The Colorado Crush were an arena football team based in Denver, Colorado. They began play as a 2003 Arena Football League expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009. They were last coached by Mike Dailey and owned by a coalition of Denver sports figures led by John Elway.
Vito "Babe" Parilli was an American football quarterback and coach who played professionally for 18 seasons. Parilli spent five seasons in the National Football League (NFL), three in the Canadian Football League (CFL), and 10 in the American Football League (AFL). He played college football at the University of Kentucky, where he twice received consensus All-American honors and won two consecutive bowl games.
Matthew Richardson is a former professional Australian rules footballer and current media personality who represented Richmond in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Mike Dailey is a former American football coach. He served as the head football coach at McDaniel College from 2016 to 2018, compiling a record of 9–21. Dailey was a head coach in the Arena Football League for the Albany Firebirds and the Colorado Crush. During his time in the Arena Football League, he won two ArenaBowls and was named AFL Coach of the Year in 1999. He is fifth all time in wins with a career record of 115–84, including an 11–8 mark in the postseason. Under his leadership, the Firebirds won ArenaBowl XIII in 1999, defeating the Orlando Predators led by Jay Gruden, former head coach of the Washington Redskins. In 2005 the Crush, then owned by John Elway, won the ArenaBowl XIX. Dailey's 1999 Albany Firebirds team was voted the greatest team in AFL history, while his 2005 Colorado Crush was voted fifth. He was inducted into the Arena Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
Evan Hlavacek is a former American football wide receiver/defensive back most recently playing for the Colorado Crush in the Arena Football League (AFL).
Jonathan Bruce Goddard was an American professional football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) and Arena Football League (AFL). He was drafted by the Detroit Lions and also spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and Colorado Crush before his death in a June 2008 motorcycle accident.
The 2005 Arena Football League season was the 19th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Colorado Crush, who defeated the Georgia Force in ArenaBowl XIX. The AFL changed its playoff format to allow the top four teams per conference to make the playoffs. Previously, the top eight teams in the league make the playoffs, regardless of their conference. Also, there was no inter-conference play in the playoffs until the Arena Bowl starting in 2005. The division champions also received an automatic playoff berth. This was probably brought on by the fact that the year before the Eastern Division champion New York Dragons missed the playoffs.
Clevan Nathaniel Thomas is a former American football cornerback. Along with Kenny McEntyre, he is regarded as one of the top defensive backs in Arena Football history. He spent ten of his seasons in the AFL with the SaberCats; over this span, he won four ArenaBowl championships and three Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) awards. In 2012, Thomas was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame.
Robert Redd is an American football wide receiver for the Florida Tarpons of the American Arena League (AAL).
Sunungura "Gogo" Rusununguko is a former American football player who played four seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Indiana Firebirds, Colorado Crush and New Orleans VooDoo. He played college football at Ball State University and attended Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was also a member of the Las Vegas Gladiators, New York Dragons and RiverCity Rage.
Bobby Pesavento is a former American football quarterback who played three seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Colorado Crush and Austin Wranglers. He first enrolled at Miami University before transferring to Fort Scott Community College and then the University of Colorado Boulder. He attended Lake Central High School in St. John, Indiana. Pesavento was also a member of the Bakersfield Blitz of the af2.
Jay McDonagh is a former American football quarterback who played four seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Buffalo Destroyers, New Jersey/Las Vegas Gladiators and Columbus Destroyers. He played college football at Western Michigan University. He was also a member of the Bologna Phoenix and Bologna Warriors of the Italian Football League, Green Bay Bombers, Madison Mad Dogs, Quad City Steamwheelers, Colorado Crush.
James MacPherson is a former American football quarterback who played two seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Georgia Force and Grand Rapids Rampage. He played college football at Wake Forest University. He was also a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Colorado Crush, Philadelphia Soul and Green Bay Blizzard.
Charlie Davidson is a former American football wide receiver/defensive back who played eleven seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Orlando Predators, Albany Firebirds, Nashville Kats, New York CityHawks, New England Sea Wolves, Toronto Phantoms, Colorado Crush and Austin Wranglers. He played college football at Mississippi State University.
Chris Snyder is a former American football lineman who played seven seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Albany/Indiana Firebirds and Colorado Crush. He played college football at Pennsylvania State University.
Aaron Richard McConnell is a former American football lineman who played six seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Nashville Kats, Colorado Crush, Alabama Vipers and Georgia Force. He first enrolled at Oklahoma State University before transferring to Pittsburg State University. He first attended Choctaw High School in Choctaw, Oklahoma before transferring to Midwest City High School in Midwest City, Oklahoma. McConnell was also a member of the Tennessee Titans, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Chicago Rush.
Sally Riley is an Australian rules footballer who played for Adelaide and Gold Coast in the AFL Women's competition.
Angela Foley is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She previously played for the Adelaide Football Club from 2017 to season 6. A defender, 1.73 metres (5.7 ft) tall, Foley plays primarily on the half-back line with the ability to push into the midfield.
Luke Foley is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Commonly referred to as The Goat, He was recruited by West Coast with the 31st draft pick in the 2018 AFL draft.