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30-595: In their 96-year history, the Greenjackets have won four Empire Football League Championships, two Eastern Football League Championships, two North American Football League Championships, ten Empire Football League Division Championships, and most recently one New England Football League Championship. In February of 2024, the Greenjackets played for then first time at the National level in Miami, Florida. Watertown Red & Black ,

60-648: A linebacker he blocked the pass from Brett Favre that Favre caught for his very first completion in the NFL. Due to complications stemming from the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative , all Canadian teams were removed from the league beginning in the 2010 season (at the time, the Quebec Titans and the Ottawa Deacon Demons (Joliet Chargers) were in the league). The Watertown Red and Black left

90-2332: A minimum of 5 years. Class of 1998: Butch Archambault, Jim Baker, Jim Beatty, Bobby Bond, George Bourdeau, Jigger Canale*, Chuck Caputo, John Case, Frank DePalo, Ray Greenwood, Roy Greenwood, Terry Gorton, Sarge Harrington, John Jenkins, Dick Leland, Curt Leroy, Tom Loding, Pat Malan, Jeff Mann, John Martin, Thomas Marzola, John Millet, Joe Mitchell, Muff Nassivera, Rocco Persutti, Keith Potter, Joe Porter, Scott Newell, Pete Quackenbush, Dan Rivers, Tony Trello*, Tim Webb, Bob Wilkins, Jim Willig* Class of 2001: Sean Brand, Dick Carpenter*, Bob Collins, Bill Eggleston*, Nick DePalo*, Sam DePalo, Mert Evans*, Craig Harrington, P.J. Kelly, Jim Martin, Tom Martin, Bob Michelucci, Frank Moynihan*, Ozzie Osborne, Bob Pelkey, Scott Pratt, Mike Ross, Joe Ruby, Mike Santoro, Gary Saunders, Bob Seeley, Mike Simione, Rudy Stautner, Joe Valastro, Paul Vasko* Class of 2002: Chuck Colamaria, Bob Hickey, Mike Lentz, Dick Rosati*, Bob Young Class of 2003: Mary Adams*, Chuck Catalfamo, Tony Kaczkowski*, Tom Mayer, Dan Middleton, Marty Migliori, Brian Murphy, R.J. Phipps, Larry Spear Class of 2009: Harold Connelly, Bob Fish, Jon Gifford, Jim Guy, Jeff Higgins, John Jackowski, Sheree Lentz, Hank Pelton III, Mike Randall*, Tony Rossi, Steve Smith Class of 2010: Mike Burke, Harold Bull, George Fordrung*, Kelly Hopkins, Terry Hopkins, T.J. Ingalls*, Damon Walker, David Woods Class of 2011: Don Beatty, Joe Buonviaggio, John Godfrey, Ed Havens, Chris Nemec, Larry Pollic, Jeff Williams Class of 2012: Bob Gover, Kenny Hackett, Dave Simon* Class of 2013: Ray Bartholomew, Joe D’Angelico*, Tony “T-Bone” Green, John Rowan, Kevin Warren Class of 2014: Larry Alberts, Jeff Hodges, Claudia Hollenbeck, Dan McGovern, Dan McGuire, Jerry Murphy Tom Sullivan, Joe Volpe*, Mike Waldron Class of 2015: John Gossilin, Earl “Chief” McDuff, Christine Hollenbeck, Rick Rodriguez, Wendy Scott, Jack Toole, Bob Tucker, John Whittington* Class of 2016: Brian Walker, Pat Killian, Will “Wheelbarrow” Edwards, Jarris “Night Train” Jones, Brian Northern, Paul “Guam” Hollenbeck, Bob Frye, Dan VanWie, Craig Fawcett Empire Football League The Empire Football League (EFL)

120-700: Is a semi-professional American football league with franchises based primarily in New York State . The league was established in 1969. Many franchises have come and gone including in locations such as Pennsylvania , Vermont , and Connecticut as well as Quebec , Montreal , and Ontario in Canada . In 2018 the league included six teams: the Glens Falls Greenjackets, Hudson Valley Mountaineers, Plattsburgh North Stars, Seaway Valley Venom, Tri City Spartans, and Utica Yard Dogs. Ray Seals transitioned from

150-589: The COVID-19 pandemic . For the 2021 season Utica, Hudson Valley and Sussex decided to join other leagues, so the league decided to split into 2 divisions to cut down on travel costs. Eastern Division included Glens Falls Greenjackets , Plattsburgh North Stars and Tri City Spartans , while the West Division consisted Syracuse Smash , Watertown Red & Black and Northern New York Grizzlies . West division champs Watertown beat East division champs Glens Falls 37–8 in

180-648: The 2023 season after Smash players entered a fan melee that erupted at one of their home games and escalated into a gunfight in the parking lot) joining the East Coast Football League and playing a spring schedule, and the Broome County Stallions rejoining the Northeastern Football Alliance , forcing the league to a year off in 2023. Source North American Football League The North American Football League ( NAFL )

210-616: The 2024 Summer/Fall National Championship Sunshine Bowl in Miami Florida. The Greenjackets traveled to Miami, FL to cap off a successful season against the Baltimore Rams on February 17, 2024. The Glens Falls Greenjackets primary logo is the same primary logo used by the Green Bay Packers . Local legend holds that the “G” logo, was first designed by then Hudson Falls Greenjackets. The uniform has also been similar to Green Bay over

240-576: The Albany Knickerbockers, Watervliet Mariners, Troy Bearcats, Saratoga Brown Bears, and Fort Ethan Allen . The first game was held on October 14, 1928 against Saratoga at Derby Park in Hudson Falls. They defeated the Brown Bears 2-0. The Greenjackets’ inaugural season finished with an impressive 5-0-1 record. The tie was with a strong Albany team. Of the original 1928 team, guard Dick Carpenter

270-874: The EFL to the National Football League (NFL) in 1989. Several members of the Syracuse 8 that challenged disparities for African Americans at Syracuse University 's football program played for the Tri City Jets of Binghamton , New York. The team was a farm team for the New York Jets at the time and some of them went for a tryout with the Jets, but according to one of them they understood they had no chance when Jets coach Weeb Ewbank identified them as "those boys from Syracuse" during roll call. The league's most dominant team has been

300-658: The Empire Football League for the 1997 season to play in the New York Amateur Football League but returned the following season in 1998. In 1998, the Greenjackets Hall of Fame was established to honor past players, coaches, and staff members that made significant contributions the Greenjackets. The inaugural class had 34 inductees; the largest class in the Hall of Fame's history. The early to mid-2000s

330-413: The Greenjackets began a Hall of Fame to recognize players, coaches, and staff who made significant contributions to the team. The inaugural 1998 class had the largest number of inductees at 34. There were no Hall of Fame inductions in 1999, 2000, and 2004-2008. To be eligible for induction into the Greenjackets Hall of Fame, an individual must have been either a player, coach, staff member, or volunteer for

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360-505: The Greenjackets relocated and re-branded as the Glens Falls Greenjackets. The old Hudson Falls fan base easily coveted with Derby Park only being 3.5 miles away. With a new stadium came multiples victories. The Greenjackets were prosperous as five-time consecutive Northern Division Champions from 1981 to 1985. Glens Falls fell into a slump during the 1990s and did not produce any division or league championships. Glens Falls left

390-511: The President/CEO Hank Pelton III. Despite not being paid, the Greenjackets' level of completion is still classified as semi-professional . In 1928 the team was organized by three local businessmen in Hudson Falls, NY; William Angleson, Fred Burns and Dr. Francis D. Moynihan. Initial financial support came from local merchants and equipment was loaned by Hudson Falls High School and Whitehall Senior/Junior High School . A contest

420-543: The Scranton Eagles who have won a record 11 championships , 10 of those coming between the years 1982 and 1994. The league was organized during the winter of 1968 and started in 1969. The Hudson Falls Greenjackets were the first champions, after finishing with a 7–1 record. In 1989 Ray Seals transitioned from the EFL's Syracuse Express to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League (NFL). As

450-679: The championship in 2017. In 2022 their placekicker Morgan Smith became the first female player in the Empire Football League. Glens Falls lost to Watertown in the Empire Football League Championship in each of the last two years they were in the EFL. In 2023, with the EFL not playing their season that year, the Greenjackets joined the New England Football League . They played in the North Atlantic Division (AA),

480-570: The final. In 2022 Morgan Smith became the first female player in the Empire Football League, which she did as a placekicker for the Greenjackets. In 2023 the league announced the Watertown Red & Black would be leaving the EFL and joining the GDFL; three of the other five teams followed suit, with the Greenjackets going to the New England Football League , the Smash (whom the league had suspended during

510-541: The game. After everyone had eaten, the Army players would bet the Greenjackets players that they could not ride the pack mules for a full minute. Many a 25 cent bets changed hands.” After nine seasons of play, operations temporarily ceased for three seasons in 1937-39. And with the breakout of World War II , the Greenjackets once again halted from playing from 1942 to 1945. After resuming play in 1946, Hudson Falls became Eastern Football League Champions in 1949 and 1951. But in 1952,

540-478: The green and gold faced a new obstacle as the EFL disbanded. With no league to play in, the Greenjackets also disbanded until 1962. After a ten-year hiatus, a major change was needed for the Greenjackets to continue a football tradition in the Southern Adirondacks. In the spring of 1969, Greenjackets players were called together for a meeting and told that they would need to go out on their own if they wanted

570-720: The highest division of the New England Football League. The Greenjackets won the AA NEFL Championship in their first season. Glens Falls defeated the Middleboro Cobras, in overtime over the long-time NEFL powerhouse 12-6. It was the first league championship for the 'Jackets since 2017; Glens Falls had lost to Watertown in the Empire Football League final in each of the previous two years. The NEFL Championship season led to their first national bowl appearance as an organization, where they were selected to play in

600-546: The inaugural 1969 EFL championship. In addition to winning the Valley Division Championship in 1972 and another EFL title in 1976, Hudson Falls was a successful playoff team in the 1970s appearing six out of nine seasons (1969, 1972-1974,1976, 1977). The 1978 season was commemorative as it was the 50th Anniversary of the team and 10th anniversary of the league. With the opening of East Field in Glens Falls in 1980,

630-632: The league in 2017 when the EFL was down to two teams. The league held an emergency meeting when it was left with just the Seaway Valley Venom and the Glens Falls Greenjackets. The Hudson Valley Mountaineers joined the league in 2018. In 2018 Kevin Siska of the Glens Falls Greenjackets was inducted into the American Football Association Minor League Football Hall of Fame. The team canceled its 2020 season amid

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660-504: The oldest American semi-pro team, is a longstanding rival of the Greenjackets, as both played in the Empire Football League until that league ceased play prior to 2023. Players include high school and college graduates, athletes looking to take their career to higher levels (e.g. arena football , CFL , or NFL ), and older adults still looking to participate in football. All members of the Greenjackets organization are volunteer. This includes players, coaches, trainers, front office staff, and

690-547: The team from a group headed by NAFL commissioner Rob Licopoli. Glens Falls won back-to-back Empire Division titles in 2008 and 2009. After spending six seasons with the NAFL, the Greenjackets made the decision to return to the Empire Football League in 2011 after a six-year hiatus. Since their return to the EFL in 2011, the Greenjackets have made the playoffs three times, losing in the semi-finals in 2015 and 2016, and winning

720-586: The team to continue playing. Under new leadership of President Dick Leland and Vice President Jim Willing, Greenjackets football would continue to thrive. In May 1969 a newly organized league, the Empire Football League , was incorporated in Poughkeepsie, NY . The original five-team league comprised the Hudson Falls Greenjackets, Dutchess County Checkmates (Poughkeepsie), Hudson Vikings, Cohoes Olympiads, and Troy Titans. The Greenjackets would go on to win

750-488: The years, but with small variations. • Eastern Football League Champions: 1949, 1951 • Empire Football League Champions: 1969, 1976, 2003, 2004, 2017 • New England Football League, North Atlantic Division AA Champions: 2023 • Empire Football League Valley Division Champions: 1972 • Empire Football League Northern Division Champions: 1972, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 2002, 2003, 2004 • North American Football League Empire Division Champions: 2008, 2009 In 1998,

780-459: Was a proposed American spring football minor league . In 2014, the league announced it was to begin play for the 2016 season; however, there have been no further announcements that the league has met any of their listed key dates as of April 1, 2016. The league were scheduled to run tryouts on March 15, 2015, in Monroeville, Pennsylvania , and charged prospective recruits over $ 100. However, it

810-479: Was a successful dynasty for the Greenjackets as they won three consecutive Northern Division Championships and back-to-back EFL Championships in 2003 and 2004. However, despite their success in the EFL, owner Charles Adams moved the team to the North American Football League in 2005. He was cited as having a desire to play "a stronger competition". In 2008, Hank Pelton III and Craig Matuszak purchased

840-543: Was held to name the team and a little girl, whose name no one can remember or identify, came up with “Greenjackets” and won a season pass for the 1928 season. The cost of a 1928 general admission ticket was 50 cents a game. Local legend holds that the “G” logo, shared between the Greenjackets and the Green Bay Packers of the NFL was first designed by Hudson Falls. Hudson Falls joined the Eastern Football League along with

870-457: Was reported that nobody from the league actually attended the tryouts. The league stated that the tryouts had been postponed to March 29 but the local representatives had failed to notify attendees. A later tryout in the Atlanta area would be cancelled the morning of the scheduled date. In May 2017, league chairman Christopher White, and his wife, Tracy, were charged with grand theft in defrauding

900-497: Was the last living member until his death in 2005. His memories were vivid and his face lit up when he spoke about those past years he had played with the Greenjackets. One of his fondest memories was when “a bunch of guys came together to form a football team.” Dick would reminisce about how nice it was playing the Army team at Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester, Vermont . “They would feed the Greenjackets beans and homemade cornbread after

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