Gridiron Developmental Football League

The Gridiron Developmental Football League (GDFL) is a low-level American football minor league based in Memphis, Tennessee, using the franchise model. The GDFL acts as an umbrella group that encompasses teams from across the contiguous United States.

, 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) and the (FDNFA) 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.

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 (formerly ''Labelle Community Football League'') 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 teams will become GDFL members, and the Colorado Football Association also confirmed that their league teams are joining the GDFL. 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.

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

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

Teams

Impact Conference

* Impact North Division: Baltimore Lightning, Capital City Seahawks, Mount Vernon Bangers, New York Crusaders, Washington Bulldawgs
* Impact South Division: Buffalo Stampede, Charlotte Colonials, Syracuse Strong, Troy Fighting Irish, Upstate Predators

Xtreme Conference

* Xtreme North Division: Racine Raiders, St. Paul Pioneers, Englewood Birdgang, River City Sharks
* Xtreme South Division: Huntsville Rockets, Kentucky Spartans, Knoxville Grizzlies, Memphis Panthers, Tri-City Outlaws

Notable former teams

* Albany Metro Mallers
* Carolina Warriors
* Central Penn Piranha
* Chambersburg Cardinals
* Dallas Diesel
* Erie Express
* Everett Royals
* Inglewood Blackhawks
* Lehigh Valley Storm
* Memphis Blast
* Myrtle Beach Sharks
* Nashville Storm
* Pittsburgh Colts
* Salt Lake City Senate
* SoCal Coyotes
* Tampa Bay Warriors
* Watertown Red & Black

GDFL National Champions

;Notes:

GDFL Commissioners

*Khalid Bey (2024–present)
*Anthony J. Rodrigues Jr. (2022–2024)
*Bo Townsend (2019–2022)
*George Burch (2017–2019)
*Devin Richardson (2015–2017)
*Steven Roper (2014–2015)
*Charles Thompson (2010–2014)

Notable players

* 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.
* Keon Lattimore – Former San Francisco 49ers player.

References

{{Reflist

Gridiron Developmental Football League
American football leagues in the United States
Sports leagues established in 2010
Semi-professional sports leagues
2010 establishments in the United States