In the club's first four seasons (1995–1998), the team played just above mediocre, but still qualified for the playoffs three out of the four years, losing in the opening round each time under the guidance of Todd Shell.

In 1999, the SaberCats appointed eventual owner-general manager Darren Arbet to the position of head coach.

The SaberCats' run of success intensified in the 2000s; during that time, they won seven division titles and played in three American Conference championship games.

After dispatching the Portland Thunder easily in the first round of the playoffs, they again faced the Rattlers; this time, however, San Jose emerged victorious.

A statement from the league indicated that the AFL was working to secure new, long-term owners for the franchise,[1] but no such group has emerged.

[3] The group of three owners got a bargain when they were awarded the franchise, paying only US$750,000 of the $1.25 million the AFL typically requested of an expansion team.

[3] The SaberCats named Todd Shell, a former San Francisco 49ers linebacker, as the team's first head coach.

On June 5, 2004, the SaberCats were fined $20,000 for violations during their quarterfinal round playoff game against the Tampa Bay Storm.

They were first fined $10,000 for distributing cow bells, without advance approval, to fans entering the building, which was cited as a violation by the AFL as an intentional competitive advantage generated by the creation of artificial noise.

Also, during the game itself, the SaberCats refused to apply microphones to certain players and coaches during the NBC broadcast, which led to an additional $10,000 fine.

They lost to #1 seed Colorado Crush 56–48 in the first round, after failing to score on six goal line opportunities in the final minute of play.

The SaberCats announced shortly afterward that they intend to field a team for 2010, even if it means moving to a new indoor football league.

[7] Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings owner Dan Newman mentioned that the SaberCats were one of at least two former AFL franchises with which negotiations were in progress, the other being the Tampa Bay Storm.

It looked like the 'Cats were going on a winning streak after they won the next three games (75–55 against the Utah Blaze, 42–33 against the Tulsa Talons, and 68–61 against the Philadelphia Soul), but after a bye week they went on a devastating seven game losing streak (65–43 against the Arizona Rattlers, 54–48 against the Pittsburgh Power, 76–68 against the Utah Blaze, 55–49 against the Georgia Force, 70–57 against the Dallas Vigilantes, 64–57 against the Arizona Rattlers, and 82–21 against the Cleveland Gladiators).

Unlike their disappointing 2011 campaign, the SaberCats were able to clinch a playoff spot as the #3 seed, finishing the regular season with a 12–6 record.

The SaberCats finished the regular season with a record of 13–5 for the second consecutive year, winning the Pacific Division and earning the #2 seed in the National Conference.

Kiss), winning the Pacific Division and earning the #1 seed in the National Conference with homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

[11] Surprisingly, after the 2015 season, the AFL announced that the SaberCats were ceasing operations for non-football related reasons.

[12] According to Metro Silicon Valley, the Frys were concerned about the rampant instability that had prevailed in the league since it returned to the field.