View source for Tampa Bay Storm

{{short description|Arena football team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox indoor American football team
| name = Tampa Bay Storm
| logo = TampaBayStorm.PNG
| founded = 1987
| folded = 2017
| city = [[Benchmark International Arena|Amalie Arena]]<br>in [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], [[Florida]]
| misc = [http://www.tampabaystorm.com TampaBayStorm.com]
| uniform = 
| colors = Blue, gold, white<br />{{Color box|#003F87}} {{Color box|#F0A804}} {{Color box|white}}
| coach = [[Ron James (American football)|Ron James]]
| owner = [[Tampa Bay Lightning|Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment]]
| chairman = [[Jeffrey Vinik]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arenafootball.com/news/lightning-nhl-owner-vinik-purchases-storm |title=Lightning (NHL) Owner, Vinik, Purchases Storm |date=January 13, 2011 |work=Arena Football League |access-date=January 13, 2011 |archive-date=March 31, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331012231/http://www.arenafootball.com/news/lightning-nhl-owner-vinik-purchases-storm |url-status=usurped }}</ref>
| president = [[Derrick Brooks]]
| general manager = 
| mascot = Storm Dawg
| nicknames = 
| league =
[[Arena Football League]] ({{AFL Year|1987}}–{{AFL Year|2017}})
*National Conference (1993–2008)
*American Conference (2010–2016)
**[[South Division (AFL)|South]] (1991, 1995–2008, 2010–2015)
| team_history =
* Pittsburgh Gladiators (1987–1990)
* Tampa Bay Storm (1991–2017)
| no_league_champs = 5
| no_conf_champs = 1
| no_div_champs = 5
| league_champs =[[ArenaBowl V|1991]], [[ArenaBowl VII|1993]], [[ArenaBowl IX|1995]], [[ArenaBowl X|1996]], [[ArenaBowl XVII|2003]]
| conf_champs = {{AFL Year|2010}}<br>
<small>Prior to 2005, the AFL did not have conference championship games</small>
| div_champs = 
*'''Southern:''' {{AFL Year|1995}}, {{AFL Year|1996}}, {{AFL Year|1998}}, {{AFL Year|1999}}, {{AFL Year|2003}}
| playoff_appearances = {{AFL Year|1987}}, {{AFL Year|1988}}, {{AFL Year|1989}}, {{AFL Year|1990}}, {{AFL Year|1991}}, {{AFL Year|1992}}, {{AFL Year|1993}}, {{AFL Year|1994}}, {{AFL Year|1995}}, {{AFL Year|1996}}, {{AFL Year|1997}}, {{AFL Year|1998}}, {{AFL Year|1999}}, {{AFL Year|2000}}, {{AFL Year|2001}}, {{AFL Year|2002}}, {{AFL Year|2003}}, {{AFL Year|2004}}, {{AFL Year|2005}}, {{AFL Year|2007}}, {{AFL Year|2010}}, {{AFL Year|2013}}, {{AFL Year|2016}}, {{AFL Year|2017}}
| no_playoff_appearances = 24
| arena_years = 
*[[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Civic Arena]] (1987–1990)
*[[Tropicana Field|ThunderDome]] (1991–1996)
*[[Benchmark International Arena|Amalie Arena]] (1997–2017)
}}

The '''Tampa Bay Storm''' were a professional [[arena football]] team based in [[Tampa]], [[Florida]], US. It  played in the [[Arena Football League]] (AFL).  Originally the team was located in [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]], and operated as the '''Pittsburgh Gladiators'''. The franchise was one of the original four that launched the [[Arena Football League]] for its inaugural season in 1987. The club was relocated to the  [[Tampa Bay area]] for the 1991 season, being the last of the original teams to either fold or leave its market.  After 26 years in the Tampa market, the team ceased operations in December 2017.

The team actually played outside Tampa in nearby [[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]] from 1991 to 1996, then in Tampa until 2008, after which point the AFL suspended operations and did not return until the 2010 season following the league's restructuring. It had been in the same city for longer than any other AFL team. During its tenure the franchise won five [[ArenaBowl]] championships. With 241 wins, the Storm had won far more games than any other team in AFL history. After the team dissolved in 2017, [[Indoor American football|indoor football]] in the [[Tampa Bay area]] was succeeded by the [[Tampa Bay Tornadoes]] who began to play in [[2021 Tampa Bay Tornadoes season|2021]] in the [[American Arena League]]. 

The club was last owned by [[Jeffrey Vinik]], also the owner of the [[National Hockey League|NHL]]'s [[Tampa Bay Lightning]]. Home games were played at [[Benchmark International Arena|Amalie Arena]] in Tampa.

==History==
The Storm holds the Arena Football League record for the longest tenure by a franchise in a single market area. It was also the last of the original four franchises (the [[Chicago Bruisers]], [[Denver Dynamite (Arena Football)|Denver Dynamite]] and [[Washington Commandos]] were the other three) to have operated in continuous existence from the formation of the league in 1987 until the present decade before ceasing operations.

===Pittsburgh Gladiators (1987–1990)===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:PittsburghGladiators.png|left|100px|Pittsburgh Gladiators Logo]] -->
When [[arena football]] was first announced in 1986, [[Jim Foster (arena football)|Jim Foster]] targeted [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] for an inaugural franchise due to the great football tradition of the area.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2202&dat=19860516&id=IcwlAAAAIBAJ&pg=1409,5135864 |title=Arena football: a whole new indoor ball game |date=May 16, 1986 |newspaper= Gettysburg Times |access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref> The franchise was originally known as the '''Pittsburgh Gladiators''', and was one of the original four AFL teams formed in [[1987 Arena Football League season|1987]]. The team was named by Robert Ninehouser whose entry for the team name was selected in 1987. They originally played their home games at the [[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Pittsburgh Civic Arena]] in Pittsburgh. On June 19, 1987, the Gladiators defeated the [[Washington Commandos]] 48–46 in the first ever AFL regular season game.<ref>{{cite news |author=Tuma |first=Gary |date=June 20, 1987 |title=Gladiators smashing in 48-46 win |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19870620&id=V-lRAAAAIBAJ&pg=5045,7032170 |access-date=September 19, 2013 |newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |via=Google News Archive}}</ref> The Gladiators participated in [[ArenaBowl]]s [[ArenaBowl I|I]]<ref>{{cite news |date=August 3, 1987 |title=Glads wilt in 'Bowl' |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=951SAAAAIBAJ&pg=3768,182848&dq=gary+mullen&hl=en |access-date=February 14, 2013 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |via=Google News Archive}}</ref> and [[ArenaBowl III|III]],<ref>{{cite news |date=August 18, 1989 |title=Drive Arena Bowl Champs |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CGciAAAAIBAJ&pg=4089,4385640&dq=pittsburgh+gladiators+detroit+drive&hl=en |access-date=September 20, 2013 |newspaper=The Argus-Press |via=Google News Archive}}</ref> losing both.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-02-sp-944-story.html |title=Arena Football League Championship : Taylor Leads Dynamite, 45-16 |date=August 2, 1987 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=September 20, 2013}}</ref>

===Moving to St. Petersburg (1991–1994)===
The team moved to [[St. Petersburg, Florida]] in [[1991 Arena Football League season|1991]], with the team taking on the "Storm" moniker. A [[Cleveland Gladiators|Cleveland]] Arena Football League franchise later bore the '''Gladiators''' name; however, other than the coincidental names the two organizations shared no link in histories.

The Storm won the ArenaBowl in its first season in Tampa Bay ([[ArenaBowl V|V]]) and has won four subsequent championships ([[ArenaBowl VII|VII]],<ref>{{cite news |date=August 22, 1993 |title=Tampa Bay tops Detroit for title |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19930822&id=uX1OAAAAIBAJ&pg=4063,2089972 |access-date=March 14, 2014 |newspaper=Star-News |via=Google News Archive}}</ref> [[ArenaBowl IX|IX]], [[ArenaBowl X|X]], and [[ArenaBowl XVII|XVII]]). Up to the 2006 season, the Storm had qualified for the playoffs in every season but one during their time in Tampa Bay.

[[File:TBStorm2.gif|thumb|left|100px|T.B. Storm Logo (1991–1996)]]
The team played in the former ThunderDome<ref>{{cite web |last=Davey |first=Monica |date=July 31, 1993 |title=That rumbling's not so distant |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1993/07/31/that-rumbling-s-not-so-distant/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |work=Tampa Bay Times |page=1B}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Buckley |first=Tim |date=October 10, 1993 |title=Lightning's spark? It was on the bench |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-lightnings-spark-it-wa/157139075/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |work=Tampa Bay Times |page=6C |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> in St. Petersburg (now called [[Tropicana Field]]) from 1991–[[1996 Arena Football League season|1996]], becoming its first regular team sports tenant.<ref name="spt940818">{{cite news |last=Mills |first=Roger |date=August 18, 1994 |title=Storm franchise for sale |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/08/18/storm-franchise-for-sale/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |page=1C |quote=Tampa Bay Storm owner Bob Gries said Wednesday that he intends to sell the franchise at the end of the season, but insisted the team would remain in the Tampa Bay area.}}</ref> Since [[1997 Arena Football League season|1997]], the team played its home games in the [[Benchmark International Arena|Amalie Arena]] in Tampa and previously known as the Ice Palace, St. Pete Times Forum, and Tampa Bay Times Forum.

===Tim Marcum era (1995–2010)===
After the 1994 season, Greis sold the team to Peter "Woody" Kern<ref name= ":0">{{cite web |url= https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/tampabaystormarenafootball/conversations/messages/6068|title=Team History| date=February 20, 2012| work= Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football |publisher= Yahoo!|access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref> for $850,000.<ref name= "Nucci">{{cite web |url= http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2007/12/Issue-66/Franchises/Rider-Of-The-Storm-AFL-Team-Introduces-Nucci-As-New-Owner.aspx?hl=Franchises&sc=0 |title=Rider Of The Storm: AFL Team Introduces Nucci As New Owner |date= December 14, 2007 |publisher= American City Business Journals |work= sportsbusinessdaily.com |access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> Kern's first move as the Storm owner was the hiring of coach [[Tim Marcum]],<ref name=":0" /> who is widely regarded as the greatest coach in arena football history.{{cn|date= December 2022}}

On March 14, 2002, Kern had the opportunity to sell the Storm, receiving an offer from Michigan mortgage broker Thom Hopper for what was then a record price of $12 million. Hopper submitted two payments totaling $1.6 million before Kern regained possession of the team. Later in 2006, Hopper pleaded guilty to federal [[wire fraud]] charges that authorities say resulted from his attempt to buy the Storm. He was sentenced in January to nearly three years in prison and ordered to pay at least $1.8 million in restitution to a title insurance company, according to media reports.

On December 23, 2004, ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''<ref>{{cite web| url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/pete_mcentegart/12/23/ten.spot/ | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20041230144005/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/pete_mcentegart/12/23/ten.spot/ | url-status= dead | archive-date= December 30, 2004 | title= The 10 Spot| first= Pete | last= McEntegart | work= Sports Illustrated| date= 2004-12-23| accessdate=}}</ref> reported that the AFL's players' union filed a [[grievance (labour)|grievance]] against the Storm. The reason was that seven of the Storm's players claimed that some of the [[diamond]]s in their 2003 AFL championship rings were fake. Six of the seven players had left the team after the 2003 season. The Storm acknowledged that some of the rings did, in fact, include cubic [[Zirconium dioxide|zirconia]] instead of diamonds, and that different players received greater amounts of diamonds in their rings based on their contributions that season.

The Storm ended the [[2006 Arena Football League season|2006 season]] with a 7–9 record (4th in their division), ending a 19-year streak of playoff appearances, dating back to their days as the Gladiators and the start of the [[Arena Football League]].

In December 2007, Kern sold 51% of his stake in the Storm to Robert Nucci for just over $9.6 million, while still maintaining control of the other 49%.<ref name="Nucci" /> The Storm followed a 9–7 season and first-round playoff exit in [[2007 Arena Football League season|2007]] with an 8–8 finish in [[2008 Arena Football League season|2008]]. The team salvaged the .500 record by defeating the [[Los Angeles Avengers]] 72–47 in Tampa. There was no 2009 Arena Football League season due to the league's ongoing financial difficulties, which resulted in its filing for [[Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 7 bankruptcy]], later converted to [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11]], leaving it uncertain if the Storm, arguably the most successful team in the history of any form of [[indoor American football|indoor football]], would ever play another game.

===New AFL (2010–2017)===
[[File:Tampastorm.png|thumb|left|100px|T.B. Storm Logo (1997–2011)]]
A new arena football league, originally called Arena Football 1, formed in 2009. The Storm was not one of the initial 16 teams announced. However, [[Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings]] owner Dan Newman mentioned that the Storm were one of at least two former AFL franchises that were being negotiated with, the other being the [[San Jose SaberCats]].<ref>{{cite news |date= |title=Arena Football 1 to launch in 2010 |url=https://www.espn.com/extra/afl/news/story?id=4512394 |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The new organization bought the rights to the [[intellectual property]], including the team names, logos, histories, and patented rules of the old AFL in a bankruptcy auction, which allowed it to function essentially as a full successor; after this action, the name Arena Football 1 was dropped and the group resumed operating as the Arena Football League. The Storm resumed full operations for the new league's 2010 season, with some players from the former roster, and once again coached by Tim Marcum and this time owned by Tampa Bay Storm Partners LLC, a group led by Todd Boren, a previous partner with the Orlando Predators and the Arizona Rattlers. The AFL released the schedule for the season on December 31, 2009. The Storm returned during the opening weekend of the season on April 3, 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://arenafootballone.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/New2010%20Week-by-Week.pdf | title=2010 Regular Season Schedule| website= arenafootballone.com.ismmedia.com | date=| publisher= | accessdate=}}</ref> On February 17, 2010, it was formally announced that the AF1 had adopted the former Arena Football League name.

[[File:Tampa Bay at Iowa 6.1.13.JPG|thumb|right|300px|The Storm playing against the [[Iowa Barnstormers]] during the 2013 season.]]

In the [[2010 Arena Football League season|2010 season]] the Storm went 11–5, finishing second in the South Division. In the playoffs, they earned a trip to [[ArenaBowl XXIII]], but lost to the [[Spokane Shock]] 57–69.

On February 17, 2011, Marcum would resign as head coach of the Storm less than a month before the [[2011 Arena Football League season|2011 season]] was to begin, after having the position for 15 years. He left as the AFL's all-time winningest head coach with 211 wins. [[Dave Ewart]] was named as the team's new head coach the next day.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2011/02/17/tim-marcum-resigns-after-15-seasons-with-the-storm |title=Tim Marcum Resigns After 15 Seasons With the Storm |date=February 17, 2011 |work=TampaBayStorm.com |access-date=February 17, 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227133432/http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2011/02/17/tim-marcum-resigns-after-15-seasons-with-the-storm/ |archive-date=February 27, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2011/02/17/storm-name-dave-ewart-head-coach |title=Storm Name Dave Ewart Head Coach |date=February 17, 2011 |work=TampaBayStorm.com| publisher= Tampa Bay Storm |access-date= February 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110301041010/http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2011/02/17/storm-name-dave-ewart-head-coach/ |archive-date=March 1, 2011 }}</ref> His resignation was sparked by an admission in a deposition related to a lawsuit he had filed against the Storm's previous owner, Robert Nucci. In that deposition, Marcum admitted to forwarding emails that were pornographic and racially tinged to other members of the Storm organization, using his work email address.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/storm/tampa-bay-storm-to-address-coachgm-tim-marcums-future/1152182 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20120918134149/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/storm/tampa-bay-storm-to-address-coachgm-tim-marcums-future/1152182 | url-status= dead | archive-date= September 18, 2012 | title=Tim Marcum Resigns | date= | first= | last= | website= TampaBay.com | publisher= | accessdate= }}</ref> In April 2011, former [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] linebacker [[Derrick Brooks]] became a part owner and the team president for the Storm.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/storm/derrick-brooks-to-become-tampa-bay-storm-president-part-owner/1163174 |title=Derrick Brooks to become Tampa Bay Storm president, part owner |date=April 12, 2011 | first= Rick | last= Stroud |newspaper= Tampa Bay Times |access-date= November 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130415225602/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/storm/derrick-brooks-to-become-tampa-bay-storm-president-part-owner/1163174 |archive-date=April 15, 2013 }}</ref> After a 7–4 start to the 2013 season, the Storm lost the final seven games of the season, but still qualified for the postseason.<ref name="Ewart fired">{{cite web |last=Wright |first=Brandon |date=August 6, 2013 |title=Storm fires head coach Dave Ewart |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/storm/storm-fires-head-coach-dave-ewart/2135025/ |access-date=January 9, 2014 |work=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref> The Storm played well in their playoff game, but came up just short against the [[Jacksonville Sharks]].<ref name="Ewart fired" /> The team's collapse lead to the firing of Ewart.<ref name="Ewart fired" /> One month later, the team announced they had promoted [[offensive coordinator]], and Storm legend [[Lawrence Samuels]] to the team's head coach.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wright |first=Brandon |date=September 5, 2013 |title=Storm taps Samuels as coach |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/storm/storm-taps-lawrence-samuels-as-new-coach/2140136/ |access-date=January 9, 2014 |work=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref> Samuels and the Storm mutually agreed to part ways in August 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2016 |title=Storm And Lawrence Samuels Mutually Agree To Separate |url=http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=pressrel&article=13367 |access-date=August 10, 2016 |website=arenafan.com}}</ref> On October 25, 2016, [[Ron James (American football)|Ron James]] was named the head coach.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=pressrel&article=13430 | title= Storm Names Ron James Head Coach | publisher= | work= arenafan.com | date= October 25, 2016 | access-date= October 25, 2016}}</ref> In 2017, the Storm finished the regular season with a 10–4 record and later advanced to [[ArenaBowl XXX]], where they lost to the [[Philadelphia Soul]] by a score of 44–40.<ref name="coty">{{cite web |date=August 25, 2017 |title=Tampa Bay's James Named Marcum-Moss Head Coach of the Year |url=http://www.arenafootball.com/articles/tampa-bays-james-named-marcum-moss-head-coach-of-the-year |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826204744/http://www.arenafootball.com/articles/tampa-bays-james-named-marcum-moss-head-coach-of-the-year |archive-date=August 26, 2017 |access-date=August 26, 2017 |work=arenafootball.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.arenafootball.com/articles/soul-snare-second-straight-foster-trophy-in-arenabowl-xxx | title=Soul Snare Second Straight Foster Trophy in ArenaBowl XXX | publisher= | work= arenafootball.com | access-date= August 27, 2017 | url-status=usurped | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170827235503/http://www.arenafootball.com/articles/soul-snare-second-straight-foster-trophy-in-arenabowl-xxx | archive-date=August 27, 2017 }}</ref>

In December 2017, the Storm announced it was ceasing operations due to increasing operating costs combined with decreasing team revenue. Ownership did not rule out future participation in a "stronger, reinvented AFL."<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/2017/12/21/tampa-bay-storm-suspending-operations/| title= Tampa Bay Storm suspending operations| last=Smith|first=Joe|date=December 21, 2017|work= Tampa Bay Times}}</ref> The Storm was the last of the original four AFL teams to cease operations.

==Storm highlights==
[[File:Kay directing the Storm defense.jpg|thumb|320px|The Storm in 2017]]

* In a 1996 playoff game against the Arizona Rattlers the Storm had the lead late in the game, but the Rattlers came down the field and scored a touchdown with little time left on the clock. Rather than try to tie the game with an extra point, Rattlers coach [[Danny White]] elected to go for the win with the two-point conversion. Quarterback [[Sherdrick Bonner]] was stopped short and the Storm won the game. On the AFL's 20 Greatest Highlights this is ranked at number 10.
* During a 1991 regular season game, the Storm found themselves down 17 points against the Albany Firebirds. However, they rallied late in the game to take a 57–53 lead. But it wasn't over yet as the Firebirds had five seconds left to come up with the touchdown from midfield. The Storm won the game with an interception off the nets. On the AFL's 20 Greatest Highlights Countdown, this is ranked #8.
* [[ArenaBowl V]] found the Detroit Drive hosting the Tampa Bay Storm. With seconds left in the game, quarterback [[Jay Gruden]] threw deep to Stevie Thomas in the endzone. It was complete, and the Storm won the ArenaBowl. On the AFL's 20 Greatest Highlights Countdown, this is ranked number 5.
* Stevie Thomas saves the Storm: During a 1995 semifinal game between Albany and Tampa Bay, Albany took a late one-point lead with seconds left on the clock. On the ensuing kickoff the Storm couldn't field the ball off the nets and Stevie Thomas found himself in the very back of the endzone. Thomas broke five tackles at once coming out of the endzone and went all the way for a touchdown to give the Storm the win 56–49. They later went on to capture their 3rd ArenaBowl in 5 years. On the AFL's 20 Greatest Highlights Countdown, this is at #2.
* On March 16, 2012, the Storm became the first AFL team to win 200 games in league history with a 50–47 victory over the [[Georgia Force]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Ivie |first=Erie R. |date=March 17, 2012 |title=Tampa Bay Storm Notch 200th Victory in Franchise History |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/arena/news/;_ylt=?slug=ycn-11115378 |access-date=November 15, 2013 |work=Yahoo!}}</ref>
*The Storm had a heated rivalry with the [[Orlando Predators]] known as the [[War on I-4 (arena football)|War on I-4]]. Both teams found success and faced each other in the ArenaBowl and playoffs numerous times.

==Players==

{{seealso|Category:Tampa Bay Storm players}}

===Retired numbers===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
| colspan="5" style= "background: #003F87; color: #FFFFFF" | '''Tampa Bay Storm retired numbers'''
|-
! width=40px  style="background: #F0A804; color: #003F87"  |N°
! width=150px style="background: #F0A804; color: #003F87" |Player
! width=40px style="background: #F0A804; color: #003F87" |Position
! width=80px style="background: #F0A804; color: #003F87" |Seasons
! width=50px style="background: #F0A804; color: #003F87" |Ref.
|-
| '''7''' || [[Jay Gruden]] || [[Quarterback|QB]] || 1991–1996 || <ref>{{cite web |date=June 10, 2002 |title=Gruden's Jersey Out Of Retirement |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2002/06/10/grudens-jersey-out-of-retirement/ |access-date=December 9, 2013 |work=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref>
|-
| '''20''' || [[Stevie Thomas]] || [[Wide receiver|WR]]/[[Linebacker|LB]] || 1991–1999 || <ref name="honors">{{cite web |date=March 6, 2012 |title=Three Storm Greats to be Honored |url=http://www.tampabaystorm.com/news/detail/afl-hall-of-fame-induction-to-be-held-march-8 |access-date=December 9, 2013 |work=Tampa Bay Storm }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
| '''22''' || [[Lawrence Samuels]] || [[Wide receiver|WR]]/[[Linebacker|LB]] || 1995–2000, 2002–2010 || <ref>{{cite web |author=Eric R. Ivie |date=April 12, 2012 |title=Tampa Bay Storm to Honor Legends on April 30 |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/arena/news?slug=ycn-11225476 |access-date=August 7, 2013 |work=Yahoo!}}</ref>
|-
| '''24''' || [[Tracey Perkins]] || [[Defensive specialist|DS]] || 1991–1999 || <ref>{{cite web |author=Frank Pastor |date=June 9, 2002 |title=Jersey issue spices up rivalry |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2002/06/09/news_pf/Sports/Jersey_issue_spices_u.shtml |access-date=December 9, 2013 |work=St. Petersburg Times}}</ref>
|-
| '''25''' || [[George LaFrance]] || [[Offensive Specialist|OS]] || 1994–1999 || <ref name="honors" />
|-
| '''76''' || [[Al Lucas (American football)|Al Lucas]] || [[Defensive lineman|DL]] || 2003 || <ref>{{Cite press release |title=Storm To Remember Lucas This Weekend |date=2005-04-26 |publisher=Tampa Bay Storm |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/storm-to-remember-lucas-this-weekend/n-3152891 |language=en-US |via=OurSports Central |access-date=2025-04-08}}</ref>
|-
| '''78''' || [[Sylvester Bembery]] || [[Offensive lineman|OL]]/[[Defensive lineman|DL]] || 1994–1999, 2001 || <ref name="honors" />
|}

===Arena Football Hall of Famers===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="5" style="background: #003F87; color: #FFFFFF"| Tampa Bay Storm Hall of Famers
|-
!style="background: #F0A804; color: #003F87" |No.
!style="background: #F0A804; color: #003F87" |Name
!style="background: #F0A804; color: #003F87" |Year Inducted
!style="background: #F0A804; color: #003F87" |Position(s)
!style="background: #F0A804; color: #003F87" |Years w/ Storm
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 78 || '''[[Sylvester Bembery]]''' || style="text-align:center;"| 2011 || style="text-align:center;"|[[Offensive lineman|OL]]/[[Defensive lineman|DL]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1994–1999<br>2001
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 30 || '''[[Andre Bowden]]''' || style="text-align:center;"| 2014 || style="text-align:center;"| [[Fullback (gridiron football)|FB]]/[[Linebacker|LB]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1991–1993<br>1997–2001<br>2003–2004
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 7 || '''[[Jay Gruden]]''' || style="text-align:center;"| 1999 || style="text-align:center;"|[[Quarterback|QB]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1991–1996
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 25 || '''[[George LaFrance]]''' || style="text-align:center;"| 2011 || style="text-align:center;"|[[Offensive Specialist|OS]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1994–1999
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| -- || '''[[Joe March]]''' || style="text-align:center;"| 2000 || style="text-align:center;"|[[Offensive lineman|OL]]/[[Defensive lineman|DL]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1993–1996
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| -- || '''[[Tim Marcum]]''' || style="text-align:center;"| 1998 || style="text-align:center;"|[[Head coach]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1995–2010
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 22 || '''[[Lawrence Samuels]]''' || style="text-align:center;"| 2013 || style="text-align:center;"|[[Wide receiver|WR]]/[[Linebacker|LB]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1994–2000<br>2002–2010
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|  || [[Omarr Smith]] || style="text-align:center;"| 2014 || style="text-align:center;"|[[Wide receiver|WR]]/[[Defensive back|DB]] || style="text-align:center;"| 2003
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 20 || '''[[Stevie Thomas]]''' || style="text-align:center;"| 2011 || style="text-align:center;"|[[Wide receiver|WR]]/[[Defensive back|DB]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1991–1999
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 54 || '''[[Craig Walls]]''' || style="text-align:center;"| 1998 || style="text-align:center;"|[[Offensive lineman|OL]]/[[Defensive lineman|DL]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1987–1988
|}

===Individual awards===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#003F87; color:#FFFFFF;"| '''AFL MVP'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Season   
!  style="width:150px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Position
|-
|{{AFL Year|1987}}||[[Russell Hairston]]||[[Wide receiver|WR]]/[[Defensive back|DB]]
|-
|{{AFL Year|1992}}||[[Jay Gruden]]||[[Quarterback|QB]]
|-
|{{AFL Year|2017}}||[[Randy Hippeard]]||[[Quarterback|QB]]
|}

{{col-3}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#003F87; color:#FFFFFF;"| '''AFL Defensive Player of the Year'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Season   
!  style="width:150px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Position
|-
|{{AFL Year|1997}}||[[Tracey Perkins]]||[[Defensive specialist|DS]]
|-
|{{AFL Year|1998}}||[[Johnnie Harris (American football)|Johnnie Harris]]||[[Defensive specialist|DS]]
|}

{{col-3}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#003F87; color:#FFFFFF;"| '''Ironman of the Year'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Season   
!  style="width:150px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Position
|-
|{{AFL Year|1990}}||[[Thomas Monroe (arena football)|Thomas Monroe]]||[[Wide receiver|WR]]/[[Defensive back|DB]]
|}
{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#003F87; color:#FFFFFF;"| '''AFL Rookie of the Year'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Season   
!  style="width:150px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Position
|-
|{{AFL Year|1999}}||[[Charles Wilson (American football)|Charles Wilson]]||[[Offensive Specialist|OS]]
|-
|{{AFL Year|2007}}||[[Brett Dietz]]||[[Quarterback|QB]]
|}

{{col-3}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#003F87; color:#FFFFFF;"| '''ArenaBowl MVP Winners'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| ArenaBowl   
!  style="width:150px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Position
|-
|[[ArenaBowl V|V]]||[[Stevie Thomas]]||[[Wide receiver|WR]]/[[Linebacker|LB]]
|-
|[[ArenaBowl VII|VII]]||[[Jay Gruden]]||[[Quarterback|QB]]
|-
|[[ArenaBowl IX|IX]]||[[George LaFrance]]||[[Offensive Specialist|OS]]
|-
|[[ArenaBowl X|X]]||[[Stevie Thomas]]||[[Wide receiver|WR]]/[[Linebacker|LB]]
|-
|[[ArenaBowl XVII|XVII]]||[[Lawrence Samuels]]||[[Wide receiver|WR]]/[[Linebacker|LB]]
|}

{{col-3}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#003F87; color:#FFFFFF;"| '''Lineman of the Year'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Season   
!  style="width:150px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Position
|-
|{{AFL Year|1996}}||[[Kent Wells]]||[[Offensive lineman|OL]]/[[Defensive lineman|DL]]
|}
{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#003F87; color:#FFFFFF;"| '''Defensive Lineman of the Year'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Season   
!  style="width:150px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Position
|-
|{{AFL Year|2011}}||[[Cliff Dukes]]||[[Defensive lineman|DL]]
|}

{{col-3}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#003F87; color:#FFFFFF;"| '''AFL Playmaker of the Year'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Season   
!  style="width:150px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Position
|-
|{{AFL Year|2017}}||[[Kendrick Ings]]||[[Wide receiver|WR]]
|}

{{col-3}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#003F87; color:#FFFFFF;"| '''AFL Offensive Player of the Year'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Season   
!  style="width:150px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Position
|-
|{{AFL Year|2017}}||[[Randy Hippeard]]||[[Quarterback|QB]]
|}
{{col-end}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="3" style="background:#003F87; color:#FFFFFF;" | '''Wide Receiver of the Year'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Season   
!  style="width:150px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#F0A804; color:#003F87;"| Position
|-
|{{AFL Year|2017}}||[[Joe Hills (American football)|Joe Hills]]||[[Wide receiver|WR]]
|}

===All-Arena players===
The following Gladiators/Storm players were named to [[All-Arena]] Teams:
* '''QB''' [[Willie Totten]] (1), [[Jay Gruden]] (2), [[Peter Tom Willis]] (1), [[Brett Dietz]] (1)
* '''FB/LB''' [[Lynn Bradford]] (1), [[Andre Bowden]] (3), [[Cedric McKinnon]] (1), [[Les Barley]] (1)
* '''WR''' [[Joe Hills (arena football)|Joe Hills]] (1), [[T. T. Toliver]] (1)
* '''WR/DB''' [[Russell Hairston]] (1), [[Mike Stoops]] (1), [[Alvin Williams (American football)|Alvin Williams]] (1), [[Thomas Monroe (arena football)|Thomas Monroe]] (1), [[Julius Dawkins]] (1), [[Melvin Cunningham]] (1)
* '''WR/LB''' [[Stevie Thomas]] (1), [[Lawrence Samuels]] (4)
* '''OL''' [[Tom Kaleita]] (1), [[George Bussey]] (1)
* '''DL''' [[Tim McGill]] (3), [[Jermaine Smith]] (1)
* '''OL/DL''' [[Craig Walls]] (2), [[Keith Browner]] (1), [[Tom Gizzi]] (1), [[Deatrich Wise]] (1), [[Kent Wells]] (2), [[Willie Wyatt]] (4), [[Sylvester Bembery]] (2), [[Rod Williams (American football)|Rod Williams]] (1), [[B. J. Cohen]] (1), [[Nyle Wiren]] (1)
* '''LB''' [[Lawrence Samuels]] (1), [[Cliff Dukes]] (2)
* '''DB''' [[James Harrell (defensive back)|James Harrell]] (1)
* '''K''' [[Matt Black (arena football)|Matt Black]] (1)
* '''DS''' [[Corey Dowden]] (1), [[Tracey Perkins]] (2), [[Johnnie Harris (American football)|Johnnie Harris]] (1), [[Tommy Henry (American football)|Tommy Henry]] (1), [[Omarr Smith]] (1)
* '''OS/KR''' [[Stevie Thomas]] (1), [[James Bowden (American football)|James Bowden]] (1)

===All-Ironman players===
The following Gladiators/Storm players were named to All-Ironman Teams: 
* '''FB/LB''' [[Les Barley]] (1), [[Andre Bowden]] (1), [[Torrance Marshall]] (1)
* '''WR/DB''' [[T. T. Toliver]] (1)
* '''WR/LB''' [[Lawrence Samuels]] (4)
* '''OL/DL''' [[B. J. Cohen]] (1)

===All-Rookie players===
The following Gladiators/Storm players were named to All-Rookie Teams:
* '''QB''' [[Brett Dietz]]
* '''OL/DL''' [[Al Lucas (American football)|Al Lucas]]
* '''OS''' [[Charles Wilson (American football)|Charles Wilson]]
* '''DS''' [[Tommy Henry (American football)|Tommy Henry]]
* '''K''' [[Matt Huerkamp]]

==Head coaches==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:140px;"|Name
! rowspan="2" | Term
! colspan="3" | Regular season
! colspan="2" | Playoffs
! rowspan="2" | Awards
|-
! W
! L
! Win%
! W
! L
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|Joe Haering<ref>{{cite web |title=ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Joe Haering |url=http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=coaches&coach=14 |access-date=October 25, 2008 |work=ArenaFan}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Year|1987}}–{{AFL Year|1990}}
| style="text-align:center;"|15
| style="text-align:center;"|13
| style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|15|13}}
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|3
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|Darrel Jackson<ref>{{cite web |title=ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Darrel Jackson |url=http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=coaches&coach=19 |access-date=October 25, 2008 |work=ArenaFan}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Year|1989}}
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|1|1}}
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Fran Curci]]<ref>{{cite web |title=ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Fran Curci |url=http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=coaches&coach=5 |access-date=October 25, 2008 |work=ArenaFan}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Year|1991}}
| style="text-align:center;"|8
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|8|2}}
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Marcum-Moss Head Coach of the Year|AFL Coach of the Year]] ({{AFL Year|1991}}), [[ArenaBowl]] winning coach <small>([[ArenaBowl V|V]]).</small>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Lary Kuharich]]<ref>{{cite web |title=ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Lary Kuharich |url=http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=coaches&coach=25 |access-date=October 25, 2008 |work=ArenaFan}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Year|1992}}–{{AFL Year|1994}}
| style="text-align:center;"|25
| style="text-align:center;"|9
| style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|25|9}}
| style="text-align:center;"|4
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|[[ArenaBowl]] winning coach <small>([[ArenaBowl VII|VII]])</small>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Tim Marcum]]<ref>{{cite web |title=ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Tim Marcum |url=http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=coaches&coach=26 |access-date=October 25, 2008 |work=ArenaFan}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Year|1995}}–{{AFL Year|2010}}
| style="text-align:center;"|140
| style="text-align:center;"|77
| style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|140|77}}
| style="text-align:center;"|16
| style="text-align:center;"|10
| style="text-align:center;"|2× [[Marcum-Moss Head Coach of the Year|AFL Coach of the Year]] ({{AFL Year|1987}}, [[1998 Arena Football League season|1998]]), 3× ArenaBowl winning coach ([[ArenaBowl IX|IX]], [[ArenaBowl X|X]], [[ArenaBowl XVII|XVII]]), AFL Hall of Fame (1998), Founder's Award winner ([[2001 Arena Football League season|2001]])
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Dave Ewart]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=coaches&coach=8 |title=ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Dave Ewart |publisher=ArenaFan |work=www.arenafan.com |access-date=October 25, 2008}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Year|2005}}–{{AFL Year|2006}}, {{AFL Year|2011}}–{{AFL Year|2013}}
| style="text-align:center;"|25
| style="text-align:center;"|34
| style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|25|34}}
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Lawrence Samuels]]<ref>{{cite web |title=ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Lawrence Samuels |url=http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=coaches&coach=102 |access-date=October 24, 2013 |work=ArenaFan}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Year|2014}}–{{AFL Year|2016}}
| style="text-align:center;"|17
| style="text-align:center;"|35
| style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|17|35}}
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Ron James (American football)|Ron James]]<ref>{{cite web |title=ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Ron James |url=http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=coaches&coach=77 |access-date=October 25, 2016 |work=ArenaFan}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Year|2017}}
| style="text-align:center;"|10
| style="text-align:center;"|4
| style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|10|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Marcum-Moss Head Coach of the Year|AFL Coach of the Year]] ({{AFL Year|2017}})
|}

==Cheerleaders==
The Storm created an official cheerleading squad called the "Storm Cheerleaders."<ref>{{cite web |title=Storm Cheerleaders |url=http://www.tampabaystorm.com/cheerleaders |access-date=December 10, 2013 |work=Tampa Bay Storm |archive-date=December 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214055329/http://www.tampabaystorm.com/cheerleaders |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Radio and television==
The Tampa Bay Storm games were broadcast on Storm Radio, which was on 1250-AM [[WHNZ]]. The final radio play-by-play announcer was [[Darek Sharp]], who was also a producer and broadcaster for AM 620 WDAE, and the radio color commentator was [[Ian Beckles]].

==Season-by-season==
{{main|List of Tampa Bay Storm seasons}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tampabaystorm.com/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603172429/http://www.tampabaystorm.com/ |date=2008-06-03 }}
* [http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=clubhouse&team=12 Tampa Bay Storm at ArenaFan]
* [http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=history&team=5 Pittsburgh Gladiators at ArenaFan]

{{Tampa Bay Storm}}
{{Navboxes|title=Championship navigation boxes|titlestyle=background:#003F87; color:#F0A804|list1=
{{ArenaBowl V}}
{{ArenaBowl VII}}
{{ArenaBowl IX}}
{{ArenaBowl X}}
{{ArenaBowl XVII}}
}}
{{Defunct Arena Football League franchises}}
{{Pittsburgh sports}}

[[Category:Tampa Bay Storm| ]]
[[Category:American football teams established in 1987]]
[[Category:2017 disestablishments in Florida]]
[[Category:1987 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:American football teams disestablished in 2017]]