Gridiron Developmental Football League

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]

Gridiron Developmental Football League
Current season, competition or edition:
2023 GDFL season
ClassificationLow-level minor league
SportAmerican football
Founded2010
PresidentCharles Thompson
CommissionerAnthony Rodrigues
No. of teams64
CountriesUnited States
Official websitegdfl.org

As of January 2023, the league has 64 teams. The GDFL plays a playoff format similar to NCAA tournament, as 16 teams make the playoffs (14 automatic division winners qualifiers), 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 meets 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 aren't getting paid at all and some are getting only "gas money".[5]

The league have partnering agreements with the Elite Football League of India (EFLI)[6] and the Federación Deportiva Nacional de Fútbol Americano de Chile (FDNFA)[7] for player development.

History

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][5][8]

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[9] (formerly Labelle Community Football League[10]) 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[11] teams will become GDFL members,[12] and the Colorado Football Association also confirmed that their league teams are joining the GDFL.[13] 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.[14]

As with almost all other sports leagues, the GDFL first postponed and then suspended operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.[15][16]

In 2023 the league announced that the Watertown Red & Black - the oldest active football team in the United States - would be joining the league.[17]

Teams

Source[18]

Impact Conference
  • Eastern Impact North Division: Huntsville Rockets, Louisville Raiders, Middle Tennessee Bulldawgs, Tri-City Outlaws
  • Eastern Impact South Division: Magnolia State Knights, Memphis Blast, Mississippi Road Warriors, River City Pythons
  • Western Impact Conference East Division: Kern Oilers, Mecca Town Dogs, Santa Clarita Valley Tigers, Sin City Rough Riders, SoCal Coyotes, West Coast Lions
  • Western Impact Conference South Division: 805 Bears, Inglewood Blackhawks, Kipsat Bears, North County Zulu, San Diego Silverbacks, Southern California Apaches
  • Western Impact Conference North Division: Alameda County Knights, Bay Delta Nightmare, Golden State Rhinos, South Beach Outlaws
  • Western Impact Conference West Division: Central Valley Hurricanes, East Valley Bandits, Elk Grove Kingz, Valley Stallions

Xtreme Conference
  • Eastern Xtreme East Division: East Penn Raiders, Western New York/Buffalo Wolverines, NY Falcons, Charlotte (Rochester) Colonials, Syracuse Strong, Upstate Predators (Rochester), Utica Nighthawks, Watertown Red & Black
  • Eastern Xtreme North Division: Cleveland Rams, Ohio Elite Outlaws, Ohio Gladiators, Ohio Phoenix
  • Eastern Xtreme Northwest Division: Greensburg Golden Hawks, Shenango Valley Truth, Steel City Bobcats, WPA Wildcatz
  • Eastern Xtreme South Division: Cleveland Cobras, Cleveland Predators, Columbus Fire, Lake Erie Explosion
  • Eastern Xtreme West Division: Charleroi Sabers, Erie Express, Pittsburgh Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Saints
  • Western Xtreme Conference North Division: Colorado Knights, Montana Dawgs, Salt Lake City Senate, Wasatch Revolution
  • Western Xtreme Conference East Division: Colorado Greyhawks, Denco Spades, Denver Sharks, Loveland Elite, Mile High Sting, Southern Colorado Renegades, Western Dakota War Eagles
  • Western Xtreme Conference South Division: Joplin Crusaders, Oklahoma Thunder, Texas Raiders

Notable former teams

GDFL National Champions

Source[21][22]

SeasonNational Title GameDateChampions (Record)ScoreRunner-up (Record)Location
2010[23]Gridiron Bowl ISep 25, 2010Carolina Warriors (9–0)15–7Kentucky Wolverines (10–0)Memphis, Tennessee
2011[24]Gridiron Bowl II[25]Oct 1, 2011Chambersburg Cardinals (9–0)19–14[26][27]Oklahoma Thunder (9–0)Tara Stadium (Jonesboro, Georgia)
2012[28]Gridiron Bowl III[29]Oct 13, 2012Central Penn Piranha (9–0)49–14South Buffalo Celtics (8–1)Trojan Stadium (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania)
2013[30]Gridiron Bowl IV[31]Sep 7, 2013Oklahoma Thunder (10–0)56–8Lehigh Valley Storm (8–2)Memphis, Tennessee
2014[32]Gridiron Bowl V[33]Sep 27, 2014Central Penn Piranha* (8–1)21–19Oklahoma City Bounty Hunters (8–2)Cordova Stadium (Cordova, Tennessee)
2015[34]Gridiron Bowl VISep 5, 2015Nashville Storm (8–0)31–28[35]Crescent City Kings (7–1)Victory Field (New Orleans, Louisiana)
2016[36]Gridiron Bowl VII[37]Sep 3, 2016Oklahoma Thunder (8–0)29–16[38]Nashville Storm (8–0)Holland Hall Stadium (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
2017[39]Gridiron Bowl VIII[40]Aug 26, 2017Oklahoma Thunder (8–0)51–12[41]Chattanooga Eagles (7–1)Kirby Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)[42]
2018[43]Gridiron Bowl IX[44]Aug 11, 2018Oklahoma Thunder (6–2)38–15[45]Middle Tennessee Bulldawgs (7–1)Carver Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
2019[46]Gridiron Bowl X[47]Aug 17, 2019Oklahoma Thunder (7–1)24–12[48]Middle Tennessee Bulldawgs (8–0)Fred G. Hughes Stadium (Joplin, Missouri)[49]
2020[50]Gridiron Bowl XICanceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021[51]Gridiron Bowl XII[52]Sep 5, 2021Erie Express (8–0)42–40[53][54]Inglewood Blackhawks (8–0)Saxson Stadium (Erie, Pennsylvania)[55]
2022[56]Gridiron Bowl XIII[57]Sep 3, 2022Syracuse Strong (10–1)24–20[58]Inglewood Blackhawks (10–0)Clark High School Stadium (Las Vegas, Nevada)[59]

* Vacated by the league due to team leaving the GDFL after the season was over.

GDFL Commissioners
  • Bo Townsend (2019–present)[60]
  • George Burch (2017–2019)
  • Devin Richardson (2015–2017)
  • Steven Roper (2014–2015)
  • Charles Thompson (2010–2014)

Notable players

Source[5][61]

References
  1. "Salt Lake Senate The Mission Vision and Plan".
  2. "2021 Senate Football Information". Facebook.
  3. "Gridiron Developmental Football League – About". Gridiron Developmental Football League. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  4. "Joplin Crusaders add second team".
  5. "When it comes to football D-leagues, resources are crucial, but locality may be the real key". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  6. "Oklahoma Thunder Football agrees to foreign exchange player program".
  7. "Chile Players to Compete in H.Y.P.E. BOWL".
  8. Wallace, Scott (January 23, 2018). "Bulldawgs Join Gridiron Developmental Football League". The Tennessee Tribune. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  9. "Labelle Developmental Football League".
  10. "Labelle Community Football League Champions".
  11. "West Coast Football Alliance CA".
  12. "GDFL Strengthens With The Addition Of The West Coast Alliance Football League CA".
  13. "Colorado Football Association".
  14. "Developmental Football International (DFI) Announces Joint-Venture With Gridiron Developmental Football".
  15. "Gridiron Developmental Football League postpones league start to June". 19 April 2020.
  16. "COVID-19 Forces GDFL To Cancel The 2020 Season".
  17. "FL adds another Championship Caliber Organization,Introducing The Watertown Red & Black".
  18. "Stats – Gridiron Developmental Football League". www.gdfl.org. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
  19. "Pro Arena Team Joins GDFL".
  20. "GDFL Expands into the North East".
  21. "Gridiron Developmental Football League Champions".
  22. "National champions".
  23. "2010 Standing".
  24. "2011 Standing".
  25. "2012 GDFL Season Approaching Fast". 29 March 2012.
  26. "GDFL Championship Game, Tara Stadium 10-1-2011". 5 October 2011.
  27. "2011 GDFL National Championship: Chambersburg Cardinals vs. Oklahoma Thunder". YouTube.
  28. "2012 Standing".
  29. "Central Penn Piranha Win 2012 GDFL National Championship". 14 October 2012.
  30. "2013 Standing".
  31. "Thunder Drop Boom On Storm; Win GDFL National Championship".
  32. "2014 Standing".
  33. "Central Penn Wins Second GDFL Championship In Two Years". October 2014.
  34. "2015 Standing".
  35. "GDFL Nashville Storm vs. Crescent City Kings". YouTube.
  36. "2016 Standing".
  37. "Oklahoma Thunder 2016 National Champion".
  38. "GDFL 2016 Championship Oklahoma Thunder vs Nashville Storm". YouTube.
  39. "2017 Standing".
  40. "Thunder back-to-back national champions".
  41. "2017 GDFL Football National Championship Game :: OKLAHOMA vs CHATTANOOGA". YouTube.
  42. "GDFL announced Official Championship Site!!!".
  43. "2018 Standing".
  44. "Thunder Three-Peat!".
  45. "Gridiron Bowl IX GDFL National Championship". YouTube.
  46. "2019 Standing".
  47. "Thunder claim 4th Consecutive National Championship".
  48. "Thunder claim 4th Consecutive National Championship". YouTube.
  49. "GDFL National Title Site Announced".
  50. "2020 Standing".
  51. "2021 Standing".
  52. "GDFL National Championship Post Game Recap".
  53. "Erie Express cap off perfect season with 42–40 win in GDFL national championship". 6 September 2021.
  54. "2021 GDFL National Championship (Gridiron Bowl XII)".
  55. "GDFL National Title Site Announced".
  56. "2022 Standing".
  57. "Gridiron Bowl: New York vs California in GDFL National Championship".
  58. "Syracuse Strong crowned GDFL National Champions!".
  59. "Gridiron Bowl National Championship Game to be hosted in Las Vegas, Nevada".
  60. "Next Level Pro's".
  61. "Next Level Pros".
  62. "Former Seattle Seahawks LB Kache Palacio has Breakout Debut in Blackhawks 34–26 win".
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