Georgia Firebirds

{{Infobox indoor American football team

| name = Georgia Firebirds

| current =

| logo = GeorgiaFirebirds.png

| helmet = Georgia Firebirds Helmet Logo.png

| founded = 2009

| folded = 2017

| city = Albany, Georgia
at the Albany Civic Center

| misc = [http://georgiafirebirds.com/ GeorgiaFirebirds.com]

| uniform =

| colors = Black, red, yellow, white
{{Color box|black}} {{Color box|#CC0000}} {{Color box|#FCB71B}} {{Color box|white}}

| coach =

| owner = Gridiron Central Group

| chairman = Terence Fowler

| president = Darien Teals

| general manager = Darien Teals

| mascot = Talon

| nicknames =

| league =

American Indoor Football (2016)

Southern Division (2016)

National Arena League (2017)

| team_history =

Albany Firebirds (2009–2015)
Georgia Firebirds (2016–2017)

| no_league_champs = 0

| no_conf_champs = 0

| no_div_champs = 0

| league_champs =

| conf_champs =

| div_champs =

| playoff_appearances =

| no_playoff_appearances = 0

| arena_years =

Albany Civic Center (2016–2017)

}}

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).{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiafirebirds.com/news1/143-georgia-firebirds-to-join-the-aif-in-2016.html |title=Georgia Firebirds to join the AIF in 2016 |publisher=Georgia Firebirds |date=November 18, 2015 |access-date=November 19, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120020429/http://www.georgiafirebirds.com/news1/143-georgia-firebirds-to-join-the-aif-in-2016.html |archive-date=November 20, 2015 }}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.albanyherald.com/news/2015/nov/18/georgia-firebirds-city-of-albany-finalize-arena/?business |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126044621/http://www.albanyherald.com/news/2015/nov/18/georgia-firebirds-city-of-albany-finalize-arena/?business |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 26, 2015 |title=Georgia Firebirds, city of Albany finalize arena football pact |author=Carlton Fletcher |date=November 18, 2015 |publisher=Albany Herald |work=www.albanyherald.com |access-date=November 25, 2015 }}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/firebirds-announce-new-coach/n-5113468 |title=Firebirds Announce New Coach |date=March 21, 2016 |publisher=OurSports Central |work=www.oursportscentral.com |access-date=March 21, 2016}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.wtol.com/story/31975746/wheels-derail-the-firebirds-game-vs-savannah |title=Wheels derail the Firebirds game vs Savannah |publisher=WTOL 11 |date=May 14, 2016 |access-date=November 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815053415/http://www.wtol.com/story/31975746/wheels-derail-the-firebirds-game-vs-savannah |archive-date=August 15, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

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.{{cite news |url=http://www.albanyherald.com/sports/georgia-firebirds-to-join-arena-development-league/article_0d0206fa-17ec-573c-b63a-f06d58d532cf.html |title=Georgia Firebirds to join Arena Development League |newspaper=The Albany Herald |date=September 13, 2016}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/weekly-sports-league--franchise-report/n-5258652 |title=WEEKLY SPORTS LEAGUE & FRANCHISE REPORT |publisher=OurSports Central |date=May 22, 2017}}

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

class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
colspan="7" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Georgia Firebirds\|border=2}};text-align:center;"\| Georgia Firebirds final roster
style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" \| Quarterbacks {{NFLplayer\|10\|Gregory Hankerson\|link=no\|rookie=y}} Fullbacks {{NFLplayer\|22\|Zach Brown\|link=no}} Wide receivers {{NFLplayer\| 2\|Antonio Bearden\|link=no}} {{NFLplayer\| 8\|Byron Dickerson\|link=no}} {{NFLplayer\| 1\|Terrence Ebagua\|link=no}} {{NFLplayer\|21\|Brian Foy Jr.\|link=no\|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer\| 4\|John Harris\|link=no}} {{NFLplayer\| 9\|Jason Johnson\|link=no}} {{NFLplayer\| 3\|Isaiah Jupiter\|link=no}} {{NFLplayer\| 5\|Jamill Smith}} \| style="width: 25px;" \| \| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" \| Offensive linemen {{NFLplayer\|69\|Bradley Clapsaddle\|link=no\|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer\|52\|Dana Harris\|link=no\|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer
-\|Robert Singleton\|link=no\|rookie=y}} Defensive linemen {{NFLplayer\|90\|Charles Henderson\|link=no\|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer\|12\|Joshua Bradley\|link=no\|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer\|99\|Devonte McClain\|link=no\|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer\|37\|Howard Stephens\|link=no\|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer\|33\|Derrick Wimbush}} \| style="width: 25px;" \| \| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" \| Linebackers {{NFLplayer\|31\|Emmanuel Henry-Ajudua\|link=no\|rookie=y}} Defensive backs {{NFLplayer
-\|Michael Duckworth\|link=no}} {{NFLplayer\| 6\|Cole Furgason\|link=no}} {{NFLplayer
-\|Kent London\|link=no\|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer\| 13\|Chikadibia Madu\|link=no\|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer\|23\|Morris Mitchell\|link=no\|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer\|7\|Rodonterio Blackledge \|link=no\|rookie=y}} Special teams {{NFLplayer\|17\|Jed Solomon\|link=no\|rookie=y}} \| style="width: 25px;" \| \| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" \| Reserve lists {{NFLplayer\|23\|Dominique Burks\|link=no\|rookie=y\|DB\|IR}} {{NFLplayer
-\|Jerome Cook\|link=no\|rookie=y\|OL\|Susp.}} {{NFLplayer\|52\|Joshua Davis\|link=no\|rookie=y\|OL\|Susp.}} {{NFLplayer
-\|Jamarkus Gaskins\|link=no\|LB\|IR}} {{NFLplayer
-\|JaJuan Harley\|link=no\|DB\|Susp.}} {{NFLplayer\|44\|Lavar Ledbetter\|link=no\|LB\|IR}} {{NFLplayer
-\|Joshua McIntosh\|link=no\|rookie=y\|K\|IR}} {{NFLplayer\| 3\|Sean Potts-Harris\|link=no\|DB\|Susp.}} {{NFLplayer
-\|Cory Rue\|link=no\|LB\|DNR}} {{NFLplayer\|70\|D'Andre Williams\|link=no\|rookie=y\|OL\|IR}} rookies in italics [https://web.archive.org/web/20161214023421/http://www.nationalarenaleague.com/rosters/georgia-firebirds.html?site=1 Roster] updated June 17, 2017 25 Active, 10 Inactive → More rosters

class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"

colspan="7" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Georgia Firebirds|border=2}};text-align:center;"| Georgia Firebirds final roster

style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Quarterbacks

Fullbacks

Wide receivers

| style="width: 25px;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Offensive linemen

{{NFLplayer

-|Robert Singleton|link=no|rookie=y}}

Defensive linemen

| style="width: 25px;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Linebackers

Defensive backs

{{NFLplayer

-|Michael Duckworth|link=no}}

{{NFLplayer

-|Kent London|link=no|rookie=y}}

Special teams

| style="width: 25px;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Reserve lists

{{NFLplayer

-|Jerome Cook|link=no|rookie=y|OL|Susp.}}

{{NFLplayer

-|Jamarkus Gaskins|link=no|LB|IR}}

{{NFLplayer

-|JaJuan Harley|link=no|DB|Susp.}}

{{NFLplayer

-|Joshua McIntosh|link=no|rookie=y|K|IR}}

{{NFLplayer

-|Cory Rue|link=no|LB|DNR}}

rookies in italics

[https://web.archive.org/web/20161214023421/http://www.nationalarenaleague.com/rosters/georgia-firebirds.html?site=1 Roster] updated June 17, 2017

25 Active, 10 Inactive

→ More rosters

Coaching staff

class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
colspan="7" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Georgia Firebirds\|border=2}}; text-align: center;"\|Georgia Firebirds staff
colspan=7 align="right" \|
valign="top"\| \| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" \| Front office Ownership Group - Gridiron Central Group Managing partner/general manager – Terence Fowler Sr. Partner - Wallace Prather Partner - Darrien Teals \|width="35"\| \|valign="top"\| \| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" \| Head coach Head coach – Antwone Savage Assistant coaches Defensive coordinator – Pablo Cortes

class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"

colspan="7" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Georgia Firebirds|border=2}}; text-align: center;"|Georgia Firebirds staff

colspan=7 align="right" |

valign="top"|

| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Front office

Ownership Group - Gridiron Central Group
Managing partner/general manager – Terence Fowler Sr.
Partner - Wallace Prather
Partner - Darrien Teals

|width="35"|

|valign="top"|

| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" |

Head coach

Head coach – Antwone Savage

Assistant coaches

Defensive coordinator – Pablo Cortes

Statistics and records

=Season-by-season results=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%;"

style="background:#fcc;"|League Champions

| style="background:#dfd;"|Conference Champions

| style="background:#d0e7ff;"|Division Champions

| style="background:#96cdcd;"|Playoff Berth

| style="background:#c8a2c8;"|League Leader

rowspan="2" \| Season !rowspan="2" \| Team !rowspan="2" \| League !rowspan="2" \| Conference !rowspan="2" \| Division !colspan="4" \| Regular season !rowspan="2" \| Postseason results
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;"
Finish	Wins	Losses	Ties
2016 \| 2016 \|\| AIF \|\| \|\| Southern \| \|\| 4 \|\| 5 \|\| 0 \|\| align=left \|
2017 \| 2017 \|\| NAL \|\| \|\| \| 6th \|\| 2 \|\| 9 \|\| 0 \|\| align=left \|
colspan="6" \| Totals ! 6	14	0	colspan="3" \| All-time record (2016–2017)

=Head coaches' records=

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

rowspan="2" style="width:140px;"\|Name ! rowspan="2" \| Term ! colspan="4" \| Regular season ! colspan="2" \| Playoffs ! rowspan="2" \| Awards
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
W	L	T	Win%	W	L
align=left \| David Daniels, Jr.	2016	0	1	0	{{winperc\|0\|1}}	—	—
align=left \| Antwone Savage	2016–{{NAL Year\|2017}}	6	13	0	{{winperc\|6\|13}}	—	—

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20100227022257/http://georgiafirebirds.com/ Georgia Firebirds official website]

Category:2009 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:2017 disestablishments in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:American football teams established in 2009

Category:American football teams disestablished in 2017