Arena Football Hall of Fame


The Arena Football Hall of Fame is the official Hall of Fame of the Arena Football League. 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. 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.

Qualifications

In order to be nominated for the Arena Football Hall of Fame, a candidate must meet at least one of four criteria. 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.

Location

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.

Ceremony and Hall of Fame Game

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.

Inductees

The list is complete up to date 2014 Hall of Fame class.
InducteeClassPositionTeamYears
Dwayne Dixon1998Wide receiver/Defensive backWashington Commandos1987
Dwayne Dixon1998Wide receiver/Defensive backDetroit Drive1988–1991
Jim Foster1998League Founder/Executive, Commissioner, Team Owner/PresidentN/AN/A
Jim Foster1998League Founder/Executive, Commissioner, Team Owner/PresidentCommissioner1987–1992
Jim Foster1998League Founder/Executive, Commissioner, Team Owner/PresidentIowa Barnstormers1995–2001
Jerry Kurz1998League Co-Founder/Executive, Commissioner, PresidentN/AN/A
Jerry Kurz1998League Co-Founder/Executive, Commissioner, PresidentCEO 2004–2009
Jerry Kurz1998League Co-Founder/Executive, Commissioner, PresidentCommissioner2010–2014
Jerry Kurz1998League Co-Founder/Executive, Commissioner, PresidentPresident2015–present
Tim Marcum1998Head CoachDenver Dynamite1987
Tim Marcum1998Head CoachDetroit Drive1988–1989, 1991–1993
Tim Marcum1998Head CoachTampa Bay Storm1995–2010
Tim Marcum1998Head CoachKansas City Command2011
Tim Marcum1998Head CoachNew Orleans VooDoo 2012
Tim Marcum1998Head CoachOrlando Predators 2013
Gary Mullen1998Wide receiver/Defensive backDenver Dynamite1987
Gary Mullen1998Wide receiver/Defensive backLos Angeles Cobras1988
Gary Mullen1998Wide receiver/Defensive backDetroit Drive1989–1992
Gary Mullen1998Wide receiver/Defensive backCincinnati Rockers1993
Gary Mullen1998Wide receiver/Defensive backMilwaukee Mustangs1995
Tate Randle1998Defensive SpecialistDetroit Drive1988, 1990–1992
Alvin Rettig1998Fullback/LinebackerDetroit Drive1988–1993
Craig Walls1998Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanPittsburgh Gladiators1987–1988
Jay Gruden1999QuarterbackTampa Bay Storm1991–1996
Jay Gruden1999QuarterbackOrlando Predators2002–2003
Durwood "Rock" Roquemore1999Defensive SpecialistChicago Bruisers1987–1988
Durwood "Rock" Roquemore1999Defensive SpecialistAlbany Firebirds1990
Durwood "Rock" Roquemore1999Defensive SpecialistOrlando Predators1991–1996
Jon Roehlk1999Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanWashington Commandos1987
Jon Roehlk1999Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanDetroit Drive1988–1993
Jon Roehlk1999Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanMiami Hooters1994
Jon Roehlk1999Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanIowa Barnstormers1995–1996
Gary Vitto1999General ManagerDetroit Drive1988–1993
Ben Bennett2000QuarterbackChicago Bruisers1988–1989
Ben Bennett2000QuarterbackDallas Texans1990
Ben Bennett2000QuarterbackOrlando Predators1991–1995
Ben Bennett2000QuarterbackSan Jose SaberCats1996
Ben Bennett2000QuarterbackPortland Forest Dragons1997
Carl Aikens2000Wide receiver/Defensive backChicago Bruisers1988–1989
Carl Aikens2000Wide receiver/Defensive backDallas Texans1990–1991
Carl Aikens2000Wide receiver/Defensive backOrlando Predators1992–1993
Carl Aikens2000Wide receiver/Defensive backMilwaukee Mustangs1994
Hercules "Herkie" Walls2000Wide receiver/Defensive backOrlando Predators1991–1996
Joe March2000Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanDenver Dynamite1991
Joe March2000Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanSacramento Attack1992
Joe March2000Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanMilwaukee Mustangs1993
Joe March2000Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanTampa Bay Storm1993–1996
Joe March2000Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanNashville Kats1997
Perry Moss2000Head CoachChicago Bruisers1988
Perry Moss2000Head CoachDetroit Drive1990
Perry Moss2000Head CoachOrlando Predators1991–1997
Glenn Mazula2000Team OwnerAlbany/Indiana Firebirds1990–2002
Danny White2002Head CoachArizona Rattlers1992–2004
Danny White2002Head CoachUtah Blaze2006–2008
Mike Ilitch2002Team OwnerDetroit Drive1988–1993
John Corker2002Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanDetroit Drive1988–1993
John Corker2002Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanMiami Hooters1994–1995
Fred Gayles2002Wide receiver/Defensive backDenver Dynamite1989
Fred Gayles2002Wide receiver/Defensive backAlbany Firebirds1990–1997
Fred Gayles2002Wide receiver/Defensive backNew York CityHawks1997
Fred Gayles2002Wide receiver/Defensive backGrand Rapids Rampage1998
Reggie Smith2002Offensive SpecialistChicago Bruisers1987–1989
Reggie Smith2002Offensive SpecialistAlbany Firebirds1990
Reggie Smith2002Offensive SpecialistOrlando Predators1991
Barry Wagner2011Wide receiver/Defensive backOrlando Predators1992–1999, 2007
Barry Wagner2011Wide receiver/Defensive backSan Jose SaberCats2000–2006
George LaFrance2011Offensive SpecialistDetroit Drive1988–1993
George LaFrance2011Offensive SpecialistTampa Bay Storm1994–1999
George LaFrance2011Offensive SpecialistNew Jersey Red Dogs2000
Hunkie Cooper2011Wide receiver/LinebackerArizona Rattlers1993–2005
Eddie Brown2011Offensive SpecialistAlbany/Indiana Firebirds1994–2003
Sylvester Bembery2011Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanNew England Steamrollers1988
Sylvester Bembery2011Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanAlbany Firebirds1990–1993
Sylvester Bembery2011Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanTampa Bay Storm1994–1999, 2001
Sylvester Bembery2011Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanBuffalo Destroyers2000
Kurt Warner2011QuarterbackIowa Barnstormers1995–1997
Stevie Thomas2011Wide receiver/LinebackerTampa Bay Storm1991–1999
Stevie Thomas2011Wide receiver/LinebackerOrlando Predators2000
Stevie Thomas2011Wide receiver/LinebackerNew Jersey Gladiators2001
Sam Hernandez2011Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanCharlotte Rage1992
Sam Hernandez2011Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanLas Vegas Sting/Anaheim Piranhas1994–1997
Sam Hernandez2011Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanSan Jose SaberCats1998–2005
Darren Arbet2011Head CoachSan Jose SaberCats1999–2008, 2010–present
Gene Nudo2011ExecutiveChicago Bruisers/AFL League Office/Arizona Rattlers/Dallas Vigilantes/ Chicago Rush1987-2011
Sherdrick Bonner2012QuarterbackArizona Rattlers1993–2007
Sherdrick Bonner2012QuarterbackChicago Rush2008
Mike Dailey2012Head CoachAlbany/Indiana Firebirds1997–2003
Mike Dailey2012Head CoachColorado Crush2004–2008
Clint Dolezel2012QuarterbackMilwaukee Mustangs1995–1996
Clint Dolezel2012QuarterbackTexas Terror/Houston ThunderBears1997–1999
Clint Dolezel2012QuarterbackGrand Rapids Rampage2001–2003
Clint Dolezel2012QuarterbackLas Vegas Gladiators2004–2005
Clint Dolezel2012QuarterbackDallas Desperados2006–2008
Randy Gatewood2012Wide receiver/Defensive backArizona Rattlers1996–2007
Mike Hohensee2012Head CoachWashington Commandos1990
Mike Hohensee2012Head CoachAlbany Firebirds1994–1996
Mike Hohensee2012Head CoachAnaheim Piranhas1997
Mike Hohensee2012Head CoachNew England Sea Wolves1999–2000
Mike Hohensee2012Head CoachChicago Rush2001–2008, 2010
Mike Hohensee2012Head CoachPeoria Pirates 2009
Mike Hohensee2012Head CoachPhiladelphia Soul2011
Mike Hohensee2012Head CoachIowa Barnstormers2012–2014
Mike Hohensee2012Head CoachPortland Thunder2015
William Niro2012League Co-Founder/ExecutiveN/AN/A
Cory Fleming2013Wide receiver/LinebackerNashville Kats1994–1995, 2006
Cory Fleming2013Wide receiver/LinebackerCarolina Cobras2002
Cory Fleming2013Wide receiver/LinebackerOrlando Predators2003–2005
Darryl Hammond2013Wide receiver/LinebackerAlbany Firebirds1991–1994
Darryl Hammond2013Wide receiver/LinebackerSt. Louis Stampede1995–1996
Darryl Hammond2013Wide receiver/LinebackerNashville Kats1997–2001, 2005–2006
Darryl Hammond2013Wide receiver/LinebackerGeorgia Force2003–2004
Darryl Hammond2013Wide receiver/LinebackerAustin Wranglers2004
Greg Hopkins2013Wide receiver/LinebackerAlbany/Indiana Firebirds1996–2001
Greg Hopkins2013Wide receiver/LinebackerLos Angeles Avengers2002–2006
Bob McMillen2013Fullback/LinebackerArizona Rattlers1995–2001
Bob McMillen2013Fullback/LinebackerSan Jose SaberCats2001–2002
Bob McMillen2013Fullback/LinebackerChicago Rush2003–2007
Carl Paganelli2013Official/Adviser/ContributorN/AN/A
Lawrence Samuels2013Wide receiver/LinebackerTampa Bay Storm1994–2000, 2002–2010
Lawrence Samuels2013Wide receiver/LinebackerNew Jersey Gladiators2001
Andre Bowden2014Fullback/LinebackerTampa Bay Storm1991–1993, 1997–2001, 2003–2004
Andre Bowden2014Fullback/LinebackerCarolina Cobras2002
Damian Harrell2014Wide receiverNew England Sea Wolves/Toronto Phantoms1999–2002
Damian Harrell2014Wide receiverColorado Crush2003–2007
Damian Harrell2014Wide receiverChicago Rush2008
Damian Harrell2014Wide receiverMilwaukee Mustangs2010–2011
Kyle Moore-Brown2014Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanAlbany/Indiana Firebirds1995–2003
Kyle Moore-Brown2014Offensive lineman/Defensive linemanColorado Crush2004–2008
Omarr Smith2014Wide receiver/Defensive backSan Jose SaberCats2000–2002, 2004–2008
Omarr Smith2014Wide receiver/Defensive backTampa Bay Storm2003

Class of 2015 Finalists:
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.

Pro Football Hall of Fame

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.
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.