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.
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.
Maynard C. "Duke" Pettijohn is a former American Arena football defensive lineman. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football at Syracuse and was a two-time member of the All-Big East team.
Pat Sperduto is an American football coach and executive. He is currently the director of college scouting for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Sperduto played his entire three-year Arena career as an active player with Tampa Bay Storm, and was also the final head coach of the Nashville Kats.
James Baron is a former arena football defensive lineman in the Arena Football League. He was the Arena Football League Players Association's (AFLPA) president as well.
The East Division was a division of the Arena Football League's American Conference. It was first formed in 1995 as part of the National Conference when expansion led to the creation of divisions.
Sylvester Bembery is a former American football lineman in the Arena Football League (AFL). Bembery, #78, was an offensive and defensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Storm from 1994–99, and once again joined the Storm for the 2001 campaign.
Lenzie Maurice Jackson is a retired National Football League kick returner and Arena Football League wide receiver/defensive back.
Omarr Ali Hasan Smith is a former American football defensive back who was most recently the head coach of the Baltimore Brigade of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played professionally for the San Jose SaberCats of the AFL, and played college football at San Jose State.
John G. Nix is a former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals. He also was a member of the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe, the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and played in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at the University of Southern Mississippi.
James Kubiak is a former professional football player and coach. He is currently the director of the WNY Quarterback Academy, and he was most recently the head football coach at Hilbert College for their first season in 2022. Kubiak was the director of football operations and offensive coordinator for the Georgia Force of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at Navy.
Derrick Edward Summers is a former American football defensive lineman. He played as a defensive end for the University of Toledo.
Keith Phillip Williams is a former American football offensive guard. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska.
Lee Johnson is an arena football coach and former offensive lineman and defensive lineman. 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.
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, Green Bay Bombers, Madison Mad Dogs, Quad City Steamwheelers, Colorado Crush and Bologna Warriors.
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.
Andre Purvis is a former American football defensive / offensive lineman. He played college football at North Carolina. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 5th round of the 1997 NFL draft.
John Donovan DeWitt is an American chiropractor and former arena football offensive line / defensive lineman. He played college football at Vanderbilt.
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.
James Ray Fuller is an American football coach and former defensive back who is currently the offensive coordinator for the San Antonio Gunslingers of the National Arena League (NAL). He played college football at Walla Walla CC and Portland State before being selected in the 8th round of the 1992 NFL Draft; he went on to play three seasons with the San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles while also spending time in the World League of American Football (WLAF) for the Scottish Claymores and Arena Football League (AFL) for the Portland Forest Dragons. He later served as a coach for the Forest Dragons, Bakersfield Blitz, Philadelphia Soul, Dallas Desperados, Dallas Vigilantes, Richmond Raiders, Maine Mammoths, and Jacksonville Sharks.
