Gridiron_Developmental_Football_League
Gridiron Developmental Football League
Minor professional football league in Memphis, Tennessee
The Gridiron Developmental Football League (GDFL) is a low-level American football minor league[1][2] based in Memphis, Tennessee, using the franchise model.[3][4] The GDFL acts as an umbrella group that encompasses teams from across the Contiguous United States.[5]
Current season, competition or edition: 2023 GDFL season | |
| Classification | Low-level minor league |
|---|---|
| Sport | American football |
| Founded | 2010 |
| President | Charles Thompson |
| Commissioner | Khalid Bey |
| No. of teams | 19 |
| Countries | United States |
| Official website | gdfl |
As of April 2023[update], the league has 29 teams. The GDFL plays a playoff format similar to NCAA tournament, as 14 teams make the playoffs, with the two finalists meet in the Gridiron Bowl. The league also has an All-Star game called Hype Bowl, where the best players from the Impact Conference meet their counterparts from Xtreme Conference, and played annually before the championship game.
Teams' typical payroll budget changes between franchises, while salary payment also varies per players and per skillset – as some are getting paid, others are not paid at all and some are getting only "gas money".[6]
The league have partnering agreements with the Elite Football League of India (EFLI)[7] and the Federación Deportiva Nacional de Fútbol Americano de Chile [es] (FDNFA)[8] for player development.
Origins
The league was first conceived in 2009 and formed in 2010, with Charles Thompson as the founder and first president, and with representatives of several regional semi-pro football teams, that had a plan to form a 32 team pro minor league.[3][6][9]
Inaugural Teams
Memphis Blast, Arkansas Pirates, Carolina Warriors, Mississippi Raiders, Huntsville Hurricanes, Derby City Thunder, Hopkinsville Marauders, River City Raptors, Kentucky Wolverines, Ohio Browns, Columbus Gladiators, Tristate Sharks, Goshen Rampage, North Carolina Bengals, Lumberton Razorbacks, Carolina Cougars, Carolina Lions, Carolina Warhawks, Carolina Warriors, Port City Snipers, Beaufort Broncos, Palmetto Havoc, Palmetto State Spartans, CSRA Cobras, Georgia Crush, Rock Hill Scorpions, Lake Norman Fear, Ashville Grizzlies.
2019–present
In September 2019 the GDFL reached an agreement with Labelle Developmental Football League[10] (formerly Labelle Community Football League[11]) to absorb the league teams under the Gridiron Developmental Football League umbrella, and to launch "GDFL West Coast". On later date, it was announced that the West Coast Football Alliance[12] teams will become GDFL members,[13] and the Colorado Football Association also confirmed that their league teams are joining the GDFL.[14] On October the league and Developmental Football International (DFI) announced joint-venture agreement, that "would strengthen the American developmental football landscape through stability, commercial growth and the professional development of club football in four main regions throughout the United States", with attempt to mirror the United Soccer League.[15]
As with almost all other sports leagues, the GDFL first postponed and then suspended operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.[16][17]
In 2023 the league announced that the Watertown Red & Black - the oldest active football team in the United States - would be joining the league[18] and the Racine Raiders - the second oldest active semi-pro team in the United States and the semi-pro team with the most all-time franchise wins - would be joining the league.[19]
Source[20]
Impact Conference
Xtreme Conference
- Xtreme North Division: Racine Raiders, St. Paul Pioneers, Englewood Birdgang,[24] River City Sharks[25]
- Xtreme South Division: Huntsville Rockets, Kentucky Spartans,[26] Knoxville Grizzlies, Memphis Panthers,[27] Tri-City Outlaws
Notable former teams
- Albany Metro Mallers
- Carolina Warriors
- Central Penn Piranha
- Chambersburg Cardinals
- Dallas Diesel
- Erie Express
- Everett Royals,[28]
- Inglewood Blackhawks
- Lehigh Valley Storm
- Memphis Blast
- Myrtle Beach Sharks[29]
- Nashville Storm
- Pittsburgh Colts[30]
- Salt Lake City Senate
- SoCal Coyotes
- Tampa Bay Warriors
- Watertown Red & Black
| Season | National Title Game | Date | Champions (Record) | Score | Runner-up (Record) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010[33] | Gridiron Bowl I | Sep 25, 2010 | Carolina Warriors (9–0) | 15–7 | Kentucky Wolverines (10–0) | Memphis, Tennessee |
| 2011[34] | Gridiron Bowl II[35] | Oct 1, 2011 | Chambersburg Cardinals (9–0) | 19–14[36][37] | Oklahoma Thunder (9–0) | Tara Stadium (Jonesboro, Georgia) |
| 2012[38] | Gridiron Bowl III[39] | Oct 13, 2012 | Central Penn Piranha (9–0) | 49–14 | South Buffalo Celtics (8–1) | Trojan Stadium (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania) |
| 2013[40] | Gridiron Bowl IV[41] | Sep 7, 2013 | Oklahoma Thunder (10–0) | 56–8 | Lehigh Valley Storm (8–2) | Memphis, Tennessee |
| 2014[42] | Gridiron Bowl V[43] | Sep 27, 2014 | Central Penn Piranha* (8–1) | 21–19 | Oklahoma City Bounty Hunters (8–2) | Cordova Stadium (Cordova, Tennessee) |
| 2015[44] | Gridiron Bowl VI | Sep 5, 2015 | Nashville Storm (8–0) | 31–28[45] | Crescent City Kings (7–1) | Victory Field (New Orleans, Louisiana) |
| 2016[46] | Gridiron Bowl VII[47] | Sep 3, 2016 | Oklahoma Thunder (8–0) | 29–16[48] | Nashville Storm (8–0) | Holland Hall Stadium (Tulsa, Oklahoma) |
| 2017[49] | Gridiron Bowl VIII[50] | Aug 26, 2017 | Oklahoma Thunder (8–0) | 51–12[51] | Chattanooga Eagles (7–1) | Kirby Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)[52] |
| 2018[53] | Gridiron Bowl IX[54] | Aug 11, 2018 | Oklahoma Thunder (6–2) | 38–15[55] | Middle Tennessee Bulldawgs (7–1) | Carver Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama) |
| 2019[56] | Gridiron Bowl X[57] | Aug 17, 2019 | Oklahoma Thunder (7–1) | 24–12[58] | Middle Tennessee Bulldawgs (8–0) | Fred G. Hughes Stadium (Joplin, Missouri)[59] |
| 2020[60] | Gridiron Bowl XI | Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||
| 2021[61] | Gridiron Bowl XII[62] | Sep 5, 2021 | Erie Express (8–0) | 42–40[63][64] | Inglewood Blackhawks (8–0) | Saxson Stadium (Erie, Pennsylvania)[65] |
| 2022[66] | Gridiron Bowl XIII[67] | Sep 3, 2022 | Syracuse Strong (10–1) | 24–20[68] | Inglewood Blackhawks (10–0) | Clark High School Stadium (Las Vegas, Nevada)[69] |
| 2023[70] | Gridiron Bowl XIV[71] | Sep 2, 2023 | Racine Raiders (11–0) | 27–18[72] | West Sound Rebels (10–0) | Fairmont Heights High School Stadium (Landover, Maryland)[73] |
| 2024[74] | Gridiron Bowl XV | August 31, 2024 | TBD | TBD | TBD | Horlick Field (Racine, Wisconsin)[75] |
* Vacated by the league due to team leaving the GDFL after the season was over.
- Delvin Breaux – Former New Orleans Saints player.
- Tyron Carrier – Former Montreal Alouettes player.
- De'Mon Glanton – Former Arena Football League player.
- Kache Palacio – Former Seattle Seahawks player.[80]
- Keon Lattimore – Former San Francisco 49ers player.
- "Gridiron Developmental Football League – About". Gridiron Developmental Football League. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- "When it comes to football D-leagues, resources are crucial, but locality may be the real key". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- Wallace, Scott (January 23, 2018). "Bulldawgs Join Gridiron Developmental Football League". The Tennessee Tribune. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- "Stats – Gridiron Developmental Football League". www.gdfl.org. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
- "Semi-pro football team pushes players to succeed off the field". Everett Herald.
- "2012 GDFL Season Approaching Fast". 29 March 2012.
- "GDFL Championship Game, Tara Stadium 10-1-2011". 5 October 2011.
- "Central Penn Piranha Win 2012 GDFL National Championship". 14 October 2012.