The Cleveland Gladiators were an arena football team based in Cleveland, Ohio, and members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The Gladiators played their home games at Quicken Loans Arena, which they shared with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association and the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League. The franchise was originally based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and then later in Las Vegas, Nevada, before relocating to Cleveland for the 2008 AFL season. The Gladiators qualified for the playoffs eight times in their history, reaching the ArenaBowl in 2014.
John Dutton is a former Arena Football League (AFL) quarterback. He was drafted out of University of Nevada, Reno in the 6th round of the 1998 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. In 2005, he led the Crush to the ArenaBowl XIX title. In 2006, he was on the cover of the EA Sports first AFL video game, Arena Football, making him the first player to pose for the cover. He had been the backup quarterback for the San Jose SaberCats behind Mark Grieb. After Grieb's suffered a season-ending injury earlier in the year, Dutton quarterbacked the SaberCats to a 52–14 victory over the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVI. He was named Offensive Player of the Game for his performance. In June 2009, Dutton was signed by the RiverCity Rage of the Indoor Football League (IFL). On February 12, 2010, it was announced that Dutton had been signed by the Cleveland Gladiators.
Rohan St. Patrick Davey is a Jamaican-born former American football quarterback. He won two Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots, as the backup to Tom Brady in 2003 and 2004.
Karon Joseph Riley is an American former gridiron football defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL), Canadian Football League (CFL) and Arena Football League (AFL). He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 2001 NFL draft. Riley played college football for the SMU Mustangs and Minnesota Golden Gophers. He is since a television actor and producer.
Carl E. Banks is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played from 1984 to 1995 for the New York Giants, the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Browns. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans.
Michael David Adamle is an American former professional football player and sports broadcaster. He played professionally as a running back in the National Football League (NFL).
Dustin Erik Fox is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was selected in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings and was also a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills.
Chas Gessner is a former American football wide receiver. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2003 to begin his NFL career and earned a Super Bowl ring in his first year as a member of their practice squad. He played college football and college lacrosse at Brown. He was an All-American in both sports.
Walter Johnson III was an American professional football defensive tackle who was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 1965 NFL draft. He was a 3-time Pro Bowler, a pro wrestler, and played 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
Aaron Gibson is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears. He also was a member of the Austin Wranglers and Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at the University of Wisconsin.
Tango Lee McCauley Sr. is a former gridiron football offensive lineman. He played college football at Texas A&M University and Alabama State University.
Gregory Lee Best is a former American football defensive back who played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns.
The 2010 Cleveland Gladiators season was the 11th season for the franchise in the Arena Football League, and the second while in Cleveland. The team was coached by Steve Thonn and played their home games at Quicken Loans Arena. The Gladiators missed out on the playoffs by finishing 5th in the National Conference with a 7–9 record.
Keith Phillip Williams is a former American football offensive guard. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft. He played college football at Nebraska.
Randy "Duke" Johnson Jr. is an American former professional football running back who played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft after playing college football at the University of Miami. He played in the NFL for the Browns, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills.
Adam Bice is a former American football center. He played college football for the University of Akron. He went undrafted during the 2013 NFL draft, and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals. He has also been a member of the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League (AFL).
Lee Johnson is an arena football coach and former offensive lineman and defensive lineman. He played defensive line on the Missouri Tigers football team from 1987 to 1990. He played his college football at the University of Missouri, and was an AFL offensive lineman and defensive lineman from 1995 to 1996. He has been a football coach since 1997. After being the defensive coordinator for the Orlando Predators from 2010 to 2011, he became the San Antonio Talons head coach in 2011.
Hurley Tarver is a former American football defensive back. He played college football at the University of Central Oklahoma and attended Western Hills High School in Benbrook, Texas. He was a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Scottish Claymores, Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Outlaws, Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Storm, Chicago Rush, Toronto Argonauts and Las Vegas Gladiators.
Joe Minucci is a former American football defensive lineman who played four seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Nashville Kats and Cleveland Gladiators. He played college football at University of Delaware. He was also a member of the New York Jets, Tennessee Valley Vipers, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens.
Ronald R. Selesky Jr. is a former American football center and arena football coach. He played college football at North Central College and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He also served as the Director of Football Operations for the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), and held the same position with the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL in 2020 prior to the league folding.
