National Gridiron League (United States)

Last updated
National Gridiron League
Sport Indoor football
Founded2017
FounderJoe E. McClendon, III
PresidentJoe E. McClendon, III
No. of teams12
CountryUnited States
Official website https://www.gongl.com

The National Gridiron League (NGL) was a proposed gridiron football league. In 2022, after three years of postponed seasons, the organization rebranded as the United Football League (UFL). [1] , prior to the current UFL (formed from the merger of the 2020s USFL and XFL leagues). In 2024, the NGL resurfaced to claim to be launching in 2025.

Contents

A number of cases in the past and multiple seasons cancellation have raised questions about whether this is a legitimate league or a scam [2] [3] and the United Football Players Association had warned prospective players from signing with the league. [4]

Prior to the postponed 2019 season, the league logo used was a near copy of the former United Football League, while many of the team names and logos are also copies of former football teams. League chairman Joe E. McClendon III said that those trademarks had expired and it makes good business sense to recycle them in an attempt to capture the already existing fan-bases. [5]

History

National Gridiron League (2018–2021)

Initially the league announced that it had planned to start play as an indoor football league in spring 2019, with 12 teams aligned in two divisions [6] starting on March 30, 2019, and conclude with the inaugural Gridiron Bowl game on August 10, 2019, in Biloxi, Mississippi. [7] However, the league pushed back the announced start of the inaugural season to May 2019 amid reports the league had not had finalized leases for many of its teams. [8] [9] [10]

By April 2, team coaches informed the players the season was canceled as the league was not going to be able to honor their original contracts and that none of the team staff or coaches had ever been paid. [11] [12] League chairman Joe McClendon announced the following day that league had postponed its inaugural season to 2020 citing organizational changes in personnel and the suspension of operations of the Alliance of American Football. [13] Its personnel later sued the league over their claims of non-payment for their work. [14]

The league continued pursuits of a 2020 season including announcing player signings and scheduled Organized Team Activities (OTAs) for January 24–26, 2020. [15] However, all OTAs were canceled the evening of January 24 after players had started arriving. [16] The league then announced that teams would be allowed to play outdoors. [17] The 2020 season was postponed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. [18]

The league originally announced a 2021 schedule with all games to be held outdoors as a traditional spring league. [19] On January 31, 2021, the league announced it would play all games at single location, without confirming the site, [20] with a planned start date of April 10. [21] It was pushed back again to May 1 with the season to take place in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at an unannounced venue. [22] [23] As of April 2021, no venue in Fort Wayne was ever secured. [24]

On April 10, 2021, Joe McClendon and several others showed up to protest at the Glenbrook Square mall in Fort Wayne claiming the city is not holding up to the agreed deal to aid the players in providing hotel accommodations. [25] The players had been told the city would cover the costs of their hotel bills, but had been given notice to evacuate their rooms the morning of April 10 when the rates had not been paid. The city of Fort Wayne responded that they had never made any commitments or arrangements with the league at all, they had only had a few meetings with McClendon to point him where to look for community engagement, venues, and lodging. [26] On April 12, the city then stated they would have no further discussion for a partnership with the league. [27]

On the evening of April 12, McClendon met with the players in the hotel conference room where they were staying and told them the Fort Wayne event was cancelled and they would not be getting any aid in paying for the rooms from the city or the league. A player then physically attacked McClendon over being stranded in the city and frauded out of the tryout fees, travel, and accommodation rates. McClendon insisted there would still be a 2021 season, but in a different city and claims the league must play this year due to taking out a PPP loan that must be used. [28] [24] He also stated that when Visit Fort Wayne, the city's visitor bureau, had contacted him about having the season in the city, that they would provide lodging in the city. Visit Fort Wayne countered with saying they had only agreed to find rooms for the players, not pay for them, but that they would advocate with the local hotels for lower rates. [24]

UFL rebrand

In August 2021, a new website was created under the name United Football League (UFL), stating it is a continuation of two former leagues of the same name (the UFL from the 1960s and the unrelated UFL that operated from 2009 to 2012) and that it had purchased the teams from the now-defunct NGL. [29] However, the new league is a rebrand of the same organization behind the NGL, including still having occasional references to itself as the National Gridiron League within the new website left over the web address move. [1] [30] It originally proposed a 2022 season with many of the 11 of the 12 teams from the NGL, but the season was postponed to April 2023 with 14 proposed teams. [31] Players were charged $75 to participate in a league tryouts. [3] The UFL plans to play an 8-on-8 football in a modular-built stadiums. [32] In February 2023 it was reported that the construction plans for football stadium next to Oklahoma City's Crossroads Mall have been halted after McClendon didn't pay $10,000 deposit that was part of the lease agreement. [33]

In February 2023 the league announced that training camp will start on March 31, 2023, with the season starting on April 22, [34] and published the teams rosters. [35] On March they announced the league will launch an exclusive streaming subscription service called UFL+ [36] and also announced they will hold an "annual UFL Semi-Pro Draft". [37] The season start would later be delayed to May 13. [38] On May 15 the league announced that they are launching a new "Player Development Program", with players paying $1,000 for the opportunity to practice with the league teams, [39] and in turn will expand the roster and allow unlimited number of players on each team. [40] On June 15, 2023 - well after the planned starting date - the league announced they will cancel the 2023 season and will hold "team scrimmages" instead, "as the league works to promote team brands and develop sponsorships in each market for a start in 2024". [41] [42] As of December 2023, no such scrimmages were held. Players were promised a salary of $50,000 a year, while head coaches were promised $65,000. [3]

In July 2023, an article in CBS6 Richmond revealed that McClendon never established any venue contracts or paid any of the contracted players or coaches prior to changing his phone number. [3] The Richmond Iron Horses' head coach was quoted: "It's a whole hoax. It's a fraud. It's called you fooling me league, that's what it is." [3]

By December 2023, a different United Football League—a group backed by Fox Corporation, Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson and RedBird Capital Partners—laid claim to the UFL name and brand. [43]

National Gridiron League (2024-)

In 2024 the operation returned to the National Gridiron League brand, with announced plans to launch an 18-team league in March, 2025. [44] [45]

Teams

Announced 2019 teams

As of February 21, 2019. Cities in italics were locations identified by the league website, but no leases for an arena were confirmed to have been signed in the listed location. [46] Since the postponement, all arena references on the league website have been removed and most coaches have either been changed or moved on to other leagues.

TeamLocationArenaHead coachFounded
Eastern Conference
Georgia Wildcats Albany, Georgia Albany Civic Center Santo Stephens 2018
Indiana Blue Bombers Fort Wayne, Indiana Allen County War Memorial Coliseum [47] Kelvin Kinney 2018
Indiana Firebirds Evansville, Indiana Ford Center Nick Hart2018
Pennsylvania Pioneers Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza Ryan Lingenfelder2018
Virginia Destroyers Hampton, Virginia Hampton Coliseum Durwood Roquemore 2018
Virginia Iron Horses Roanoke, Virginia Berglund Center Jermaine Hampton2018
Western Conference
Arkansas Twisters Little Rock, Arkansas Verizon Arena [48] Matt Diniak2018
Baton Rouge Redsticks Baton Rouge, Louisiana Raising Cane's River Center Damon Mason 2018
Kansas Kapitals [49] Topeka, Kansas Kansas Expocentre Carlos Cavanaugh2018
Mississippi Mudcats Jackson, Mississippi Mississippi Coliseum B. J. Cohen 2018
Saint Louis Stampede St. Charles, Missouri Family Arena Pat Pimmel [lower-alpha 1] 2018
Texas Bighorns Beaumont, Texas Ford Arena [51] Josh Bush2018
  1. ↑ Resigned in 2019. [50]

2020 teams

As of March 26, 2020. [52] No home venues were confirmed to have been signed in any listed locations although they were listed on the posted schedule. [53]

DivisionTeamLocationVenueHead coach
Eastern Conference
NorthDayton Firebirds [54] Dayton, Ohio Roger Glass Stadium Quentin Jones [lower-alpha 1] [55]
Indiana Blue Bombers Fort Wayne, Indiana Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium Micheal Coleman [56]
Pittsburgh Pioneers Greensburg, Pennsylvania Hempfield Area Stadium Vacant [57]
SouthAtlanta Wildcats Clarkston, Georgia James R. Hallford Stadium Julius Gant [58]
Virginia Beach Destroyers [59] Virginia Beach, Virginia Virginia Beach Sportsplex Stadium Vacant [59]
Virginia Iron Horses Salem, Virginia Salem Football Stadium Jermaine Hampton
Western Conference
NorthArkansas Twisters Little Rock, Arkansas War Memorial Stadium Matt Diniak
Kansas City Kapitals Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City Municipal Auditorium Adrian Perez [60]
Saint Louis Stampede Sauget, Illinois GCS Credit Union Ballpark Jeffery Hunt [61]
SouthBaton Rouge Redsticks Baker, Louisiana Baker Stadium B. J. Cohen [62]
Houston Bighorns Cypress, Texas Cy-Fair FCU Stadium Jerrian James [63]
Mississippi Mudcats Jackson, Mississippi Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Christopher Parker [64]
  1. ↑ Nick Hart resigned in 2020. [16]

2021

Original outdoor venues were listed on the league ticket purchasing website, [65] but were not confirmed by any of the venues themselves. Later plans were for a single-site season in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

DivisionTeamLocationVenueHead coach
Eastern Conference
NorthIndiana Blue Bombers Fort Wayne, Indiana Fred Zollner Memorial StadiumMicheal Coleman [66]
Louisville Firebirds [lower-alpha 1] Jeffersonville, Indiana Jeffersonville High School Devin Redd [68]
Pittsburgh Pioneers Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania George K. Cupples Stadium Quentin Jones [69]
SouthAtlanta Wildcats Jonesboro, Georgia Hines Ward Field at Tara StadiumJulius Gant [70]
Virginia Beach Destroyers Virginia Beach, Virginia Virginia Beach Sportsplex Tim Medlin [71]
Virginia Iron Horses Salem, Virginia Salem Football Stadium Jermaine Hampton [72]
Western Conference
NorthArkansas Twisters Little Rock, Arkansas War Memorial Stadium Ryan Yarborough [73]
Kansas City Kapitals North Kansas City, Missouri North Kansas City High School Adrian Perez [74]
Saint Louis Stampede Sauget, Illinois GCS Ballpark Vacant [75]
SouthBaton Rouge Redsticks Baton Rouge, Louisiana BREC Memorial Stadium B. J. Cohen [76]
Houston Bighorns Webster, Texas Challenger Columbia Stadium Jerrian James [77]
Mississippi Mudcats Jackson, Mississippi Smith–Wills Stadium Christopher Parker [78]
  1. ↑ Since the postponing of the 2020 season, the Dayton Firebirds were listed as the Louisville Firebirds as of August 2020. [67]

2022

Listed members of the United Football League as of September 18, 2021. [79] There were no listed venues for any of the teams.

DivisionTeamLocation
CentralArkansas Twisters Little Rock, Arkansas
Baton Rouge Redsticks Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Houston Bighorns Houston, Texas
Mid-WestChicago Blue Bombers [lower-alpha 1] Chicago, Illinois
Kansas City Kapitals Kansas City, Missouri
Saint Louis Stampede St. Louis, Missouri
NorthPittsburgh Pioneers Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Richmond Iron Horses [lower-alpha 2] Richmond, Virginia
Virginia Beach Destroyers Virginia Beach, Virginia
SouthAtlanta Wildcats Atlanta, Georgia
Birmingham Steeldawgs Birmingham, Alabama
Mississippi Mudcats Jackson, Mississippi
  1. ↑ Listed as a relocation of the former Indiana Blue Bombers. [80]
  2. ↑ A rename of the former Virginia Iron Horses. [81]

2023

Listed members of the United Football League of February 28, 2022. [82] There are no listed venues for any of the teams.

ConferenceTeamLocationVenueHead coach
EasternAtlanta Wildcats Forest Park, Georgia Kiwanis Stadium [83]
Charlestown Pirates Charleston, South Carolina John McKissick Field [84] Jarriel King [85]
Mississippi Mudcats Jackson, Mississippi Mudcats Memorial Stadium [86] Johnny Loper [87] [88]
Pittsburgh Pioneers Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania George K. Cupples Stadium [89] Adam Cross [90]
Richmond Iron Horses Chesterfield, Virginia Chesterfield Technical Center Stadium [91] Douglas Joyner III [92]
Rochester Firehawks [lower-alpha 1] Rochester, New York Rochester Community Sports Complex Stadium [93] Jason Coleman [94]
Virginia Beach Destroyers Williamsburg, Virginia Cooley Field [95]
WesternArkansas Twisters Little Rock, Arkansas Jacksonville High Stadium [96] Jamie Washington [97]
Baton Rouge Redsticks Gonzales, Louisiana Lamar Dixon Expo Center [98] [99]
Chicago Blue Bombers Chicago, Illinois Vago Field [100] Theodore Brom [101]
Houston Bighorns Houston, Texas Cougar Stadium [102]
Kansas City Kapitals Belton, Missouri Southwick Stadium [103] Mick Pettengill [104]
Oklahoma City Wranglers Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Crossroads Mall [105] [106] J. D. Runnels [107] [108]
Saint Louis Stampede Cahokia Heights, Illinois Stampede Stadium [109] [110] Antwyne Golliday Jr [111]
  1. ↑ Originally the Louisville Firebirds

Personnel

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References

  1. 1 2 "Frequently Asked Questions". uflfootball.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021. Q. How many teams are there in the United Football League? A. The National Gridiron League is a collection of 12 franchises, broken down by two conferences.
  2. ↑ "Reynolds: Players irritated by National Gridiron League's continued issues". Evansville Courier & Press . February 4, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "They were promised thousands of dollars to join a new arena football league but never received a dime". WTVR. 19 July 2023.
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  74. ↑ "Kansas City Kapitals – Stats". NGL. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
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  77. ↑ "Houston Bighorns – Stats". NGL. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  78. ↑ "Mississippi Mudcats – Stats". NGL. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
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  80. ↑ "CHICAGO BLUE BOMBERS TO JOIN THE UFL". United Football League. August 19, 2021.
  81. ↑ "RICHMOND IRON HORSES TO JOIN THE UFL". United Football League. September 16, 2021.
  82. ↑ "Stats - United Football League". United Football League. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  83. ↑ "Wildcats To Host Games At Kiwanis Stadium". United Football League.
  84. ↑ "Pirates To Play At Historic John McKissick Field". United Football League.
  85. ↑ "Pirates Name King as Head Coach". United Football League.
  86. ↑ "Mudcats to Play in Temporary Stadium". MississippiMudcats.com. 14 October 2022.
  87. ↑ "Loper named to coach Mississippi Mudcats". United Football League. 13 February 2023.
  88. ↑ "Loper named to coach Mississippi Mudcats". Desoto County News. 13 February 2023.
  89. ↑ "Pioneers Announce Cupples Stadium as New Home Stadium". United Football League. 18 January 2023.
  90. ↑ "Pioneers Name Cross Head Coach". United Football League. 18 January 2023.
  91. ↑ "Iron Horse Announce Home Venue". United Football League. 2 May 2023.
  92. ↑ "Iron Horses Name Joyner III Head Coach". United Football League. 18 January 2023.
  93. ↑ "Firehawks Find a Home Venue". United Football League. 21 April 2023.
  94. ↑ "Firebirds Name Coleman Head Coach". United Football League.
  95. ↑ "Destroyers Will Host Games In Williamsburg". United Football League. 2 May 2023.
  96. ↑ "Twisters Announce Home Stadium". United Football League. 2 May 2023.
  97. ↑ "Twisters Name Washington Head Coach". United Football League. 27 January 2023.
  98. ↑ "Redsticks to Build Stadium in Gonzales". United Football League. 18 December 2022.
  99. ↑ "Lamar-Dixon Expo Center set to host Baton Rouge football team". weeklycitizen.com.
  100. ↑ "Blue Bombers Announce Home Venue". United Football League. 16 March 2023.
  101. ↑ "Blue Bombers Name Brom Head Coach". United Football League. 13 February 2023.
  102. ↑ "Bighorns To Host Games At Cougar Stadium". United Football League. 7 March 2023.
  103. ↑ "Kapitals Announce Home Venue". United Football League. 21 February 2023.
  104. ↑ "Kapitals Name Pettengill Head Coach". United Football League. 4 February 2023.
  105. ↑ "Wranglers to Build Stadium in OKC". United Football League. 13 November 2022.
  106. ↑ "Crossroads Mall to be new home of semi-pro football team". KOCOnews.com. 12 November 2022.
  107. ↑ "Wranglers Name Runnels Head Coach". United Football League. 27 January 2023.
  108. ↑ "OKC to get new semi-professional football team in 2023". OKCfox.com. 15 December 2022.
  109. ↑ "Stampede to Build Stadium in Cahokia Heights". United Football League. 11 November 2022.
  110. ↑ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". oursportscentral.com. 21 November 2022.
  111. ↑ "Stampede Name Golliday Head Coach". United Football League. 17 January 2023.
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