Dinos still classified for playoffs and defeated Raptors for the North Division championship, classifying for the Tazón México in their first year in the league. The Dinos lost the Tazón México to the Mayas 18–24, played at the Estadio Jesús Martínez "Palillo" in Mexico City.
A new coaching staff arrived to the team for the 2018 season, led by head coach Carlos Cabral. The Dinos had a 4–3 regular season record, qualifying to the playoffs for second consecutive season, this time as division leader. In a rematch of the 2017 game, Dinos lost 6–21 to Raptors in the Division Championship game.
Javier Adame era (2019–present) In May 2018, Dinos signed Javier Adame as head coach, ahead of the 2019 season. Adame had previously worked as offensive line coordinator for the Dinos.
From its inception until 2021, the Dinos played their home games at the Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero. In 2022, due to an agreement between the Dinos and the baseball club Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League, the team moved to the Estadio Francisco I. Madero.
In the 2022 season, the Dinos had finished with the best record in the regular season. In the playoffs, Saltillo lost to the Gallos Negros de Querétaro.
Rivals Fundidores de Monterrey The Fundidores and the Dinos are from northern Mexico and divisional rivals since the establishment of the divisional system in the LFA in 2017. Besides that, the rivalry dates back to the times of the Liga Nacional de Futbol Americano (National American Football League) in the late 90s, when both cities (Saltillo and Monterrey) had fierce matches between their two teams: the Dinosaurios (Dinosaurs) and the Cerveceros (Brewers). The rivalry goes beyond the gridiron, since both teams fight season after season to get the best college players from Nuevo León and Coahuila.
Dinos de Saltillo vs. Fundidores de Monterrey season-by-season results Season Results Location Overall series Dinos 33–16 Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero Dinos 1–0 Fundidores 14–6 Estadio Tecnológico Tie 1–1 Fundidores 17–0 Estadio Nuevo León Unido Fundidores 2–1 Dinos 30–20 Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero Tie 2–2 Fundidores 26–13 Estadio Nuevo León Unido Fundidores 3–2 Dinos 8–0 Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero Tie 3–3 Dinos 23–15 Estadio Borregos Dinos 4–3 Dinos 24–17 Estadio Francisco I. Madero Dinos 5–3 Dinos 38–31 Estadio Francisco I. Madero Dinos 6–3 Fundidores 55–34 Estadio Borregos Dinos 6–4
Raptors de Naucalpan The Raptors de Naucalpan and the Dinos play each season the so-called Jurassic Duel (Spanish: Duelo Jurásico). Due to these teams being two of the strongest in the league in recent years, this rivalry is considered amongst LFA's most important rivalries.
Dinos de Saltillo vs. Raptors de Naucalpan season-by-season results Season Results Location Overall series Raptors 34–27 Estadio Jesús Martínez "Palillo" Raptors 1–0 Raptors 19–6 Estadio Olímpico de Saltillo Raptors 2–0 Dinos 13–10 Estadio Jesús Martínez "Palillo" Raptors 2–1 Dinos 29–27 Estadio José Ortega Martínez Tie 2–2 Dinos 23–20 Estadio Olímpico de Saltillo Dinos 3–2 Raptors 21–6 Estadio Olímpico de Saltillo Tie 3–3 Raptors 21–7 Estadio Olímpico de Saltillo Raptors 4–3 Raptors 19–7 Estadio FES Acatlán Raptors 5–3 Dinos 30–29 Estadio Olímpico de Saltillo Raptors 5–4 Raptors 28–27 Estadio FES Acatlán Raptors 6–4 Dinos 24–14 Estadio Francisco I. Madero Raptors 6–5
Season-by-season Season Head coach Regular season Postseason Won Lost Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result 2017 Guillermo Ruiz Burguete 2 5 .286 2nd 1 1.500 2018 Carlos Cabral 4 3 .571 1st 0 1 .000 2019 Javier Adame 3 5 .375 3rd – – – – 2020 Javier Adame 3 2 .600 2nd Postseason cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2022 Javier Adame 5 1 .833 1st 0 1 .000 2023 Javier Adame 7 3 .700 2nd 1 1 .500 2024 Javier Adame 4 4 .500 4th 0 1 .500 Total 28 23 .550 2 5 .286
Awards North Division Champions (1): (2017)
Notable players See :Category:Dinos de Saltillo players
References