[3][4] The GDFL acts as an umbrella group that encompasses teams from across the Contiguous United States.

[6] The league have partnering agreements with the Elite Football League of India (EFLI)[7] and the Federación Deportiva Nacional de Fútbol Americano de Chile [es] (FDNFA)[8] for player development.

The league was first conceived in 2009 and formed in 2010, with Charles Thompson as the founder and first president, and with representatives of several regional semi-pro football teams, that had a plan to form a 32 team pro minor league.

[14] On October the league and Developmental Football International (DFI) announced joint-venture agreement, that "would strengthen the American developmental football landscape through stability, commercial growth and the professional development of club football in four main regions throughout the United States", with attempt to mirror the United Soccer League.

[16][17] In 2023 the league announced that the Watertown Red & Black - the oldest active football team in the United States - would be joining the league[18] and the Racine Raiders - the second oldest active semi-pro team in the United States and the semi-pro team with the most all-time franchise wins - would be joining the league.