The Grand Rapids Rampage franchise dates all the way back to the Arena Football League’s first game in 1987. Originally the Washington Commandos, the team became the Detroit Drive in 1988 and, in 1994, became the Massachusetts Marauders for one season. Three years later, DP Fox Ventures, L.L.C. bought the team and moved it to Grand Rapids. Only the Tampa Bay Storm (then the Pittsburgh Gladiators) join the Rampage in claiming ties to the AFL’s inaugural season.

1987

June 19 - The Washington Commandos and Pittsburgh Gladiators play in the AFL’s first-ever regular-season game, with the Gladiators coming out on top, 48-46. 

1988-94

The Commandos move to Detroit and become the “Drive”. The Drive advance to the ArenaBowl in each of their six seasons in the league before moving to Worcester, Mass., to become the Marauders in 1994. The Marauders play just one season before becoming the Grand Rapids Rampage in 1997. 

1997

October 9 - DP Fox Ventures, L.L.C. purchases the defunct Massachusetts Marauders.

November 19 - Michael Trigg is hired as the first Rampage head coach.

November 25 - The name and logo of the Grand Rapids Rampage are unveiled.

December 16 - The Rampage sign their first three players, former Michigan Wolverines Eddie Davis, Walter Smith and Buster Stanley.  

1998 

April 18 - Grand Rapids drops a 53-32 decision in its first-ever game, a preseason tilt against the Houston ThunderBears at the Compaq Center in Houston.

April 23 - 9,036 turn out at Van Andel Arena for the Rampage’s first-ever home game, a 30-18 preseason victory over the Portland Forest Dragons.

May 1 - The Rampage’s first regular-season game sees them fall, 42-27, on the road to the Orlando Predators.

May 8 - A sellout crowd of 10,618 packs Van Andel Arena for the Rampage’s first regular-season home game. The crowd cheers the Rampage to its first win, a 45-27 triumph over the Iowa Barnstormers.

August 22 - Rampage owner Dan DeVos is honored as the AFL’s Executive of the Year.   

1999

July 23 - The Rampage clinch their first AFL playoff berth with a 55-48 defeat of visiting Houston.

August 7 - In their first-ever playoff game, the sixth-seeded Rampage pull within three points of the host Albany Firebirds with 22 seconds remaining, but the home team holds on for a 55-45 win.  

2000

April 15 - Michael Baker becomes the fourth player in league history to accumulate 4,000 receiving and 4,000 return yards for his career in a 51-31 win over the Los Angeles Avengers.

August 19 - Three members of the Rampage are honored by the AFL. Michael Baker earns the Al Lucas Hero Award for his impact in the Grand Rapids community, while Brian Gowins (AFL All-Rookie Team) and Jeff Henderson (Equipment Manager of Year) are also recognized. 

2001

February 24 - The Rampage christen The Soccer Spot, their state-of-the-art indoor practice facility, with a public flag football tournament.

July 7 - The Rampage secure their first-ever home playoff game and establish franchise records with their ninth win and fifth home win by defeating Chicago, 79-58, at Van Andel Arena.

July 14 - Brian Gowins’ 42-yard field goal as the clock expires clinches the Rampage’s first Central Division championship and an opening-round playoff bye, as Grand Rapids defeats the Oklahoma Wranglers, 72-70.

August 5 - The Rampage earn their first playoff victory in franchise history and advance to the AFL’s semifinals with a 53-21 defeat of the Chicago Rush.

August 12 - Grand Rapids becomes the first top seed to advance to the ArenaBowl since 1998 thanks to a resounding 83-70 victory over the Indiana Firebirds.

August 17 - Five members of the Rampage are honored by the AFL. After leading the Rampage to the league’s best regular-season record, Michael Trigg is chosen as the AFL’s Coach of the Year. Brian Gowins is named AFL Kicker of the Year and JoJo Polk is presented with the league’s Most Inspirational Award following his miraculous recovery from a broken neck. Clint Dolezel, Michael Baker and Gowins are also named to the All-Arena Second Team.

August 19 - Three months after being plucked off the unemployment line, Terrill Shaw completes a rags-to-riches story by lifting the Rampage to the ArenaBowl XV championship, defeating the Nashville Kats, 64-42. Shaw was named the game’s MVP after catching an ArenaBowl record five touchdowns.

August 23 - The Kent County Board of Commissioners proclaim August 23, 2001, as Grand Rapids Rampage Day in Kent County. 

2002

April 20 - In front of a sold-out Van Andel Arena, the Rampage raise their ArenaBowl XV championship banner and open the season with a 49-45 victory over rival Detroit.

December 18 - Michael Baker retires from the Arena Football League as one of only five players in AFL history to log 5,000 career receiving yards and 5,000 return yards.   

2003 

August 6 - Michael Trigg steps down as Rampage head coach to become the head coach of the expansion Philadelphia Soul. 

August 21 - Former Okalahoma Wranglers head coach Bob Cortese is introduced as the team’s second head coach. 

2004 

April 26 - Bob Cortese steps down as head coach/director of football operations after starting 1-10. Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Rick Frazier is named interim head coach.

August 13 - Former Rampage offensive coordinator Sparky McEwen is named the fourth head coach in team history.

2005

February 5 - Michael Bishop becomes the first player in AFL history to rush for 100 yards in a game as he runs six times for 100 yards and two touchdowns in a Rampage 72-56 loss to Colorado.

May 15 - Michael Bishop becomes the first player in AFL history with 3,000 passing yards and 300 rushing yards in the same season, as the Rampage knock off division rival Chicago, 51-40. 

May 21 - Grand Rapids closes out the 2005 season by beating the Los Angeles Avengers, 71-65. Michael Bishop sets the AFL single-season mark for rushing yards (459), the Rampage as a team set the AFL single-season rushing record with 766 yards and Damon Mason shatters the AFL single-season tackle mark with 133.5 stops.

2006

May 13 – Timon Marshall becomes the AFL’s 2006 leader in all-purpose yards when he becomes the first player ever in AFL history to achieve 1,300 yards in both receiving and kick returns.

2007

March 4 – Team kicks off 10th Anniversary Season with a 44-42 road victory over the Colorado Crush.

May 26 – Timon Marshall returns a kickoff for a touchdown in Grand Rapids come-from-behind 54-52 victory over the Colorado Crush. The return marked Marshall’s ninth miscellaneous score (six kickoff returns, three fumble recoveries) of the season, tying an AFL record.

August 1 – Rampage name former Georgia Force offensive coordinator Steve Thonn as their fifth head coach in team history.