Professional Indoor Football League

Updated on Jan 30, 2024

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Sport Indoor football Ceased 2015 No. of teams 5 Number of teams 5		Inaugural season 2012 CEO Ron Selesky Country United States Date founded 2011

Professional indoor football league championship game highli

The Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) was a professional indoor football league that begin its inaugural season in 2012. Like the Lone Star Football League, the PIFL was mainly composed of teams formerly part of Southern Indoor Football League (five former SIFL teams and one expansion team in total).

Despite the name, this PIFL had no connections to the original Professional Indoor Football League.

History

The PIFL began in 2012 with six teams in the southeastern United States, five of which joined from the Southern Indoor Football League, and the expansion Knoxville NightHawks. On March 10, 2012, the Richmond Raiders defeated the Columbus Lions, 64–58, in the first ever PIFL game. On June 30, 2012, PIFL Cup I was played in Albany, Georgia between the Albany Panthers and the Raiders. It was played at the James H. Gray Civic Center in front of 6,194 people. Albany won the game, 60–56.

Following a successful 2012, the PIFL added two new teams for the 2013 season. The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks of the Indoor Football League, as well as the Charlotte Speed, another former SIFL team who had previously committed to play in the IFL as well. On July 8, 2013, PIFL Cup II was played in Huntsville, Alabama between the Alabama Hammers and the Richmond Raiders. It was played at the Von Braun Center in front of 3,133 people. Alabama won the game, 70–44.

In the fall of 2013, two teams from the Northeast were added to the PIFL roster for the 2014 season. The expansion Trenton Freedom and the Nashville Venom joined the league for the 2014 season, as well as the Harrisburg Stampede, a former American Indoor Football (AIF) team.

Knoxville and Albany, according to the teams' respective websites, suspended play for the 2014 season. As they did not continue into the PIFL's final season of 2015, they had no opportunity to attempt to latch on to another league upon the PIFL's demise. Neither did the former Charlotte Speed franchise, which had not been allowed to participate in 2013 implying that this team is also now fully defunct.

For the 2015 season, the league added the Erie Explosion, the two-time defending champions of the Continental Indoor Football League, which disbanded after the 2014 season.

On September 9, 2015, the league disbanded after several of its teams folded, with the exception of the Columbus Lions (the final PIFL champions) and the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks, both of which would join the American Indoor Football league. The Erie Explosion held out until January 2016, initially joining the Indoor Football Alliance, before suspending operations.

Teams

Thirteen different franchises were issued during the PIFL's existence, but only 12 ever took the field for actual play – the Charlotte Speed never fielded a team as the franchise was revoked prior to the 2013 season. During the regular season, each team was allowed a maximum of 27 players on their roster; only 20 of these were eligible to be active (eligible to play) on game days.

Teams that played

Alabama Hammers – played in PIFL from 2012 to 2015. Team folded after league folded.

Albany Panthers – played in PIFL for 2012 and 2013 seasons before an unresolved conflict with the Albany Civic Center left the Panthers without an arena. Folded soon after.

Charlotte Speed – originally set to play 2013 season, but franchise revoked prior to season opener.

Columbus Lions – played in the PIFL from 2012 to 2015, joined the American Indoor Football league after PIFL folded.

Erie Explosion – played in the PIFL during the 2015 season, left to rejoin the proposed revival of the Continental Indoor Football League.

Georgia Fire – played in the PIFL for the 2014 season, filling in the void for the Albany Panthers.

Harrisburg Stampede – played in the PIFL for the 2014 season before folding.

Lehigh Valley Steelhawks – played in the PIFL from 2013 to 2015, joined the American Indoor Football league after PIFL folded.

Knoxville NightHawks – played in PIFL for 2012 and 2013 seasons before folding.

Louisiana Swashbucklers – played in PIFL for 2012 and 2013 seasons before folding.

Nashville Venom – played in PIFL from 2014 to 2015. Team folded after league folded.

Richmond Raiders – played in PIFL from 2012 to 2015. Owners folded team at season's end.

Trenton Freedom – played in PIFL for 2014 and 2015 seasons before folding.

Player and coach awards

The PIFL recognized a number of awards for their players and coaches.

2012

Most Valuable Player – Antwon Young, Richmond Raiders

Offensive Player of the Year – Maurice Dupree, Columbus Lions

Defensive Player of the Year – Damian Daniels, Albany Panthers

Offensive Rookie of the Year – London Crawford, Columbus Lions

Defensive Rookie of the Year – Ginikachi Ibe, Knoxville NightHawks

Special Teams Player of the Year – T. C. Stevens, Richmond Raiders

Coach of the Year – James Fuller, Richmond Raiders

2013

Most Valuable Player – Mico McSwain, Alabama Hammers

Offensive Player of the Year – Mico McSwain, Alabama Hammers

Defensive Player of the Year – Anthony Shutt, Columbus Lions

Offensive Rookie of the Year – Thomas Gilson, Lehigh Valley Steelhawks

Defensive Rookie of the Year – Jake Trantin, Alabama Hammers

Special Teams Player of the Year – Armando Cuko, Knoxville NightHawks

Coach of the Year – Dean Cokinos, Alabama Hammers

2014

Most Valuable Player – Warren Smith, Trenton Freedom

Offensive Player of the Year – Phillip Barnett, Nashville Venom

Defensive Player of the Year – Devin Jones, Richmond Raiders

Offensive Rookie of the Year – Roger Jackson, Trenton Freedom

Defensive Rookie of the Year – Devin Jones, Richmond Raiders

Special Teams Player of the Year – Dwayne Hollis, Lehigh Valley Steelhawks

Coach of the Year – Billy Back, Nashville Venom

2015

Most Valuable Player – Terrence Ebagua, Columbus Lions

Offensive Player of the Year – Jonathan Bane, Richmond Raiders

Defensive Player of the Year – Jerome Hayes, Trenton Freedom

Offensive Rookie of the Year – Casey Kacz, Columbus Lions

Defensive Rookie of the Year – Joe Powell, Lehigh Valley Steelhawks