The National Indoor Football League (NIFL) was a professional indoor

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

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 The AF2 (often styled as af2, and short for arenafootball2) was the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like its parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football ru ...

, 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 The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...

head coach Matt LaFleur,

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. ...

running back Fred Jackson, New Orleans Saints quarterback

John Fourcade John Charles Fourcade, Jr. (born October 11, 1960) is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and recent head coach of the New Mexico Stars of American Indoor Football. Fourc ...

and

Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Founded in , the Steel ...

Super Bowl running back Bam Morris, all played in the NIFL. The league folded in 2008.

History

The NIFL, based in

Lafayette, Louisiana Lafayette (, ) is a city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and the most populous city and parish seat of Lafayette Parish, located along the Vermilion River. It is Louisiana's fourth largest incorporated municipality by population and the 234th- ...

, 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. 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. 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. On May 11, 2007, the ten independently-owned franchises banded together and left the NIFL. These ten teams played against each other as independents for the remainder of the 2007 season. Of these teams, seven left the league for other leagues. The rest of the teams folded. No playoffs were held at the end of the season. The San Diego Shockwave were declared the official league champion, however, an unofficial championship game was played by the Wyoming Cavalry and Fayetteville Guard, with Fayetteville winning. 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.

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

in 2007 and has since folded. * Fayetteville Guard – moved to

American Indoor Football Association American Indoor Football (AIF) was a professional indoor football league, one of the several regional professional indoor football leagues in North America. The AIFL began as a regional league with six franchises on the East Coast of the United ...

, and have since folded. *

Fort Wayne Freedom The Fort Wayne Freedom was a professional indoor football team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The team was most recently a member of the Continental Indoor Football League, but originally began play in 2003 as an expansion team in the National I ...

– joined United Indoor Football, then had assets bought out by Fort Wayne Fusion of

. *

Greenville Riverhawks The Johnstown Riverhawks was a professional indoor American football team based out of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. They were a charter member of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA). They played their home games at Cambria County War Mem ...

– moved to

Johnstown Riverhawks The Johnstown Riverhawks was a professional indoor American football team based out of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. They were a charter member of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA). They played their home games at Cambria County War Mem ...

and have since folded. *

Katy Copperheads The Texas Copperheads were a professional arena football that played in AF2, the minor league for the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2006 as member of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL). They played their home games at ...

– moved to

as Texas Copperheads and has since folded. * Lexington Horsemen – Joined United Indoor Football then

later changed to Kentucky Horsemen and finally folded. * Montgomery Maulers – moved to

as Montgomery Bears and have since folded. * Odessa Roughnecks – moved to Indoor Football League, and have since folded. *

Ohio Valley Greyhounds The Ohio Valley Greyhounds were a professional indoor football team. They began play in 1999 as the Steel Valley Smash, a charter member of the IFL. After the league folded, they moved to the NIFL, became a charter member, and renamed themse ...

– moved to Indoor Football League, and have since folded. * Omaha Beef – now in Champions Indoor Football *

Osceola Football The World Indoor Football League (WIFL) was an indoor football league founded by Harry Pierce, owner of the Rome Renegades and Raleigh Rebels of the American Indoor Football League. The league was a splinter league that formed after disgruntl ...

– moved to World Indoor Football League as

Osceola Ghostriders The World Indoor Football League (WIFL) was an indoor football league founded by Harry Pierce, owner of the Rome Renegades and Raleigh Rebels of the American Indoor Football League. The league was a splinter league that formed after disgrunt ...

, and have since folded. *

River City Rage The RiverCity Rage were a professional indoor football team. They played home games at the Family Arena in Saint Charles, Missouri, part of the metropolitan area of St. Louis, Missouri, in past seasons, played in the Scottrade Center in downtown ...

– moved to Indoor Football League, and have since folded. *

Rome Renegades 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, ...

– 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 Sarasota () is a city in Sarasota County on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The area is renowned for its cultural and environmental amenities, beaches, resorts, and the Sarasota School of Architecture. The city is located in the sout ...

– Moved to APFL as Florida Knights, and have since folded. * Sioux City Bandits – now in Champions Indoor Football. * Sioux Falls Storm – now in Indoor Football League. * Tri-Cities Fever- moved to

and then Indoor Football League and are now dormant. * Tupelo FireAnts – joined United Indoor Football, then folded after one season there. * Wyoming Cavalry (Casper, Wyoming) – moved to Indoor Football League, and have since folded.

Defunct teams/failed expansion

Arkansas Stars The Arkansas Stars were a professional Indoor football team based out of Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States. They would play their home games at Randal Tyson Track Center on the University of Arkansas campus. The team was a 2006 expansion m ...

Atlanta Thoroughbreds The Atlanta Thoroughbreds were an indoor football team. They were a 2007 expansion member of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL). They were scheduled to play their home games at the John H. Lewis Gymnasium in Atlanta, Georgia Atl ...

Atlantic City CardSharks The Atlantic City CardSharks were a professional indoor football team based in Atlantic City, New Jersey. They were members of the Eastern Division of the Atlantic Conference of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) during the 2004 season. ...

* Austin Knights * Austin Rockers *

Bay Bandits A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a gulf, sea, sound, or bight. A cove is a small, circular bay with a narr ...

* Big Sky Thunder *

Billings Mavericks Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, with a population of 117,116 as of the 2020 census. Located in the south-central portion of the state, it is the seat of Yellowstone County and the principal city of the Billings Metro ...

Bismarck Roughriders 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, A ...

* Black Hills Red Dogs * Charleston Sandsharks *

Cincinnati Marshals The Marshals were a professional indoor football team based out of Dayton, Ohio. They played their 2007 home games out of Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio, but are more famous for playing as the Cincinnati Marshals at U.S. Bank Arena for two seasons ...

Colorado Castle Rocks The Colorado Castle Rocks was a 2007 expansion team from the National Indoor Football League. They were to play their home games at the Douglas County Events Center in Castle Rock, Colorado, but no home games were played and their only game was ...

* Colorado Venom *

Colorado Wild Riders The Colorado Wild Riders were a 2007 expansion team from the now defunct National Indoor Football League (NIFL). They played their home games at the Colorado Sports Center in Monument, Colorado (part of greater Colorado Springs, Colorado). Hi ...

* Columbia Stingers *

Dayton Bulldogs The Dayton Bulldogs was an indoor football team in Dayton, Ohio. They were members of the National Indoor Football League that played during the 2006 season. They played their home games at the Nutter Center. History The Dayton Bulldogs we ...

Dayton Warbirds The Dayton Warbirds was an indoor football team in Dayton, Ohio. History Approved as a National Indoor Football League expansion team in October 2004, the Warbirds instead joined other teams in forming the United Indoor Football Association, m ...

Daytona Beach Hawgs The Daytona Beach ThunderBirds were an arena football team based in Daytona Beach, Florida. They were founded in 2005 as the Daytona Beach Hawgs playing in the National Indoor Football League. In 2006, they changed their name to the Daytona Thu ...

* Denver Aviators *

Eugene Mercury The Southern Oregon Heat was a professional Indoor American football, indoor football team based out of Medford, Oregon, founded in 2000. They were a member of the National Indoor Football League and played their home games at Compton Arena (now ...

Florida Frenzy Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to th ...

Fort Myers Tarpons The Fort Myers Tarpons was a 2007 expansion team from the National Indoor Football League. They played their home games at the Lee County Civic Arena in Fort Myers, Florida. They won both of their games, one at home and one on the road, before ...

Fort Worth Sixers The Fort Worth Sixers were a professional indoor football team founded as 2007 expansion franchise of the National Indoor Football League The National Indoor Football League (NIFL) was a professional indoor football league in the United St ...

Green Cove Lions The Green Cove Lions were an indoor football team intended to be based in Green Cove Springs, Florida. They played briefly in the National Indoor Football League in 2007, but folded before ever playing a home game.Jacksonville Stallions The Green Cove Lions were an indoor football team intended to be based in Green Cove Springs, Florida. They played briefly in the National Indoor Football League in 2007, but folded before ever playing a home game.Greensboro Revolution The Greensboro Revolution was a team in the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) that began play as a 2006 expansion team. They played their home games at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro (; formerly Greens ...

Hammond Heroes The Hammond Heroes were a planned professional Indoor American football, indoor football team founded by Tommy Smith as a member team of the National Indoor Football League and based in Hammond, Louisiana. They were to have played their home games ...

Houma Bayou Bucks The Houma Bayou Bucks was a team in the National Indoor Football League (NIFL). The Bayou Bucks were officially announced as a team on December 19, 2001. The team's first GM was Travis Carrell and their first head coach was Jack Phillips Jr. The ...

Houston Wild Riders The Houston Wild Riders was a team of the National Indoor Football League 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 no ...

Jacksonville Stallions The Green Cove Lions were an indoor football team intended to be based in Green Cove Springs, Florida. They played briefly in the National Indoor Football League in 2007, but folded before ever playing a home game.Green Cove Lions The Green Cove Lions were an indoor football team intended to be based in Green Cove Springs, Florida. They played briefly in the National Indoor Football League in 2007, but folded before ever playing a home game.Johnstown J Dogs The National Indoor Football League (NIFL) was a professional indoor American football, 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 deve ...

Kissimmee Kreatures The World Indoor Football League (WIFL) was an indoor football league founded by Harry Pierce, owner of the Rome Renegades and Raleigh Rebels of the American Indoor Football League. The league was a splinter league that formed after disgruntle ...

* La Crosse Night Train *

Lake Charles Land Sharks The Lake Charles Land Sharks were an indoor football team. They were a charter member of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL). They played their home games at the Sudduth Coliseum in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Despite having pretty good succ ...

* Lakeland Thunderbolts – won

2007 * Lincoln Capitols *

Long Beach Surf Long may refer to: Measurement * Long, characteristic of something of great duration * Long, characteristic of something of great length * Longitude (abbreviation: long.), a geographic coordinate * Longa (music), note value in early music mensur ...

Los Angeles Lynx The Los Angeles Lynx are a 2007 expansion team from the National Indoor Football League (NIFL). They played their home games at the Industry Hills Expo Center in Industry, California (a suburb of Los Angeles). This was one of a number of teams ...

* Louisiana Bayou Beast * Louisiana Rangers * Louisiana Swashbucklers *

Lubbock Gunslingers The Lubbock Gunslingers were a professional indoor American football, indoor football team. They played their home games in Lubbock, Texas, at Lubbock Municipal Coliseum. The Gunslingers played in 2004 as a charter member of the Intense Football ...

* Lubbock Lone Stars * Miami Vice Squad *

Mississippi Fire Dogs The Mississippi Fire Dogs were a professional indoor American football team based in Biloxi, Mississippi. They played their home games at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. They were a charter member of the Indoor Professional Football League. They p ...

Mobile Seagulls The Mobile Seagulls were a professional indoor football team. They were initially a member of the Indoor Professional Football League for the 2000 season before joining the National Indoor Football League for the 2001 season, their final. They pl ...

Myrtle Beach Stingrays Myrtle may refer to: Plants * Myrtaceae, the myrtle family **'' Myrtus'', the myrtle genus * List of plants known as myrtle, including a list of trees and plants known as myrtle In geography Canada * Myrtle, Ontario, a community United States ...

* New Jersey XTreme * Oklahoma Crude *

Pomona Cool Riders Pomona may refer to: Places Argentina * Pomona, Río Negro Australia * Pomona, Queensland, Australia, a town in the Shire of Noosa * Pomona, New South Wales, Australia Belize * Pomona, Belize, a List of municipalities in Belize#Stann Creek Dist ...

Port St. Lucie Mustangs A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...

Pueblo Pistols In the Southwestern United States, Pueblo (capitalized) refers to the Native tribes of Puebloans having fixed-location communities with permanent buildings which also are called pueblos (lowercased). The Spanish explorers of northern New Spain ...

Rapid City Flying Aces The Rapid City Flying Aces were a professional indoor American football team in Rapid City, South Dakota. Like their predecessors, the Black Hills Red Dogs, they played their home games at the Don Barnett Arena in Rapid City. As of April 2007, t ...

River Cities LocoMotives The River Cities LocoMotives were a professional indoor football team based in Huntington, West Virginia in 2001. The team competed in the inaugural season of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL). The "Locos" played their home games at th ...

River City Renegades A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wa ...

* San Bernardino Bucking Bulls *

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* San Antonio Steers * Southern Oregon Heat *

Staten Island Xtreme 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, A ...

Tennessee Riverhawks Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to the ...

Tennessee River Sharks The Tennessee River Sharks are a defunct professional indoor football team based out of East Ridge, Tennessee, a suburb of Chattanooga. They were a member of the former National Indoor Football League (NIFL). They played their home games at Camp J ...

Tennessee ThunderCats Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...

* Tri-City Diesel *

Tri-Valley Ranchers The Tri-Valley Ranchers was a 2007 expansion team from the National Indoor Football League (NIFL). They played their home games at the Amador Pavilion in Pleasanton, California. Originally, there were supposed to be two different NIFL expansion ...

* Twin City Gators *

Utah Express Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to its we ...

* Utah Rattlers * Utah Warriors *

Waco Marshals Waco ( ) is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a 2020 population of 138,486, making it the 22nd-most populous city in the st ...

* Wichita Falls Thunder *

Winston-Salem Energy The Winston-Salem Energy was an indoor football team based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Energy competed in the National Indoor Football League (NIFL), as a member of the league's Atlantic Conference Northern Division. The team was owned ...

* Yakima Shockwave

Indoor Bowl games

Notes

External links

National Indoor Football League official website

San Antonio Steers vs Beaumont Drillers clip
via YouTube {{Profootball Defunct indoor American football leagues in the United States Sports leagues established in 2001 Sports leagues disestablished in 2008 2001 establishments in the United States 2008 disestablishments in the United States