National Indoor Football League Explained
The National Indoor Football League (NIFL) was a professional indoor football league in the United States. For their first six years, the league had teams in markets not covered by either the Arena Football League or its developmental league, AF2, however, that changed briefly with their expansion into AFL markets such as Atlanta, Denver, and Los Angeles, and AF2 markets such as Fort Myers and Houston. Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson, New Orleans Saints quarterback John Fourcade and Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl running back Bam Morris, all played in the NIFL. The league folded in 2008.
History
The NIFL, based in Lafayette, Louisiana, was founded by Carolyn Shiver. The league started operations in 2001, with many teams coming from Indoor Football League being bought the previous year and folding operations. In 2002, the league added in the teams from the Indoor Professional Football League. 2003 was the most successful year for the league as 24 teams played a mostly complete schedule, with few cancellations.
Before the 2005 season, nine teams left the league to form United Indoor Football. That same year, the Intense Football League ceased operations and four teams from there joined the league. Those teams however, left the league before the 2006 season started.
For the 2005 season, the NIFL had an agreement with NFL to handle referee assignment and training.[1]
The 2006 season, was the most chaotic for the league to that point. Ten expansion teams were added to the league, but nine of them had problems that reflected badly on the league. The most notable situation was the owner of the Montgomery Maulers firing the entire team.[2] None of the ten expansion teams returned to the league for the next season.
The 2007 season started with the addition of several league-owned expansion teams, primarily to supplement games with the returning teams. However, the teams were all poorly funded and had problems fielding competitive squads. The San Diego Shockwave were declared the official league champion. The league then officially folded prior to the 2008 season.
In 2016, a new website announced that the league operations were relaunched by Carolyn Shiver with announced goal of bringing 34 teams into the former AFL markets starting in the 2017 season. As of June 2016, the league was looking for local team ownership under the league's business model.[3]
Former teams
Teams that left the NIFL to join (or planned to join) another league
- Beaumont Drillers – joined APFL in 2008 and has since folded.
- Evansville BlueCats – joined United Indoor Football and folded following 2007 season.
- Everett Hawks – joined the AF2 in 2007 and has since folded.
- Fayetteville Guard – moved to American Indoor Football Association, and have since folded.
- Fort Wayne Freedom – joined United Indoor Football, then had assets bought out by Fort Wayne Fusion of AF2.
- Greenville Riverhawks – moved to American Indoor Football Association as Johnstown Riverhawks and have since folded.
- Katy Copperheads – moved to AF2 as Texas Copperheads and has since folded.
- Lexington Horsemen – Joined United Indoor Football then AF2 later changed to Kentucky Horsemen and finally folded.
- Montgomery Maulers – moved to American Indoor Football Association as Montgomery Bears and have since folded.
- Odessa Roughnecks – moved to Indoor Football League, and have since folded.
- Ohio Valley Greyhounds – moved to Indoor Football League, and have since folded.
- Omaha Beef – now in National Arena League
- Osceola Football – moved to World Indoor Football League as Osceola Ghostriders, and have since folded.
- River City Rage – moved to Indoor Football League, and have since folded.
- Rome Renegades – joined American Indoor Football League, then left for World Indoor Football League, but folded before playing a single game there.
- San Angelo Stampede – moved to Indoor Football League, and have since folded.
- San Diego Shockwave – Has announced going on hiatus for 2008 but planned on joining another league for 2009 and never did.
- Sarasota Knights – Moved to APFL as Florida Knights, and have since folded.
- Sioux City Bandits – now in National Arena League.
- Sioux Falls Storm – now in Indoor Football League.
- Tri-Cities Fever- moved to AF2 and then Indoor Football League and are now dormant.
- Tupelo FireAnts – joined United Indoor Football, then folded after one season there.[4]
- Wyoming Cavalry (Casper, Wyoming) – moved to Indoor Football League, and have since folded.
Defunct teams/failed expansion
Indoor Bowl games
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: NFL to NIFL: No Deal . 22 May 2008.
- https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2006-04-28-nifl-maulers-dispute_x.htm NIFL squad in Montgomery fired after salary dispute
- Web site: National Indoor Football League Gears Up To Take The Field . PR Newswire . June 23, 2016.
- News: Jamie . Hall . . Cape Girardeau, Missouri . Tupelo waits to see whether two teams can survive . April 22, 2001 . February 24, 2015.
- News: Short, strange season for Green Cove Lions. Anne Marie Apollo. The Florida Times-Union. June 6, 2007. December 14, 2010.
