Gridiron Developmental Football League

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Gridiron Developmental Football League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023 GDFL season
Sport American football
Founded 2010
President Charles Thompson
Commissioner Anthony Rodrigues
No. of teams 64
Countries United States
Classification Low-level minor league
Official website gdfl.org

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]

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 (es) (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]

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

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