The University of Canberra Firebirds Gridiron club was formed in 1993 to compete in the inaugural season of the ACT Gridiron league. It was one of five clubs originally formed for the Seniors competition.
In only their second season, the Firebirds would claim the club's first championship, finishing the regular season undefeated and capping it with a victory over the Belconnen Thunderbolts in Capital Bowl II.
They club followed this with an 11-year championship drought, despite winning minor premierships in 1997, 2000 and 2004 and appearing in grand finals in 1997, 2000, 2002 and 2004.
The quest for a second title ended in 2005 with a thrilling 15-14 overtime win against the Astros.
The Firebirds would follow up in 2006 with their second perfect season, winning their third title with a 19-7 victory over the Tuggeranong Tornadoes in Capital Bowl XIV
The 2007 season brought a third minor premiership in four seasons and a 12-6 win in double overtime against the Tornadoes in Capital Bowl XV.
The Firebirds are three-time winners of the Charity Bowl (2001, 2006 and 2007), which is annually held in the first week of the season between the previous season's winners of the Capital Bowl and Charity Bowl. If one team holds both trophies, the opponent is the Capital Bowl runner-up.
During this time, the Junior Firebirds achieved great success, winning championships in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The 1999 and 2000 championships were as the University Rockets - a joint venture with the ACT Astros side then competing in the NSW Gridiron League. The Juniors competition has been of great benefit to the club, with several juniors forming the cornerstone of the Firebirds squad that has won the last three Capital Bowl titles. The 2007 Firebirds roster contained 10 players who had played for the Junior Firebirds at some stage.
A number of Firebirds have gone on to represent the ACT and Australia at both a Junior and Senior level.
Current Firebirds Captain Sam Babic represented Australia between 2001 and 2003, while 2007 championship winners Travis Ford and Garry Coates were key members of the Australian under 18s squad in 2004.
David Hicks, John Tolsher, Ben Collett, Garry Coates and Jason Ray were named in the Australian under 18s side following the 2006 National Junior Championships.
Firebirds players Adam Shain (1997), Tim Silver (1998), Ross Dorward (2000), Chris Czerny (2003) and Luke Kominek (2004 and 2007) have all been winners of the ACT Gridiron's Most Valuable Player award. George Strobot (1996), Adam Shain (1997), Adam Solomons (1998), Aaron Froud (1999), Wayne Vickers (2002), Andrew Jackson (2004) and Dan Baker (2006) have all won the Shane Grey Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league's best and fairest player as judged by match officials.