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Arena Football Hall of Fame

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Arena Football Hall of Fame
Established1998
Websitewww.arenafootball.com/hallfame

The Arena Football Hall of Fame is the official Hall of Fame of the Arena Football League (AFL). The inaugural class was announced in 1998 and the Hall was not formally organized until 2011. Prior to 2011, there were four classes: 1998–2000 and then another in 2002. The Arena Football Hall of Fame is the highest honor for players, coaches, and contributors involved in the AFL. The voting process consists of fans and current Hall of Fame members voting on the finalists. The finalists are selected by the League Office in which they collect ballots from the Arena Football Hall of Fame Advisory Board, a group which consisted of former players, executives, journalists and media personnel with a long-time involvement in the league.[1][2] The league began to decline in 2015, so no Hall of Fame announcements have been made since this year. The league folded for a second time in 2019. After the league's second closure, ArenaFan, a long-running fan site, announced it had taken over operations of the Arena Football Hall of Fame.[3]

Qualifications

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In order to be nominated for the Arena Football Hall of Fame, a candidate must meet at least one of four criteria (as of 2015, depending upon whether he is being considered as a player, a coach, or a contributor). A player who has played after the 1989 season must have played a minimum of three seasons. A player must be retired for a minimum of three full seasons. A coach must have been active for a minimum of five seasons but does not need to be retired. There is no minimum number of seasons required for contributors but rather contribution to the significant advancement of the AFL.[4]

Location

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There is currently no physical location for the Arena Football Hall of Fame. Unlike the Pro Football Hall of Fame, there is not a museum associated with Arena Football, but there is, however, within the Pro Football Hall of Fame a relatively small exhibit that features the history of the Arena Football League.[5]

Ceremony and Hall of Fame Game

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Much like the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Arena Football League has a weekend dedicated to the inductees and during a selected Hall of Fame Game the inductees will partake in a Hall of Fame ceremony. This ceremony takes place prior to the game and will feature highlights as well as speeches from each of the inductees. Recent Hall of Fame Games were aired on CBS Sports Network prior to the termination of the league's agreement with CBSN following the 2018 season.[6]

Inductees

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The list is complete up to date 2014 Hall of Fame class.

Biographies and statistics can be referenced at the Hall of Fame web site.[7]
Inductee Class Position Team(s) Years
Dwayne Dixon 1998 Wide receiver/Defensive back Washington Commandos 1987
Detroit Drive 1988–1991
Jim Foster 1998 League Founder/Executive, Commissioner, Team Owner/President N/A N/A
Commissioner 1987–1992
Iowa Barnstormers 1995–2001
Jerry Kurz 1998 League Co-Founder/Executive, Commissioner, President N/A N/A
CEO (AF2) 2004–2009
Commissioner 2010–2014
President 2015–present
Tim Marcum 1998 Head Coach Denver Dynamite 1987
Detroit Drive 1988–1989, 1991–1993
Tampa Bay Storm 1995–2010
Kansas City Command 2011
New Orleans VooDoo (AHC) 2012
Orlando Predators (AHC/DC) 2013
Gary Mullen 1998 Wide receiver/Defensive back Denver Dynamite 1987
Los Angeles Cobras 1988
Detroit Drive 1989–1992
Cincinnati Rockers 1993
Milwaukee Mustangs 1995
Tate Randle 1998 Defensive Specialist Detroit Drive 1988, 1990–1992
Alvin Rettig 1998 Fullback/Linebacker Detroit Drive 1988–1993
Craig Walls 1998 Offensive lineman/Defensive lineman Pittsburgh Gladiators 1987–1988
Jay Gruden 1999 Quarterback Tampa Bay Storm 1991–1996
Orlando Predators 2002–2003
Durwood "Rock" Roquemore 1999 Defensive Specialist Chicago Bruisers 1987–1988
Albany Firebirds 1990
Orlando Predators 1991–1996
Jon Roehlk[8] 1999 Offensive lineman/Defensive lineman Washington Commandos 1987
Detroit Drive 1988–1993
Miami Hooters 1994
Iowa Barnstormers 1995–1996
Gary Vitto 1999 General Manager Detroit Drive 1988–1993
Ben Bennett 2000 Quarterback Chicago Bruisers 1988–1989
Dallas Texans 1990
Orlando Predators 1991–1995
San Jose SaberCats 1996
Portland Forest Dragons 1997
Carl Aikens 2000 Wide receiver/Defensive back Chicago Bruisers 1988–1989
Dallas Texans 1990–1991
Orlando Predators 1992–1993
Milwaukee Mustangs 1994
Hercules "Herkie" Walls 2000 Wide receiver/Defensive back Orlando Predators 1991–1996
Joe March 2000 Offensive lineman/Defensive lineman Denver Dynamite 1991
Sacramento Attack 1992
Milwaukee Mustangs 1993
Tampa Bay Storm 1993–1996
Nashville Kats 1997
Perry Moss 2000 Head Coach Chicago Bruisers 1988
Detroit Drive 1990
Orlando Predators 1991–1997
Glenn Mazula 2000 Team Owner Albany/Indiana Firebirds 1990–2002
Danny White 2002 Head Coach Arizona Rattlers 1992–2004
Utah Blaze 2006–2008
Mike Ilitch 2002 Team Owner Detroit Drive 1988–1993
John Corker 2002 Offensive lineman/Defensive lineman Detroit Drive 1988–1993
Miami Hooters 1994–1995
Fred Gayles 2002 Wide receiver/Defensive back Denver Dynamite 1989
Albany Firebirds 1990–1997
New York CityHawks 1997
Grand Rapids Rampage 1998
Reggie Smith 2002 Offensive Specialist Chicago Bruisers 1987–1989
Albany Firebirds 1990
Orlando Predators 1991
Barry Wagner 2011 Wide receiver/Defensive back Orlando Predators 1992–1999, 2007
San Jose SaberCats 2000–2006
George LaFrance 2011 Offensive Specialist Detroit Drive 1988–1993
Tampa Bay Storm 1994–1999
New Jersey Red Dogs 2000
Hunkie Cooper 2011 Wide receiver/Linebacker Arizona Rattlers 1993–2005
Eddie Brown 2011 Offensive Specialist Albany/Indiana Firebirds 1994–2003
Sylvester Bembery 2011 Offensive lineman/Defensive lineman New England Steamrollers 1988
Albany Firebirds 1990–1993
Tampa Bay Storm 1994–1999, 2001
Buffalo Destroyers 2000
Kurt Warner 2011 Quarterback Iowa Barnstormers 1995–1997
Stevie Thomas 2011 Wide receiver/Linebacker Tampa Bay Storm 1991–1999
Orlando Predators 2000
New Jersey Gladiators 2001
Sam Hernandez 2011 Offensive lineman/Defensive lineman Charlotte Rage 1992
Las Vegas Sting/Anaheim Piranhas 1994–1997
San Jose SaberCats 1998–2005
Darren Arbet 2011 Head Coach San Jose SaberCats 1999–2008, 2010–present
Gene Nudo 2011 Executive Chicago Bruisers/AFL League Office/Arizona Rattlers/Dallas Vigilantes/ Chicago Rush 1987–2011
Sherdrick Bonner 2012 Quarterback Arizona Rattlers 1993–2007
Chicago Rush 2008
Mike Dailey 2012 Head Coach Albany/Indiana Firebirds 1997–2003
Colorado Crush 2004–2008
Clint Dolezel[9] 2012 Quarterback Milwaukee Mustangs 1995–1996
Texas Terror/Houston ThunderBears 1997–1999
Grand Rapids Rampage 2001–2003
Las Vegas Gladiators 2004–2005
Dallas Desperados 2006–2008
Randy Gatewood 2012 Wide receiver/Defensive back Arizona Rattlers 1996–2007
Mike Hohensee 2012 Head Coach Washington Commandos 1990
Albany Firebirds 1994–1996
Anaheim Piranhas 1997
New England Sea Wolves 1999–2000
Chicago Rush 2001–2008, 2010
Peoria Pirates (AF2) 2009
Philadelphia Soul 2011
Iowa Barnstormers 2012–2014
Portland Thunder 2015
William Niro 2012 League Co-Founder/Executive N/A N/A
Cory Fleming[10] 2013 Wide receiver/Linebacker Nashville Kats 1994–1995, 2006
Carolina Cobras 2002
Orlando Predators 2003–2005
Darryl Hammond 2013 Wide receiver/Linebacker Albany Firebirds 1991–1994
St. Louis Stampede 1995–1996
Nashville Kats 1997–2001, 2005–2006
Georgia Force 2003–2004
Austin Wranglers 2004
Greg Hopkins 2013 Wide receiver/Linebacker Albany/Indiana Firebirds 1996–2001
Los Angeles Avengers 2002–2006
Bob McMillen 2013 Fullback/Linebacker Arizona Rattlers 1995–2001
San Jose SaberCats 2001–2002
Chicago Rush 2003–2007
Carl Paganelli 2013 Official/Adviser/Contributor N/A N/A
Lawrence Samuels 2013 Wide receiver/Linebacker Tampa Bay Storm 1994–2000, 2002–2010
New Jersey Gladiators 2001
Andre Bowden 2014 Fullback/Linebacker Tampa Bay Storm 1991–1993, 1997–2001, 2003–2004
Carolina Cobras 2002
Damian Harrell 2014 Wide receiver New England Sea Wolves/Toronto Phantoms 1999–2002
Colorado Crush 2003–2007
Chicago Rush 2008
Milwaukee Mustangs 2010–2011
Kyle Moore-Brown 2014 Offensive lineman/Defensive lineman Albany/Indiana Firebirds 1995–2003
Colorado Crush 2004–2008
Omarr Smith 2014 Wide receiver/Defensive back San Jose SaberCats 2000–2002, 2004–2008
Tampa Bay Storm 2003

Class of 2015 Finalists:[11]

These were the finalists for the 2015 Hall of Fame class; however, this was the year that began the decline of the league until its second bankruptcy in 2019. No future Hall of Fame announcements have been made since 2015.

AF2 Hall of Fame Inductees

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With the dissolvement of the AF2 developmental league, there was a single class of ten members inducted into the AF2 Hall of Fame. While this league was owned and run by the AFL, a separate Hall of Fame was created. AFL and AF2 creators Jim Foster and Jerry Kurz are the only members of both Halls. This Hall was designed to recognize individuals who significantly impacted the AF2. While some members have been involved with AFL teams, this group was inducted based only on their contributions to the AF2. No members have been inducted beyond the inaugural class.[12]

Inductee Class Position Team(s) Years
Mitch Allner 2009 Wide receiver/Defensive back, Head coach Quad City Steamwheelers 2000
Iowa Barnstormers 2001
Tulsa Talons 2002–?
2007–2011 (HC)
Jim Foster 2009 League Founder/Executive, Team Owner/President N/A 2000–2009
Iowa Barnstormers 1995–2001
Quad City Steamwheelers 2000–2009
Skip Foster 2009 Head coach Tulsa Talons 2000–2003
Austin Wranglers (AFL) 2004–2006
Kevin Guy 2009 Head coach New Jersey Red Dogs (AFL) 2003
Tennessee Valley Vipers 2002–2004
Rio Grande Valley Dorados 2005
Arizona Rattlers (AFL / IFL) 2008–present
Rich Ingold 2009 Head coach Quad City Steamwheelers 2002–2004
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers 2006–2009
Dallas Vigilantes (AFL) 2010
Jerry Kurz 2009 League Co-founder/Executive, Commissioner, President N/A 2000–2009
CEO 2004–2009
Dan Newman 2009 Owner/Team president, Team chairman, League executive Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings 2003–2010
New Orleans VooDoo (AFL) 2011–2015
Jim Foster 2009 Offensive specialist Carolina Cobras (AFL) 2002
Memphis Xplorers 2003–2005
Las Vegas Gladiators (AFL) 2006–2007
Matthew Sauk 2009 Quarterback Tennessee Valley Vipers 2001, 2003
Los Angeles Avengers (AFL) 2001
Louisville Fire 2004–2005
Philadelphia Soul (AFL) 2006
Grand Rapids Rampage (AFL) 2007
Arizona Rattlers (AFL) 2008
Craig Strickland 2009 Quarterback Tulsa Talons 2000–2001, 2003
Dallas Desperados (AFL) 2004
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz 2004–2006

Pro Football Hall of Fame

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Joe DeLamielleure was the first Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee to ever play with an Arena Football Team; as an apparent publicity stunt, he played two games for the Charlotte Rage in the 1992 season, seven years after he had retired from professional football.[13]

Kurt Warner, who played three seasons with the Iowa Barnstormers from 1995 to 1997 and was inducted into the Arena Football Hall of Fame in 2011, is the first player with substantial arena football experience to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as the first to be inducted into both halls. Warner was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

The ownership group of the Colorado Crush has also been inducted: John Elway was inducted as a player in 2004, while Pat Bowlen was inducted as an owner in 2019. Both Elway and Bowlen were inducted almost entirely for their contributions to the NFL's Denver Broncos.

Indoor Football League Hall of Fame

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The Indoor Football League Hall of Fame is the corresponding Hall of Fame for the Indoor Football League. While both the IFL and AFL Hall of Fames represent indoor football leagues, they are both separate. There are no members that have been enshrined into both Halls, nor have any members of the AFL Hall played in the IFL. There have been a few members of the IFL Hall of Fame that have played in the AFL, such as Chris Dixon, Lionell Singleton, Jameel Sewell, and Myniya Smith, but none had contributed enough to the AFL to earn entry into the Hall. However, there are some instances of former AFL teams that have been integrated into the IFL that have members enshrined for their tenure within the new league. The Green Bay Blizzard, Texas Revolution, and Tri-Cities Fever are former members of the AF2, but have since moved to the IFL. The Blizzard have had running back LaRon Council, defensive back/kick returner B. J. Hill, head coach Robert Fuller, quarterback Jameel Sewell, and wide receiver Bryan Pray enshrined. Lionell Singleton from the Fever has been enshrined. Javicz Jones from the Revolution has been enshrined. The Iowa Barnstormers have moved from the AFL to the IFL and have had linebacker Javicz Jones and wide receiver Bryan Pray enshrined. Bryan Pray has also played for the Spokane Shock when they were in the IFL, but were known as the Spokane Empire then. Kevin Guy was inducted into the AF2 Hall of Fame and is still actively coaching in the IFL. Guy has made a prolific career in three separate indoor football leagues.

Canadian Football Hall of Fame

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Only two players in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame have contributed to the Arena Football league; however, neither had a great enough contribution to be inducted in both Halls. Joe Kapp was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame as a player in 1984 and coached for the Sacramento Attack in the AFL for the 1992 season. Bobby Jurasin was inducted in 2006 as a player and played with the Iowa Barnstormers for the 1999 season, unfortunately this was his last professional football season as he sustained a neck injury and was forced to retire.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Hall of Fame Voting Officially Opens". Arena Football. July 14, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  2. ^ "Arena Football Hall of Fame Advisory Board Announced". arenafootball.com. June 5, 2014. Archived from the original on July 11, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  3. ^ "Press Releases: Arena Football Hall of Fame Makes Return (press release) | ArenaFan.com". www.arenafan.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  4. ^ "Hall of Fame Voting Officially Opens". Arena Football League. July 14, 2015. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  5. ^ "Hall of Fame features exhibit on Arena Football League". ESPN. March 2, 2007. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  6. ^ "HYDRIVE Arena Football Hall of Fame Weekend Set to Kick Off Friday". Tampa Bay Storm. April 17, 2014. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  7. ^ "Hall of Fame". Arenafootball.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  8. ^ "Ex-Hawkeye, arena football pioneer Roehlk dies". The Quad City Times. March 16, 2016. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  9. ^ "After HOF career, Clint Dolezel finds success as coach". csnphilly.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  10. ^ Organ, Mike (April 26, 2014). "Kats' Cory Fleming goes to Arena Football Hall of Fame". The Tennessean. Archived from the original on August 22, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  11. ^ "AFL Announces 2015 Arena Football Hall of Fame Finalists". Arena Football. July 11, 2015. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  12. ^ "af2 Hall of Fame". ArenaFan. Archived from the original on June 15, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  13. ^ "1992-1996 Charlotte Rage". Funwhileitlasted.com. December 11, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
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