The Cleveland Gladiators season was the 15th season for the franchise in the Arena Football League, and their fifth while in Cleveland. The team was coached by Steve Thonn and played their home games at Quicken Loans Arena. By finishing the regular season with a 17–1 record, the Gladiators set a league record for wins in a single season (this record was tied one year later by the San Jose SaberCats).
Standings
Schedule
Regular season The Gladiators began the season by visiting the Pittsburgh Power on March 15. Their final regular season game was on July 26, on the road against the Tampa Bay Storm.
Week Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance Report Score Record 1 Saturday March 15 5:00 p.m. EDT at Pittsburgh Power W 63–53 1–0 Consol Energy Center 7,742 2 Bye 3 Saturday March 29 8:00 p.m. EDT at New Orleans VooDoo W 37–26 2–0 Smoothie King Center 5,695 4 Friday April 4 7:30 p.m. EDT Iowa Barnstormers W 54–47 3–0 Quicken Loans Arena 10,255 5 Saturday April 12 10:00 p.m. EDT at Los Angeles Kiss W 40–30 4–0 Honda Center 10,570 6 Saturday April 19 10:00 p.m. EDT at Spokane Shock W 52–50 5–0 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena 8,752 7 Saturday April 26 7:00 p.m. EDT Pittsburgh Power W 55–28 6–0 Quicken Loans Arena 11,083 8 Bye 9 Saturday May 10 7:00 p.m. EDT Los Angeles Kiss W 45–42 7–0 Quicken Loans Arena 10,472 10 Saturday May 17 8:05 p.m. EDT at Iowa Barnstormers W 63–46 8–0 Wells Fargo Arena 7,156 11 Friday May 23 7:00 p.m. EDT Philadelphia Soul W 54–52 9–0 Quicken Loans Arena 10,659 12 Saturday May 31 5:00 p.m. EDT at Pittsburgh Power L 34–48 9–1 Consol Energy Center 5,348 13 Saturday June 7 7:00 p.m. EDT Iowa Barnstormers W 86–49 10–1 Quicken Loans Arena 9,857 14 Saturday June 14 7:00 p.m. EDT New Orleans VooDoo W 62–46 11–1 Quicken Loans Arena 9,404 15 Saturday June 21 6:00 p.m. EDT at Philadelphia Soul W 69–68 12–1 Wells Fargo Center 8,033 16 Friday June 27 7:00 p.m. EDT Tampa Bay Storm W 48–41 13–1 Quicken Loans Arena 10,855 17 Saturday July 5 7:00 p.m. EDT Portland Thunder W 61–40 14–1 Quicken Loans Arena 9,840 18 Saturday July 12 8:00 p.m. EDT at San Antonio Talons W 50–47 (OT) 15–1 Alamodome 8,217 19 Saturday July 19 7:00 p.m. EDT Jacksonville Sharks W 62–20 16–1 Quicken Loans Arena 13,064 20 Saturday July 26 7:30 p.m. EDT at Tampa Bay Storm W 56–49 17–1 Tampa Bay Times Forum 14,770
Playoffs Round Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance Report AC Semifinals Saturday August 2 7:00 p.m. EDT Philadelphia Soul W 39–37 Quicken Loans Arena 12,648 AC Championship Sunday August 10 3:00 p.m. EDT Orlando Predators W 56–46 Quicken Loans Arena 14,543 ArenaBowl XXVII Saturday August 23 8:00 p.m. EDT Arizona Rattlers L 32–72 Quicken Loans Arena 18,410
If Cleveland would have won ArenaBowl XXVII, they would have ended a 50+ year championship drought in the city of Cleveland. However, this feat would later be accomplished by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 after coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the 2016 NBA Finals to win over the Golden State Warriors.
Final roster 2014 Cleveland Gladiators roster Quarterbacks
Fullbacks Currently vacant
Wide receivers Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen Linebackers
Defensive backs
Kickers Injured reserve
Other league exempt
Refused to report
League suspension
Inactive reserve
Recallable reassignment Currently vacant
Rookies in italicsRoster updated August 8, 2014
→ More rosters
References