Albany Empire Secure Veteran Quarterback for First Signing of 2019

Monday March 4, 2019

 2018 MVP Tommy Grady to Return to Albany for Upcoming Season

ALBANY, NY- The Albany Empire announce that 2018 League MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and First Team All-Arena quarterback, Tommy Grady, has been assigned to the team. Per League and team rules, terms are not disclosed.

“Knowing that Tommy Grady is returning to Albany immediately puts us in a position to compete for a championship,” said Rob Keefe, Head Coach of the Albany Empire. “His leadership is a vital part of our success, and I have no doubts that he will continue his dominance from a year ago. He is a great teacher both on and off the field, and his presence in the huddle instills confidence in the entire offense.”

Grady spent 2018 with the Empire during the team’s inaugural season, leading Albany to an 8-4 record and the top seed in the playoffs. The veteran quarterback threw for 81 touchdowns and 2,960 yards, leading the League in both categories. With Grady at the helm last season, the Empire boasted the League’s most explosive offense, leading the AFL in total touchdowns, points, and points per game. Grady earned his second career MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards as he padded his already historic career numbers.

"I am extremely excited to be back with the Empire for the team’s second season,” said Grady. “I am looking forward to building on what we started last year and once again competing for an ArenaBowl Championship. My family and I have made Albany our home and we are amazed by what a great community this is and thankful for all of the support from the fans and the Empire.”

Aside from his efforts on the field, Grady is constantly out in the community giving back to Empire fans for their support. From fundraisers to reading books in elementary school classrooms, Grady is always looking to be a positive role model within the Capital Region community. During the offseason, Grady worked at the Center for Disability Services and will continue to keep in contact with the organization throughout the season.

Grady began his professional indoor football career with the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgs (AF2) in 2009 before transitioning to the AFL two years later. Grady was assigned to the Utah Blaze in 2011 and made an immediate impact throwing for 107 touchdowns. The following season, Grady posted the greatest single season for a quarterback in league history. He threw for 142 touchdowns and 5,863 yards, both single season records. He also tossed 12 touchdowns in a game against the Cleveland Gladiators during that season, a single game record. He was named First Team All-Arena, League MVP, and AFL Offensive Player of the Year. After his historic season, Grady was moved to the Pittsburgh Power, where he played for one season and racked up 115 touchdowns. Grady then moved on to the Jacksonville Sharks where he led the team to the ArenaBowl in 2015 and Conference Championship in 2016 where they lost to the eventual champions, Philadelphia Soul.

In Grady’s career, he is in the top 10 all-time in many offensive statistical categories for the Arena Football League. He has amassed 34,944 passing yards, 782 touchdowns and just 118 interceptions.

Fans can secure season tickets for the Albany Empire by calling 518-533-2200, by going to TheAlbanyEmpire.com, or by stopping by the Empire office located in the Times Union Center. A limited number of great seats are still available! Want to bring your organization to a game, fundraise, or perform on the field? Group experiences are now on sale. Call 518-533-2200 for additional information.

Albany Empire 2019 Season Presented By CDPHP.

About Albany Empire

Season memberships for the 2019 season are on sale now. For tickets, contact the Albany Empire sales department at (518) 533-2200 or by going to TheAlbanyEmpire.com. Follow the team on Facebook at facebook.com/TheAlbanyEmpire and Twitter at twitter.com/Albany_Empire.

About the Arena Football League

The Arena Football League enters its 32nd season in 2019. Since its inception in 1987, the AFL showcases a fast-paced, exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets. With the addition of two new teams in Atlantic City, N.J., and Columbus, O.H., the League totals six teams for 2019: Albany, Atlantic City, Columbus, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. Each team will play 12 regular-season games in 2019. One can find the League can on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using the handle @OfficialAFL.

About Times Union Center

Albany’s Times Union Center, formerly Pepsi Arena, continues to have great success. Renamed in January 2007, the Times Union Center is “Upstate New York’s Premier Sports and Entertainment Facility. Owned by Albany County and operated by SMG, the world’s largest private management firm for public assembly facilities, the Times Union Center has an adaptable seating capacity between 6,000 and 17,500. Since Frank Sinatra christened the building on January 30, 1990, more than seven million patrons have walked through the turnstiles. As a multi-purpose facility, the Times Union Center has hosted a variety of events, including concerts, family shows and sporting events, averaging 165 events each year.

About CDPHP®

Established in 1984, CDPHP is a physician-founded, member-focused and community-based not-for-profit health plan that offers high-quality affordable health insurance plans to members in 26 counties throughout New York. CDPHP is also on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram.

About Transfinder

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Schenectady, New York, Transfinder is a national leader in intelligent transportation systems, providing transportation management systems and services to school districts, municipalities and adult care facilities. Transfinder, an Inc. magazine “fastest-growing company” for the past eleven straight years, has offices in Austin, Texas, and Shanghai, China. The software company develops and supports routing and scheduling solutions for optimal transportation logistics. http://transfinder.com