5 things to know about the Duke City Gladiators, including teachers and moms getting in free this weekend

The Duke City Gladiators — Albuquerque’s professional indoor football team — are off to a rough 0-5 start. But the team has 11 games remaining, including six to be played at home in the Rio Rancho Events Center.

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or want to become one, here are five things to know:

Indoor Football League

The Duke City Gladiators play in the Indoor Football League, the largest and most popular indoor football organization. More than 150 players from the IFL have either had or gone on to have contracts with the NFL or the Canadian Football League.

The Gladiators joined the IFL and became part of the Western Conference in 2020.

Indoor football rules and strategies differ from the traditional American football game. The indoor football game is played 8-versus-8 on a field that is 85 feet (28 1/3 yards) wide and 50 yards long, with eight-yard end zones — all surrounded by padded walls which mark the bounds of play. In the IFL, four offensive players line up on the line of scrimmage against three defensive players, with one linebacker allowed to blitz on either size. Two of the eight offensive players can be in motion at the snap.

Another key difference is the kick game. On kickoffs, the kickers kick from the goal line. An untouched kickoff that goes out of bounds is placed on the 20-yard line or wherever the ball went out of bounds, depending on which is more favorable to the receiving team. If the kickoff passes through the uprights, the kicking team receives two points, and this is referred to as a “deuce.” The receiving team may return any kickoff, but if they are marked down in their end zone, the kicking team is awarded one point or a “rouge.” There is no punting in indoor football.

Homegrown talent

Native New Mexicans are on the Gladiators and a former Lobo football player is an assistant coach. Landrick Brody, a former running back for UNM and the current head football coach for West Mesa High, is the offensive coordinator for the Gladiators.

Linebacker Jayson Serda, in his 10th year with the Gladiators, played high school football at Manzano and in college at Eastern New Mexico. “I had other teams from different states hit me up to play, and it’s like, why would I want to go play somewhere else when I can play for my hometown team?” he said. Last year, Serda tore his Achilles tendon for the second time in three years but is back on the field this season.

NFL-caliber players

A few players on the 2024 Gladiators have played in the NFL. Defensive lineman Malik McDowell, who played at Michigan State, was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft. McDowell also played with the Cleveland Browns.

Another Gladiators defensive lineman, Roderick Perry, played at South Carolina State and the University of Illinois before making it to the NFL with the Seahawks. Perry said the pro experience gives him an advantage because he has been able to “build up that dog mentality … and be mentally strong.”

Owner Mama G

New Mexican Gina Thomas owns the Gladiators and is known by her nickname, “Mama G.” The first thing she did after taking control of the franchise in 2019 was to add the Zia symbol and New Mexico’s iconic turquoise color to the Gladiators’ logo.

Serda, and many other players, had high praise for Mama G.

“She takes care of us,” he said. “I’ve been around other programs in the past, and they don’t really take care of the players like Gina does.

Fun fact: Thomas’ favorite movie is “The Replacements,” which is about an involved football franchise owner who works closely with the coaches and players.

Weekend promotion

The Gladiators’ next game is Saturday against the San Antonio Gunslingers.

Young Albuquerque football players who wear their YAFL jersey are given free admission to all home games.

Also, in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week and Mother’s Day weekend, the Gladiators will allow teachers who wear a badge and all mothers to get into the game for free.