Georgia Firebirds
Established 2009
Folded 2017
Played in Albany, Georgia
at the Albany Civic Center
GeorgiaFirebirds.com
League/conference affiliations
American Indoor Football (2016)
  • Southern Division (2016)
National Arena League (2017)
Current uniform
Team colorsBlack, red, yellow, white
       
MascotTalon
Personnel
Owner(s)Gridiron Central Group
ChairmanTerence Fowler
PresidentDarien Teals
General managerDarien Teals
Team history
  • Albany Firebirds (2009–2015)
  • Georgia Firebirds (2016–2017)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Home arena(s)

The Georgia Firebirds were a professional indoor football team based in Albany, Georgia, and played their home games at the Albany Civic Center. Previously, the Firebirds played as an outdoor football team in various semi-pro leagues before going indoor. The Firebirds joined American Indoor Football (AIF) for the 2016 season but the league folded after one season. The Firebirds then joined the new National Arena League (NAL) for the 2017 season.

The Firebirds were the third indoor/arena football team to call Albany home, following the South Georgia Wildcats of af2 (which played in Albany from 2005 until the league folded in 2009) and the Albany Panthers of the Southern Indoor Football League and later the Professional Indoor Football League (which played from 2010 until 2013, winning the 2011 SIFL and 2012 PIFL championships).[1]

History

On November 18, 2015, the Firebirds finalized the contract with the city of Albany, Georgia, and the Albany Civic Center, to play indoor football for the 2016 season after several years playing as a semi-professional outdoor team.[2]

On March 20, 2016, the Firebirds lost their first league game as part of American Indoor Football to the Columbus Lions by a score of 86–0. The following day, head coach Davis Daniels, Jr. was fired and replaced by Antwone Savage.[3] They finished the season one spot out of a playoff position after being forced to forfeit their final game of the season due to their team bus breaking down.[4]

In July 2016, the AIF ceased operations leaving the Firebirds without a league. On September 13, the team announced it had joined the newly formed Arena Developmental League (which became the National Arena League) for the 2017 season.[5] In May 2017, the league apparently took over operations of the Firebirds for the remainder of the season. As a result, the league cancelled the Firebirds' away game at the Corpus Christi Rage (another team the league was operating) as a cost-cutting measure.[6]

The National Arena League announced in September 2017 that the Firebirds were undergoing an ownership transition but could not commit to the 2018 season while the new ownership were negotiating a new arena lease. By November, the new owners failed to obtain the new lease and were removed from the league as members.

Final roster

Georgia Firebirds final roster
Quarterbacks
  • 10 Gregory Hankerson

Fullbacks

  • 22 Zach Brown

Wide receivers

  •  2 Antonio Bearden
  •  8 Byron Dickerson
  •  1 Terrence Ebagua
  • 21 Brian Foy Jr.
  •  4 John Harris
  •  9 Jason Johnson
  •  3 Isaiah Jupiter
  •  5 Jamill Smith
 Offensive linemen
  • 69 Bradley Clapsaddle
  • 52 Dana Harris
  • -- Robert Singleton

Defensive linemen

  • 90 Charles Henderson
  • 12 Joshua Bradley
  • 99 Devonte McClain
  • 37 Howard Stephens
  • 33 Derrick Wimbush
 Linebackers
  • 31 Emmanuel Henry-Ajudua

Defensive backs

  • -- Michael Duckworth
  •  6 Cole Furgason
  • -- Kent London
  •  13 Chikadibia Madu
  • 23 Morris Mitchell
  • 7 Rodonterio Blackledge

Special teams

  • 17 Jed Solomon
 Reserve lists
  • 23 Dominique Burks DB (IR)
  • -- Jerome Cook OL (Suspended)
  • 52 Joshua Davis OL (Suspended)
  • -- Jamarkus Gaskins LB (IR)
  • -- JaJuan Harley DB (Suspended)
  • 44 Lavar Ledbetter LB (IR)
  • -- Joshua McIntosh K (IR)
  •  3 Sean Potts-Harris DB (Suspended)
  • -- Cory Rue LB (Did not report)
  • 70 D'Andre Williams OL (IR)

rookies in italics
Roster updated June 17, 2017
25 Active, 10 Inactive

→ More rosters

Coaching staff

Georgia Firebirds staff
Front office
  • Ownership Group - Gridiron Central Group
  • Managing partner/general manager – Terence Fowler Sr.
  • Partner - Wallace Prather
  • Partner - Darrien Teals
  

Head coach

  • Head coach – Antwone Savage

Assistant coaches

  • Defensive coordinator – Pablo Cortes

Statistics and records

Season-by-season results

League Champions Conference Champions Division Champions Playoff Berth League Leader
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results
FinishWinsLossesTies
2016 2016AIFSouthern 450
2017 2017NAL 6th290
Totals 6140All-time record (2016–2017)

Head coaches' records

Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 2017 National Arena League season.

Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
WLTWin%WL
David Daniels, Jr.2016010.000——
Antwone Savage2016–20176130.316——

References

  1. ↑ "Georgia Firebirds to join the AIF in 2016". Georgia Firebirds. November 18, 2015. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  2. ↑ Carlton Fletcher (November 18, 2015). "Georgia Firebirds, city of Albany finalize arena football pact". www.albanyherald.com. Albany Herald. Archived from the original on November 26, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Firebirds Announce New Coach". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. March 21, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Wheels derail the Firebirds game vs Savannah". WTOL 11. May 14, 2016. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Georgia Firebirds to join Arena Development League". The Albany Herald. September 13, 2016.
  6. ↑ "WEEKLY SPORTS LEAGUE & FRANCHISE REPORT". OurSports Central. May 22, 2017.
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