Chad E. Dukes was a standout three-sport athlete at Colonie High School, excelling in football, basketball, and track & field. He earned All-State honors, was named Section 2 Player of the Year, and helped lead the Raiders to a Section 2 Championship. He also won the Long Jump at the prestigious Eddy Meet. Dukes began his college football career at Dean College, where he was later inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. He transferred to the University of Pittsburgh, earning Academic All-American honors while making on-field contributions. Dukes played 12 seasons of professional football in both the National Football League (NFL) and Arena Football League (AFL). His NFL career included time with the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Rams, and Carolina Panthers. In the AFL, he played for several teams, including the Albany Firebirds and Colorado Crush. He was named AFL Ironman of the Year in 1998 and helped the Crush win the 2005 Arena Bowl. In 2009, he returned to Albany as a Firebirds assistant coach.Off the field, Dukes is employed in a leadership role with the New York State Office of Special Investigations (OSI). A 2011 Capital Region Football Hall of Fame inductee, he is also the proud brother of 2025 inductee Chuck Dukes.