Gridiron Developmental Football League Explained

Current Season:	2023 GDFL season
Pixels:	150px
Sport:	American football
Founded:	2010
Teams:	19
Countries:	United States
Classification:	Low-level minor league
President:	Charles Thompson
Commissioner:	Khalid Bey

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]

, 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".

The league have partnering agreements with the Elite Football League of India (EFLI)^[6] and the (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.^{[8] [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]

Teams

^[20]

Impact Conference

• Impact North Division: Baltimore Lightning,^[21] Capital City Seahawks, Mount Vernon Bangers,^[22] New York Crusaders, Washington Bulldawgs
• Impact South Division: Buffalo Stampede,^[23] Charlotte Colonials, Syracuse Strong, Troy Fighting Irish, Upstate Predators

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

GDFL National Champions

^{[31] [32]}

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]

GDFL Commissioners

• Khalid Bey (2024-present)^[76]
• Anthony J. Rodrigues Jr. (2022–2024)^[77]
• Bo Townsend (2019–2022)^[78]
• George Burch (2017–2019)
• Devin Richardson (2015–2017)
• Steven Roper (2014–2015)
• Charles Thompson (2010–2014)

Notable players

^[79]

• 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.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Salt Lake Senate The Mission Vision and Plan.
2. Web site: 2021 Senate Football Information. Facebook.
3. Web site: Gridiron Developmental Football League – About. Gridiron Developmental Football League. 12 July 2015.
4. Web site: Joplin Crusaders add second team.
5. Web site: Red & Black move to new league. WWNY . en-US.
6. Web site: Oklahoma Thunder Football agrees to foreign exchange player program.
7. Web site: Chile Players to Compete in H.Y.P.E. BOWL.
8. When it comes to football D-leagues, resources are crucial, but locality may be the real key. Sports Illustrated. 7 July 2017.
9. News: Wallace . Scott . Bulldawgs Join Gridiron Developmental Football League . December 14, 2018 . The Tennessee Tribune . January 23, 2018.
10. Web site: Labelle Developmental Football League.
11. Web site: Labelle Community Football League Champions.
12. Web site: West Coast Football Alliance CA.
13. Web site: GDFL Strengthens With The Addition Of The West Coast Alliance Football League CA.
14. Web site: Colorado Football Association.
15. Web site: Developmental Football International (DFI) Announces Joint-Venture With Gridiron Developmental Football.
16. Web site: Gridiron Developmental Football League postpones league start to June. 19 April 2020.
17. Web site: COVID-19 Forces GDFL To Cancel The 2020 Season.
18. Web site: FL adds another Championship Caliber Organization,Introducing The Watertown Red & Black.
19. Web site: RACINE RAIDERS JOIN GDFL,OPENS UP MIDWEST.
20. Web site: Stats – Gridiron Developmental Football League. 2020-12-14. www.gdfl.org.
21. Web site: LIGHTNING SET TO REJOIN THE MOST PROMINENT LEAGUE IN THE COUNTRY, THE GDFL, IN 2024.
22. Web site: TFL Champions Mount Vernon Bangers join,The GDFL.
23. Web site: Buffalo Stampede enter the GDFL.
24. Web site: MCFL Champions Englewood Birdgang of Chicago, Illinois enter the GDFL!.
25. Web site: River City Sharks Join the GDFL's Midwest Region.
26. Web site: KENTUCKY SPARTANS READY TO DO BATTLE IN THE GDFL.
27. Web site: The Memphis Panthers Pro Developmental National Team Join the GDFL.
28. Web site: Semi-pro football team pushes players to succeed off the field. Everett Herald.
29. Web site: Pro Arena Team Joins GDFL.
30. Web site: GDFL Expands into the North East.
31. Web site: Gridiron Developmental Football League Champions. en.
32. Web site: National champions. en.
33. Web site: 2010 Standing.
34. Web site: 2011 Standing.
35. Web site: 2012 GDFL Season Approaching Fast. 29 March 2012.
36. Web site: GDFL Championship Game, Tara Stadium 10-1-2011. 5 October 2011.
37. Web site: 2011 GDFL National Championship: Chambersburg Cardinals vs. Oklahoma Thunder. YouTube.
38. Web site: 2012 Standing.
39. Web site: Central Penn Piranha Win 2012 GDFL National Championship. 14 October 2012.
40. Web site: 2013 Standing.
41. Web site: Thunder Drop Boom On Storm; Win GDFL National Championship.
42. Web site: 2014 Standing.
43. Web site: Central Penn Wins Second GDFL Championship In Two Years. October 2014.
44. Web site: 2015 Standing.
45. Web site: GDFL Nashville Storm vs. Crescent City Kings. YouTube.
46. Web site: 2016 Standing.
47. Web site: Oklahoma Thunder 2016 National Champion.
48. Web site: GDFL 2016 Championship Oklahoma Thunder vs Nashville Storm. YouTube.
49. Web site: 2017 Standing.
50. Web site: Thunder back-to-back national champions.
51. Web site: 2017 GDFL Football National Championship Game :: OKLAHOMA vs CHATTANOOGA. YouTube.
52. Web site: GDFL announced Official Championship Site!!!.
53. Web site: 2018 Standing.
54. Web site: Thunder Three-Peat!.
55. Web site: Gridiron Bowl IX GDFL National Championship. YouTube.
56. Web site: 2019 Standing.
57. Web site: Thunder claim 4th Consecutive National Championship.
58. Web site: Thunder claim 4th Consecutive National Championship. YouTube.
59. Web site: GDFL National Title Site Announced.
60. Web site: 2020 Standing.
61. Web site: 2021 Standing.
62. Web site: GDFL National Championship Post Game Recap.
63. Web site: Erie Express cap off perfect season with 42–40 win in GDFL national championship. 6 September 2021.
64. Web site: 2021 GDFL National Championship (Gridiron Bowl XII). .
65. Web site: GDFL National Title Site Announced.
66. Web site: 2022 Standing.
67. Web site: Gridiron Bowl: New York vs California in GDFL National Championship.
68. Web site: Syracuse Strong crowned GDFL National Champions!.
69. Web site: Gridiron Bowl National Championship Game to be hosted in Las Vegas, Nevada.
70. Web site: 2023 Standing.
71. Web site: Gridiron Bowl 2023 Live Game Kickoff: Live Stream for Raiders vs. Rebels.
72. Web site: Racine Raiders claim 10th national title to cap 70th anniversary season.
73. Web site: GDFL National Football Championship Set to Ignite Landover, Maryland on September 2, 2023.
74. Web site: 2024 Standing.
75. Web site: Racine Will Host 2024 GDFL National Championship Weekend.
76. Web site: GDFL selects New Commissioner Khalid Bey. en.
77. Web site: GDFL Announces New Commissioner. en.
78. Web site: Next Level Pro's. en.
79. Web site: Next Level Pros. en.
80. Web site: Former Seattle Seahawks LB Kache Palacio has Breakout Debut in Blackhawks 34–26 win.