All-Arena/Indoor Football Playoff Top Four

The NCAA just announced their four teams for the College Football Playoff. The Playoff will begin on Jan. 1 with Oklahoma and Georgia facing off in the Rose Bowl at 5:15 p.m. ET, followed by the Clemson Tigers facing off against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl at 8:45 p.m. ET.

That got us thinking. If there were a playoff for all of the indoor and arena football leagues, who would be in the top four?

4. Jacksonville Sharks

The Sharks left the Arena Football League to join the National Arena League in 2016. They played in the AFL from their inaugural season in 2010 until 2016. In their first season in the NAL, they lost just once and won the inaugural NAL title.

Having success in two leagues is a very interesting thing. That is the big reason why they would be in the top four. However, there are three teams still better than them.

3. Sioux Falls Storm

Up until last season, Sioux Falls had ran the Indoor Football League for most of the league’s existence. They had won seven consecutive United Bowl titles before the Arizona Rattlers snapped that streak last July. Still, a streak such as that deserves a spot in the top four.

2. Philadelphia Soul

Everyone will see this and talk about how the Soul run the league because the league is currently at five teams. It wouldn’t matter if there were two teams in the AFL. Philadelphia has been the team to beat over the last two seasons.

They became the first team since Arizona from 2012-14 to win consecutive ArenaBowl titles. They even defeated the Rattlers in 2016 to win ArenaBowl XXIX, their second in franchise history.

Still, they can’t beat out the team in the desert as #1.

1. Arizona Rattlers

Arizona was one of the most successful franchises in AFL history, winning five ArenaBowl titles. Had they not turned the ball over three times so early in ArenaBowl XXIX, they would’ve had their sixth title.

That offseason, like the Sharks, they left the AFL for another league. Arizona took their talents to the IFL. After an 0-2 start, the Rattlers picked it up and went on to end Sioux Falls’ reign, winning United Bowl IX.

While they did the same thing Jacksonville did in winning a title in another league, they did against more talented teams, including stopping who everyone thought was the unstoppable. That’s why they would be the top team in an all-arena/indoor football playoff.

Richmond Roughriders Sign Wide Receiver Damond Powell

The Richmond Roughriders have announced that they have signed wide receiver Damond Powell. Powell has played with the Cedar Rapids Titans in the Indoor Football League (IFL).

He led the IFL last season with 22 receiving touchdowns. He played his college football at the University of Iowa.

Richmond joins the American Arena League after one season in the Arena Pro Football. They defeated the Florida Tarpons in the APF Championship Game on June 10. The APF and Can-Am Football League joined forces in April to create the AAL. Teams from the Supreme Indoor Football League (SIF) have also joined the league.

The season will kick off on March 17 and will conclude with the inaugural AAL title game on Saturday, June 30. Like the other arena leagues, the game will be played at the home of the #1 team in the playoffs.

Chris Thompson Named Albany AFL Director of Football Operations, Offensive Coordinator

Former Lehigh Valley Steelhawks head coach Chris Thompson has been named the director of football operations for the Albany-based Arena Football League team. Thompson stepped down as the Steelhawks head coach yesterday to take the role. Thompson will also serve as the team’s offensive coordinator.

During his seven seasons in Lehigh Valley, Thompson was the Steelhawks head coach and offensive coordinator. He won the 2017 National Arena League (NAL) Coach of the Year. They also played in the postseason all seven seasons under him.

His last game with the team came as a loss to the Columbus Lions in the NAL semifinals. He’s made the postseason 11 of his 12 seasons working in the Indoor Football League (IFL), Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) and the American Indoor Football League (AIFL).

“Chris has a tremendous record of success in the indoor game,” Albany head coach Rob Keefe said of his new offensive coordinator. “He has proven to be a consistent winner in every role and situation he has been in. He has a brilliant football mind along with an energy that is consistent with this organization. Chris has all the tools to run a championship football operations department as well as high-powered offense.”

“I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to coach in the Arena Football League for a long time,” Thompson said. “The opportunity to work with the ownership group in Philadelphia that I have gotten to know so well over the years, along with new ownership group in Albany and with a proven leader in coach Keefe, is a dream come true. I can’t wait to help put together a championship caliber team and offense.”

The Albany team was announced as the AFL’s sixth active team on Oct. 24. They will play home games at the Times Union Center in Albany, NY. This is the first team in Albany since the Firebirds left town in 2000.