Video: Inside Look at 'The Firefighters' Playing on the 25th Anniversary of 9/11

On the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, The Firefighters and The Tailgaters faced off in Syracuse, NY, honoring fallen heroes with heartfelt tributes while sharing what it meant to them to play on such a night.

Ryan Baker

Sept. 12, 2026

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On the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, The Firefighters faced off with The Tailgaters as part of the Banana Ball Championship League at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse, NY.

While there were somber moments throughout the night, The Firefighters made sure every first responder involved in the tragedy was honored. The night was special: the team honored the 343 fallen FDNY firefighters by hanging photographs in each dugout, wearing their last names on their jerseys instead of their own, and taking moments of appreciation.

Several times during the game, the public address announcer asked the crowd to cheer, clap, and recognize 343 lives lost and all first responders. The crowd met that request repeatedly, each time louder than before.

This video includes exclusive interviews with head coach and retired firefighter Valerie Perez, players Jared Donalson, Caden Green, Mason Maxwell, Dakota McFadden, Marshall Shill, Brian Trepainer and Bradford Webb, plus amazing moments from the game.

The players talk about what playing on the anniversary means to them and their personal connections to it.

About the Author

Ryan Baker

Associate Editor

Ryan Baker is a writer and associate editor with prior experiences in online and print production. Ryan is an associate editor for Firehouse with a master's degree in sciences of communication from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He recently completed a year of teaching Intro to Public Speaking at UW-Whitewater, as part of his graduate program. Ryan acquired his bachelor's degree in journalism in 2023 from UW-Whitewater, and operates currently out of Minneapolis, MN. Baker, also writes freelances for the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA) in his free time, while also umpiring baseball for various ages across the Twin Cities Metro Area.

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