Gridiron Developmental Football League

The Gridiron Developmental Football League (GDFL) is a low-level minor professional football league based in Memphis, Tennessee using the franchise model.[1][2] The league has a partnering agreement with the Elite Football League of India (EFLI) for player development.[3]

Gridiron Developmental Football League
Current season, competition or edition:
2019–20 GDFL season
SportAmerican football
Founded2010
No. of teams46
CountriesUnited States
ClassificationLow-level minor league
Official websitewww.gdfl.org

As of January 2020, the league has 46 teams, including two former indoor teams: The Tampa Bay Warriors (formerly the Florida Scorpions) and the Myrtle Beach Sharks (previously from the Arena Pro Football).[4]

History of GDFL

The league was founded in 2009 and formed in 2010, with Charles Thompson as the founder and first president, as representatives of several Regional Minor Pro Football teams.[1][5][6]

GDFL 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.

Current teams[7]
  • Eastern Impact North Division: M. Tennessee Bulldogs, River City Pythons, & Tri-City Outlaws
  • Eastern Impact West Division: Arkansas Blackout, Memphis Blast, & W. Tennessee Knights
  • Eastern Impact East Division: Clarksville Rattlers, Georgia Cardinals, & Huntsville Rockets
  • Eastern Xtreme North Division: Cleveland Rams, Howard Huskies, NEO Predators, & Ohio Silverbacks
  • Eastern Xtreme West Division: Lake Erie Explosion, Ohio Phoenix, Pittsburgh Buccaneers, & WPA Wildcatz
  • Eastern Xtreme East Division: Cataract City Wolverines, Erie Express, Syracuse Strong, & Upstate Predators
  • Eastern Xtreme South Division: Cleveland Cobras, Columbus Fire, & Metro Detroit Raiders
  • Western Impact Conference East Division: Kern Oilers, Mecca Town Dogs, Santa Clarita Valley Tigers, Sin City Rough Riders, & West Coast Lions
  • Western Impact Conference South Division: 805 Bears, Inglewood Blackhawks, North County Zulu, San Diego Silverbacks, & Southern California Apaches
  • Western Xtreme Conference North Division: Denco Spades, Mile High Sting, & W. Dakota Wareagles
  • Western Xtreme Conference West Division: Kipsat Bears, Socal Coyotes, & Washington County Venom
  • Western Xtreme Conference East Division: Colorado Greyhawks, Denver Sharks, Loveland Elite, & Southern Colorado Renegades
  • Western Xtreme Conference South Division: Joplin Crusaders, Oklahoma Thunder, & Texas Raiders

GDFL National Champions
  • 2010 Gridiron Bowl I (Carolina Warriors 13-0)
  • 2011 Gridiron Bowl II (Chambersburg Cardinals 13-0)
  • 2012 Gridiron Bowl III (Central Penn Piranha 13-0)
  • 2013 Gridiron Bowl IV (Oklahoma Thunder 13-0)
  • 2014 Gridiron Bowl V (Central Penn Piranha 12-0) - *Vacated by League due to team leaving league after season was over.
  • 2015 Gridiron Bowl VI (Nashville Storm 11-0)
  • 2016 Gridiron Bowl VII (Oklahoma Thunder 11-0)
  • 2017 Gridiron Bowl VIII (Oklahoma Thunder 11-0)
  • 2018 Gridiron Bowl IX (Oklahoma Thunder 11-0)
  • 2019 Gridiron Bowl X (Oklahoma Thunder 10-1)

GDFL Commissioners

George Burch (2017-)

Devin Richardson (2015- 2017)

Steven Roper (2014-2015)

Charles Thompson (2010-2014)

Notable players

References
  1. "Gridiron Developmental Football League - About". Gridiron Developmental Football League. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  2. "Joplin Crusaders add second team".
  3. "Oklahoma Thunder Football agrees to foreign exchange player program".
  4. "Pro Arena Team Joins GDFL".
  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. Wallace, Scott (January 23, 2018). "Bulldawgs Join Gridiron Developmental Football League". The Tennessee Tribune. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  7. "Stats - Gridiron Developmental Football League". www.gdfl.org. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
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