PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Philadelphia Phoenix is pleased to announce the signing and return of four seasoned Phoenix veteran players to the 2026 line up: Dustin Damiano, Matt Esser, Dmitry Suvorov and Nick DiGiorgio, all of which began their professional ultimate pursuits with the Philadelphia franchise of the UFA. The four have not played together since 2022, the same season the Hotbirds last secured a playoff berth.
Dustin Damiano returns as one of just two active players remaining league wide from the UFA’s inaugural season in 2012. Damiano is a UFA champion, winning a title with the 2012 Philadelphia franchise. He returns as third all-time in completions for Philadelphia, with a chance to close the 2,500 throw gap between him and first place former Hotbird Sean Mott. In addition Damiano needs just 108 completions to pass former Hotbird Jordan Rhyne for the second most completed throws in Phoenix history. Absent in active play since 2022 due to an injury, he returns to a handler position and brings a depth of experience as a professional thrower that will surely benefit the Hotbirds line up.
“I thought I was done with this league in 2022 when I tore my ACL,” said Damiano, “But I’ve realized these young kids got a lot to learn and you can’t keep me down.”
Another player bouncing back from retirement after the 2022 season, Matt Esser returns hungry to reclaim his blocks title, currently held by Eric Nardelli. Esser is 10 blocks shy of the long time Phoenix legend Nardelli. Esser has averaged 1.12 blocks per game in his career, so stealing the defensive crown back is very much on the table this season. With no other Hotbird currently close to Esser’s 71 blocks, he has a very real shot to cement his legacy as the greatest Phoenix defenseman. Meanwhile, the very physical player has an opportunity to impart important lessons about the increase in physicality in the professional game when compared to other types of Frisbee.
”I love being part of the Phoenix Phamily, and look forward to seeing how my changing skill set can help the team develop and be successful! I’m pumped to rebond with old teammates and build relations with the best young players in Philly!” Esser said of his return.
Dmitry Suvorov was one of the best offensive players on the Phoenix roster in 2024, and was the driving downfield force of the offense, scoring nearly 30 goals and completing 97% of his passes. This success took him on a brief detour to the New York Empire in the 2025 season. His return to Philadelphia brings the Hotbirds a brilliant cutter with strong offensive production downfield. Few players in the league are more plug and play than Suvorov on offense.
Suvorov said, “I'm excited to be back. The team has changed a lot both from last year and two years ago when I last played, so it'll be fun to kick off a new era of the Phoenix.”
After moving to Texas in 2023, Nick DiGiorgio returns to his hometown team hot off a playoff run with the Austin Sol in 2025. While his two year stint with the Dallas Legion offense had him putting up double digit goals and assists in 10 games in 2024. DiGiorgio brings back both offensive and defensive ability to the Hotbird roster. In his previous three season run with the Phoenix from 2018 to 2022, DiGiorgio was a solid member of the d-line with nearly 70% of 295 points played being defensive points and still brought in 18 goals and 12 assists, plus 5 blocks in his 20 games with the Phoenix. Will this season see the returned Hotbird back on the d-line or will the Phoenix utilize his tested offense skills to supplement their o-line? Either way, DiGiorgio is a crucial veteran to add to the 2026 Hotbird roster.
“The team looks very different, with a number of new faces since I last played. Philly has had a surge of young talent rise up, and I am excited to play alongside them,” said DiGiorgio of his homecoming. “I really enjoyed getting to learn new things and build new relationships while playing in the South division for the past three years, but I can’t wait to be repping my hometown of Philadelphia once again.”
Don’t miss what 2026 has in store for these returning players and the Phoenix. Join in Hotbird Summer and catch all the action this season – purchase season passes and single game tickets now at The Hotbird Web Shop.
