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2025 Indoor Football League season

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2025 IFL season
LeagueIndoor Football League
SportIndoor American football
DurationMarch 21 – August 23, 2025
Number of teams14
TV partner(s)CBS Sports Network
Streaming partner(s)IFL Network
Regular season
Playoffs
2025 IFL National Championship
DateAugust 23, 2025
VenueTucson Arena
IFL seasons
2026 →

The 2025 IFL season will be the 17th season of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The season will begin on March 21, 2025, with the Jacksonville Sharks facing the Massachusetts Pirates during the IFL Opening Weekend. The regular season will conclude on July 27. The playoffs start date is to be announced but will conclude with the 2025 IFL National Championship, the league's championship game, in Tucson Arena at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Arizona, on August 23.

Team movement

[edit]

Expansion

[edit]

The IFL announced that one team would be established:

Dormancy

[edit]

The IFL announced that three teams were going dormant:

  • On October 16, 2024, the Duke City Gladiators owner Gina Prieskorn-Thomas announced that the team would be dormant. She stated there were problems with the team's marketing strategies due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[3]
  • On October 16, 2024, the Frisco Fighters announced that they would be entering dormant status without specifying why.[4]
  • On October 30, 2024, the Sioux Falls Storm announced that they would be going dormant due to their inability to find a secure location to field a team.[5]

Player movement

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Positions key
C Center CB Cornerback DB Defensive back DE Defensive end[a]
DL Defensive lineman DT Defensive tackle FB Fullback FS Free safety
G Guard[b] K Kicker[c] KR Kickoff returner LB Linebacker
LS Long snapper MLB Middle linebacker[d] OT Offensive tackle OL Offensive lineman
OLB Outside linebacker[a] NT Nose tackle P Punter PR Punt returner
QB Quarterback RS Return specialist RB Running back S Safety
SS Strong safety TE Tight end WR Wide receiver
  1. ^ a b May sometimes be referred to as an edge rusher (EDGE)
  2. ^ Also known as offensive guard (OG)
  3. ^ Also known as placekicker (PK)
  4. ^ Also known as inside linebacker (ILB)

Free agency

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Notable players to change teams included:

  • Quarterbacks T. J. Edwards (Frisco to Tulsa), Charles McCullum (Salina to Tucson),[a] Daquan Neal (Bay Area to Quad City), and Drew Powell (Orlando to Arizona)[b]
  • Running backs Jimmie Robinson (Massachusetts to Jacksonville) and Edward Vander (Quad City to Jacksonville)
  • Wide receivers Kentrez Bell (Sioux Falls to Jacksonville), Shaq Curenton (Rapid City to Iowa),[c] Glen Gibbons Jr. (Arizona to San Antonio), Johnny King (Hamilton to Vegas,[d] Jordan Kress (San Diego to Fishers), Elijah Lilly (San Diego to Arizona), Phazione McClurge (Frisco to Tulsa), Jerrime Neal (Arizona to Tulsa), J. T. Stokes (Bay Area to Fishers), and Tamorrion Terry (Duke City to Vegas)
  • Defensive lineman Chima Dunga (Tulsa to Quad City) and Jaylin Swan (Quad City to Fishers)
  • Defensive backs Jericho Flowers (Vegas to San Diego), Tyrell Pearson (Frisco to Fishers), Elijah Reed (Sioux Falls to San Diego), Ravarius Rivers (Green Bay to San Antonio) and Shawn Steele II (Green Bay to Fishers)
  • Kicker Ernesto Lacayo (Duke City to San Diego)

League call-ups

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  • Offensive lineman Johari Branch (UFL – DC), Devin Hayes (CFL – Edmonton), and Deiyantei Powell-Woods (CFL – Calgary)
  • Defensive lineman Atlias Bell (CFL – Toronto) and Daymond Williams (CFL – Toronto)
  • Defensive backs Latavious Brini (CFL – Winnipeg), Javaris Davis (CFL – Winnipeg), and Amir Riep (UFL – Memphis)

Rule changes

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The following rule changes were approved at the IFL annual league meeting on January 13–14 in Phoenix, Arizona:[6]

  • Any kicked ball that passes through the end zone without touching the field of play will now be marked at the kicking team’s 20-yard line. The previous adjustment to the 25-yard line has been removed for consistency.
  • If a team leading by 14 points or fewer has possession of the ball during the last minute, they must gain positive yardage; otherwise, the clock will stop. The former rule requiring positive yardage in the final 60 seconds of the game has been reinstated.
  • A linebacker who declares a blitz may now rush from inside or outside the alley. The league has eliminated the restriction on linebackers blitzing outside of the alley.
  • Defensive linemen are now permitted to execute twist moves.
  • The 1-yard grace for wide receivers in motion crossing the line of scrimmage has been removed. A receiver’s foot crossing the line at the snap will now be considered a false start. Other body parts, such as the knee, hand, or head, will not determine the penalty.

Regular season

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The season will be played over a 19-week schedule, beginning on March 21, 2025, and ending on July 27, 2025. Each of the league's 14 teams will play 16 games, with three bye weeks.

Regular season standings

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Power rankings

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  Pre
[7]		 Wk
1		 Wk
2		 Wk
3		 Wk
4		 Wk
5		 Wk
6		 Wk
7		 Wk
8		 Wk
9		 Wk
10		 Wk
11		 Wk
12		 Wk
13		 Wk
14		 Wk
15		 Wk
16		 Wk
17		 Wk
18		 Final
Arizona Rattlers 4
Bay Area Panthers 3
Fishers Freight 12
Green Bay Blizzard 7
Iowa Barnstormers 13
Jacksonville Sharks 2
Massachusetts Pirates 9
Northern Arizona Wranglers 14
Quad City Steamwheelers 10
San Antonio Gunslingers 8
San Diego Strike Force 6
Tucson Sugar Skulls 11
Tulsa Oilers 5
Vegas Knight Hawks 1
Legend
    Improvement in ranking
  Drop in ranking
  No change in ranking from previous week

Postseason

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2025 IFL playoffs

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4 No. 4 seed ??
1 No. 1 seed ??
Eastern Conference
? No. 1 / No. 4 ??
? No. 2 / No. 3 ??
Eastern Conference Championship
3 No. 3 seed ??
Aug 23 – Tucson Arena
2 No. 2 seed ??
IFL Playoffs Round One
2025 IFL National Championship
4 No. 4 seed ??
1 No. 1 seed
Western Conference
? No. 1 / No. 4 ??
? No. 2 / No. 3 ??
Western Conference Championship
3 No. 3 seed ??
2 No. 2 seed ??
This bracket:

Awards

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Award Winner Position Team
Most Valuable Player — — —
Offensive Player of the Year — — —
Defensive Player of the Year — — —
Special Teams Player of the Year — — —
Offensive Rookie of the Year — — —
Defensive Rookie of the Year — — —
Coach of the Year — — —
Assistant Coach of the Year — — —
IFL National Championship Most Valuable Player — — —

All-IFL teams

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All-IFL First Team
Offense
QB
RB
WR
C
OL
Defense
DL
LB
LB/DB
DB
Special Teams
K
KR
IFL All-Rookie Team
Offense
QB
RB
WR
C
OL
Defense
DL
LB
LB/DB
DB
Special Teams
K
KR
All-IFL Second Team
Offense
QB
RB
WR
C
OL
Defense
DL
LB
LB/DB
DB
Special Teams
K
KR

Players of the Week

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The following were named the top performers during the season:

Week Offensive Defensive Special Teams
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

Head coaching changes

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Off-season

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Team Departing coach Incoming coach Notes
Fishers Freight — Dixie Wooten
Massachusetts Pirates Rod Miller Ameer Ismail After one season, an 8–8 (.500) regular season record, and a 2024 IFL National Championship appearance, Miller left Massachusetts and joined the San Diego Strike Force as their associate head coach and defensive coordinator on October 11, 2024.[8]

On November 25, the Pirates hired Ameer Ismail as their head coach, this will be his second stint with the team. Ismail previously served as the head coach of the Bloomington Edge in 2017, Massachusetts Pirates in 2018, and the Iowa Barnstormers from 2020–2021. He has compiled a 34–16 (.680) regular season record and is 0–3 (.000) in three playoff appearances.[9]

Northern Arizona Wranglers Les Moss Ron James On August 31, 2024, Moss stepped down as the head coach of Northern Arizona after leading the team to two playoff appearances, an IFL National Championship title, and a 28–19 (.596) regular season record.[10]

James was hired as Northern Arizona's head coach on September 16, after serving five seasons as the head football coach of Juan Diego Catholic High School. This is James' seventh indoor football head coaching job, serving as the head coach of the Las Vegas Gladiators from 2005–2006, Utah Blaze from 2010–2013, Pittsburgh Power in 2014, Portland Steel in 2016, Tampa Bay Storm in 2017, and Atlantic City Blackjacks in 2019. In his time as an Arena Football League (AFL) head coach, James compiled a 74–77 (.490) regular season record, two AFL Coach of the Year awards, and an ArenaBowl XXX appearance.[11]

In-season

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Team Departing coach Incoming coach Notes
Massachusetts Pirates Ameer Ismail Frederick Griggs On March 9, 2025, Griggs was elevated from associate defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach to head coach after Ismail failed to report to camp, citing that he was looking for coaching jobs on the outdoor spring circuit.[12]

Arenas

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Broadcasting

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On March 12, 2025, the IFL announced a multi-year partnership with Visaic to launch the IFL Network, a subscription video service that will carry all IFL games live and on-demand. The agreement brings an end to the IFL's broadcasting of its games on YouTube.[18]

CBS Sports Network is on the third and final year in a contract to carry the IFL National Championship.[19]

Notes

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  1. ^ Charles McCullum played for the Salina Liberty of the Arena Football League (AFL) during 2024 season.
  2. ^ Drew Powell played for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League (AFL) during 2024 season.
  3. ^ Shaq Curenton played for the Rapid City Marshals of the Arena Football League (AFL) during 2024 season.
  4. ^ Johnny King played with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the 2024 season.

References

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  1. ^ Van Beek, Eric (23 October 2023). "INDIANAPOLIS TO JOIN IFL IN 2025". Indoor Football League. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  2. ^ "Kicking off March 2025..." Fishers Freight. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  3. ^ Critchfield, Tristen (17 October 2024). "'We're just taking a little bit of a break': Duke City Gladiators going dormant in 2025". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  4. ^ Yanes, Zachary (16 October 2024). "Frisco Fighters announces it will not participate in 2025 Indoor Football League season". WFAA. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  5. ^ Hartigan, J.J. (30 October 2024). "Storm Announce Dormancy For 2025 Season". Sioux Falls Storm. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  6. ^ Van Beek, Eric (17 January 2025). "INDOOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE CONCLUDES ANNUAL MEETINGS, ANNOUNCES 2025 RULE CHANGES". Indoor Football League. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  7. ^ Van Beek, Eric; Meredith, Daven (13 March 2025). "2025 INDOOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE POWER RANKINGS: PRESEASON". Indoor Football League. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  8. ^ "STRIKE FORCE ADD ROD MILLER TO COACHING STAFF". San Diego Strike Force. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  9. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (25 November 2024). "Pirates Name Ameer Ismail Head Coach for 2025 Presented by Gulf". Massachusetts Pirates. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Les Moss Steps Down as NAZ Wranglers Head Coach". KYCA. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  11. ^ "NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS APPOINT TWO-TIME AFL COACH OF THE YEAR RON JAMES AS NEW HEAD COACH". Northern Arizona Wranglers. 16 September 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  12. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (9 March 2025). "Pirates Elevate Griggs to Head Coach Presented by Gulf". Massachusetts Pirates. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  13. ^ "YOUR NEW PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM: FISHERS FREIGHT". Indy Fuel Hockey. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  14. ^ "STRIKE FORCE AND FRONTWAVE ARENA ANNOUNCE THREE YEAR PARTNERSHIP". San Diego Strike Force. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  15. ^ Jorgenson, Dan (31 October 2024). "Former Sioux Falls Storm owner weighs in on the search for a new venue". KELOLAND. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  16. ^ "Wells Fargo Arena to be renamed Casey's Center July 1". Iowa Events Center. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  17. ^ Van Beek, Eric (7 November 2024). "IFL CHAMPIONSHIP HEADED TO TUCSON, AZ". Indoor Football League. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  18. ^ "INDOOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH VISAIC TO LAUNCH IFL NETWORK". goifl.com. 2025-03-12. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  19. ^ Staff Reports (2023-04-17). "Indoor Football League championship games to be aired on CBS Sports Network". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
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