Bellingham’s long history with minor league football teams began 95 years ago.
Bellingham Buttercups played from 1930–31.
Bellingham Steamrollers competed in 1931.
Bellingham Jets had a team from 1963–65.
Bellingham Eagles played in the Greater Northwest Football Association from 1997–2001; created so Western could recruit to its team. During its five-year span, the Eagles went 23-28.
The Northwest Avalanche were formed in 2005 and went 3-16 in two seasons before folding for financial reasons.
Whatcom Raiders were founded in 2007. The Raiders were the first team to win a title in Whatcom County, taking the 2007 Cascade Football League championship. The team merged with the Bulldogs in 2012 for financial reasons.
Bellingham Bulldogs were created in 2008 and lasted until 2016. The Bulldogs have been the most successful winning minor league football franchise in the county. With mostly Western players, the Bulldogs went 74-32, won the North American Northwest Conference twice and reached the national championship game in 2010. The Bulldogs had a handful of players with professional football experience over the years, including former Western alum and Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowl long snapper Matt Overton, Montreal Alouettes’ Ryan Lucas and Super Bowl champion Sam Adams. The Bulldogs suspended operations in 2017 and never made it back on the field.
Bellingham Blitz were crosstown rivals from 2009–11 but combined with the Bulldogs after the team’s third season.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
