The Gridiron Developmental Football League (GDFL) is a low-level American football minor league based in Memphis, Tennessee, using the franchise model. At its peak, the GDFL acted as an umbrella group that encompasses teams from across the contiguous United States.
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".
In the past, the league had 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.
2019–2025 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.
The GDFL used a playoff format similar to NCAA tournament, as 14 teams - each division champions and at-large teams - making 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.
2026–present After the 2025 season the league decided to move to "semi-pro"/"developmental professional" model, while the season will be split to two - Spring season accumulating in the "Hype Bowl" and "regular" Summer season accumulating in the "Gridiron Bowl". The Memphis Gators beat the Mississippi Road Warriors 32-8 in the first Hype Bowl.
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
SeasonNational Title GameDateChampions (Record)ScoreRunner-up (Record)Location2010 Gridiron Bowl I Sep 25, 2010 Carolina Warriors (9–0) 15–7 Kentucky Wolverines (10–0) Memphis, Tennessee2011 Gridiron Bowl II Oct 1, 2011 Chambersburg Cardinals (9–0) 19–14 Oklahoma Thunder (9–0) Tara Stadium (Jonesboro, Georgia)2012 Gridiron Bowl III Oct 13, 2012 Central Penn Piranha (9–0) 49–14 South Buffalo Celtics (8–1) Trojan Stadium (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania)2013 Gridiron Bowl IV Sep 7, 2013 Oklahoma Thunder (10–0) 56–8 Lehigh Valley Storm (8–2) Memphis, Tennessee2014 Gridiron Bowl V Sep 27, 2014 Central Penn Piranha (8–1) 21–19 Oklahoma City Bounty Hunters (8–2) Cordova Stadium (Cordova, Tennessee)2015 Gridiron Bowl VI Sep 5, 2015 Nashville Storm (8–0) 31–28 Crescent City Kings (7–1) Victory Field (New Orleans, Louisiana)2016 Gridiron Bowl VII Sep 3, 2016 Oklahoma Thunder (8–0) 29–16 Nashville Storm (8–0) Holland Hall Stadium (Tulsa, Oklahoma)2017 Gridiron Bowl VIII Aug 26, 2017 Oklahoma Thunder (8–0) 51–12 Chattanooga Eagles (7–1) Kirby Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)2018 Gridiron Bowl IX Aug 11, 2018 Oklahoma Thunder (6–2) 38–15 Middle Tennessee Bulldawgs (7–1) Carver Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)2019 Gridiron Bowl X Aug 17, 2019 Oklahoma Thunder (7–1) 24–12 Middle Tennessee Bulldawgs (8–0) Fred G. Hughes Stadium (Joplin, Missouri)2020Gridiron Bowl XI Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic2021 Gridiron Bowl XII Sep 5, 2021 Erie Express (8–0) 42–40 Inglewood Blackhawks (8–0) Saxon Stadium (Erie, Pennsylvania)2022 Gridiron Bowl XIII Sep 3, 2022 Syracuse Strong (10–1) 24–20 Inglewood Blackhawks (10–0) Clark High School Stadium (Las Vegas, Nevada)2023 Gridiron Bowl XIV Sep 2, 2023 Racine Raiders (11–0) 27–18 West Sound Rebels (10–0) Fairmont Heights High School Stadium (Landover, Maryland)2024 Gridiron Bowl XV Aug 31, 2024 Racine Raiders (10–0) 7–6 Upstate Predators (9–1) Horlick Field (Racine, Wisconsin)2025Gridiron Bowl XVISep 7, 2025 Huntsville Rockets20–8Tennessee VikingsMilton Frank Stadium (Huntsville, Alabama) 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. Keon Lattimore – Former San Francisco 49ers player. Kache Palacio – Former Seattle Seahawks player.
References