The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League (AFL) team based in Columbus, Ohio, with home games in Nationwide Arena. The team was founded in 1999 as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in 2004. They folded along with the original incarnation of the AFL following the 2008 season, after a total of ten seasons of play.
Leroy Thompson is a former fullback/linebacker in the Arena Football League for 13 years. He has played for the Albany / Indiana Firebirds (1996–2004), the New Orleans VooDoo (2005) and the Columbus Destroyers (2006–2008). He played college football at Delaware State University where he was a first team Division I-AA All-American and holds all quarterback sack records. Played with the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL in 1996 and also with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in 1994.
Cecil Doggette is a former Arena Football League (AFL) defensive specialist. He played college football at Hudson Valley Community College and West Virginia.
Charles Christopher Spielman is an American former professional football player who is a special assistant to the owner and CEO for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes, twice earning All-American honors. He played professional football for the Detroit Lions in the NFL, where he was a three-time All-Pro. He also played for the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns, and coached for the Arena Football League (AFL)'s Columbus Destroyers. He was a broadcaster for Fox Sports and ESPN from 1999 to 2020.
Erron Quincy Kinney is an American former college and professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons during the early 2000s. Kinney played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Tennessee Titans of the NFL.
James Michael Lachey is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Raiders, and Washington Redskins. He was selected by the Chargers in the first round of the 1985 NFL draft with the 12th overall pick.
Stephen Michael McKinney is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL draft. He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies.
Timothy DeShawn Jennings is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft.
Jamal E. Duff is an American actor and former American football player in the National Football League (NFL).
Lavar Glover is a former American football defensive back. Most recently, Glover served as the head coach and general manager of the Dayton Sharks of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL). He went to the University of Cincinnati and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2002 NFL draft. The Steelers released Glover and he was subsequently signed by the Cincinnati Bengals onto their practice squad. He played 2 games with the Bengals in 2002 and spent time with the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos. In 2004, he played with the Columbus Destroyers and Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League (AFL). There, Glover had 2 interceptions, 40 tackles and 3 pass knockdowns. The BC Lions signed him as a free agent in 2006. Lavar Glover had 2 interceptions and 29 tackles as part of the 2006 Grey Cup champion Lions team. Now is a sub and in school suspension teacher at kettering middle school Ohio.
Jeremy Dale Unertl is a former gridiron football safety. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He had a 10-year professional career in multiple leagues. He played college football at Wisconsin–La Crosse. Unertl was also a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Gladiators, Columbus Destroyers, Chicago Rush, California Redwoods,and Toronto Argonauts.
Nathan Filipo Ilaoa is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL draft. He played college football at Hawaii.
Vincent Eugene Clark is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, and Jacksonville Jaguars. He played college football at Ohio State University. He was selected by the Packers in the first round of the 1991 NFL draft with the 19th overall pick.
Lorenzo Cavelle Styles is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and St. Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He spent half a season as the head coach of the Marion Blue Racers. His sons are Lorenzo, Sonny, and Spencer Helms.
Terrance Terlie Taylor is a former American football defensive tackle. He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL draft. He played college football at Michigan. In high school, he won the state title in wrestling.
Kevin Jackson is an American former professional football player who was a safety. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide football for the 1995 and 1996 seasons. After the 1996 season, he was recognized as a unanimous All-American. After going undrafted and signing briefly with the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL), Jackson also played professionally with both the Tampa Bay Storm and Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League (AFL).
Benardrick Cornelius McKinney is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft.
Bobby Lee Olive Jr. is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) who played for the Indianapolis Colts. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He also played in the Arena Football League (AFL) for the Buffalo Destroyers/Columbus Destroyers and Carolina Cobras and in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Olive was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the eleventh round of the 1991 NFL draft.
Xavier Avis McKinney is an American professional football safety for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, and was selected by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Kelvin Joseph Jr is an American professional football cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft. He played college football at LSU and Kentucky.
