Roster
| 2017 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Fullbacks Wide receivers
| Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
| Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
| Reserve lists
Rookies in italics | |||
| 2017 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Glenn Clark |
| Head coach | Chris Thompson |
| Home field | PPL Center |
| Results | |
| Record | 9–1 |
| Conference place | 2nd |
| Playoff finish | Lost NAL Semifinals 50–52 (Lions) |
The 2017 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season was the seventh season for the professional indoor football franchise and first in the National Arena League (NAL). The Steelhawks were one of eight teams that competed in the NAL for its inaugural 2017 season
Led by head coach Chris Thompson, the Steelhawks played their home games at the PPL Center.
| 2017 National Arena League standings | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | GB | STK | |
| z - Jacksonville Sharks | 11 | 1 | .917 | 697 | 299 | — | L1 |
| y - Lehigh Valley Steelhawks | 9 | 1 | .900 | 610 | 349 | 1.0 | W7 |
| x - Columbus Lions | 9 | 3 | .750 | 689 | 412 | 2.0 | W6 |
| x - Monterrey Steel | 7 | 4 | .636 | 478 | 364 | 3.5 | W1 |
| High Country Grizzlies | 3 | 7 | .300 | 449 | 484 | 7.0 | L4 |
| Georgia Firebirds | 2 | 9 | .182 | 372 | 576 | 8.5 | L5 |
| Dayton Wolfpack | 0 | 7 | .000 | 125 | 478 | 8.5 | L7 |
| Corpus Christi Rage | 0 | 9 | .000 | 166 | 624 | 9.5 | L9 |
z - clinched home field advantage
y - clinched home playoff game
x - clinched playoff spot
The 2017 regular season schedule was released on December 9, 2016 [1]
Key: Win Tie Loss Bye
All start times are local time
| Week | Day | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | Record | ||||||
| 1 | Sunday | March 19 | 4:00pm | Dayton Wolfpack | W 66–25 | 1–0 | PPL Center |
| 2 | Saturday | March 25 | 7:00pm | at High Country Grizzlies | W 48–42 | 2–0 | George M. Holmes Convocation Center |
| 3 | Saturday | April 1 | 7:00pm | at Jacksonville Sharks | L 43–57 | 2–1 | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena |
| 4 | Sunday | April 9 | 7:00pm | Columbus Lions | W 60–54 | 3–1 | PPL Center |
| 5 | Saturday | April 15 | 7:00pm | Georgia Firebirds | W 56–31 | 4–1 | PPL Center |
| 6 | BYE | ||||||
| 7 | Saturday | April 29 | 7:00pm | Corpus Christi Rage | W 95–28 | 5–1 | PPL Center |
| 8 | Saturday | May 6 | 7:00pm | Dayton Wolfpack | W 68–6 | 6–1 | PPL Center |
| 9 | BYE | ||||||
| 10 | Saturday | May 20 | 7:00pm | at High Country Grizzlies | W 56–28 | 7–1 | George M. Holmes Convocation Center |
| 11 | Monday | May 29 | 7:05pm | at Dayton Wolfpack | Cancelled [lower-alpha 1] | ||
| 12 | Saturday | June 3 | 7:00pm | High Country Grizzlies | W 67–52 | 8–1 | PPL Center |
| 13 | Saturday | June 10 | 7:00pm | at Georgia Firebirds | W 51–26 | 9–1 | Albany Civic Center |
| 14 | Monday | June 19 | 7:05pm | at Dayton Wolfpack | Cancelled [lower-alpha 1] | ||
| Round | Day | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | Record | ||||||
| First Round | Friday | June 23 | 7:30pm | Columbus Lions | L 50–52 | 0–1 | PPL Center |
| 2017 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Fullbacks Wide receivers
| Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
| Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
| Reserve lists
Rookies in italics | |||
The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks were a professional indoor football team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Steelhawks began play as an expansion team in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 2011. The Steelhawks moved to the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 2013, where they made their only championship game appearance to date, losing PIFL Cup III to the Nashville Venom. The team joined American Indoor Football for the 2016 season after the PIFL folded, which lasted one season before that league also folded. They joined the National Arena League for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. The Steelhawks are the Lehigh Valley's second indoor football team, following the defunct Lehigh Valley Outlawz of the Continental Indoor Football League (2005–2008). Both teams played their home games at Stabler Arena. The Steelhawks played their home games at the PPL Center.
The 2013 Professional Indoor Football League season was the second season of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). The regular season began March 8, 2013, and ended on June 22, 2013. Each team played a 12-game schedule. The top 4 teams in the regular season standings commenced the playoffs on July 1. The final was played July 8, with the Alabama Hammers defeating the Richmond Raiders to win their first league championship.
The Trenton Freedom was a professional indoor football team based in Trenton, New Jersey. The Freedom were a member of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). The Freedom began play in 2014 as an expansion member of the PIFL. The Freedom played their home games at the Sun National Bank Center.
The 2011 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season was the first season as a professional indoor football franchise and their first in the Indoor Football League (IFL). One of 22 teams competing in the IFL for the 2011 season, the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks were members of the Atlantic Division in the United Conference.
The 2012 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season was the second season as a professional indoor football franchise and their second in the Indoor Football League (IFL). One of 16 teams competing in the IFL for the 2012 season, the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks were members of the United Conference.
The 2013 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season was the third season as a professional indoor football franchise and their first in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). One of 7 teams competing in the PIFL for the 2013 season.
The 2014 Trenton Freedom season was the first season as a professional indoor football franchise and their first in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). One of 8 teams that competed in the PIFL for the 2014 season.
Warren Smith is an American football quarterback for the Jersey Flight of the National Arena League (NAL). He played college football at the University of Maine.
The 2016 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season was the sixth season for the American indoor football franchise, and their first in the American Indoor Football (AIF).
Thomas Gilson, Jr is an American football wide receiver for the Jacksonville Sharks of the National Arena League (NAL). He played college football at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He has been a member of the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks, Cleveland Gladiators, Los Angeles Kiss, Portland Steel and Washington Valor.
The National Arena League (NAL) is a professional indoor football league that began play in 2017. It consists of teams based on the East Coast of the United States and one team in California.
The Dayton Wolfpack were a professional indoor football team and a charter member of the National Arena League (NAL) in its inaugural 2017 season. Originally to be based in Dayton, Ohio, the Wolfpack had announced their home venue as the Nutter Center but apparently failed to reach a lease agreement. The Wolfpack were then listed as a traveling team by the NAL.
The 2017 Jacksonville Sharks season was the eighth season for the professional indoor football franchise and first in the National Arena League (NAL). The Sharks were one of eight teams that competed in the NAL for its inaugural 2017 season
The 2017 National Arena League season was the inaugural season of the National Arena League (NAL). Playing with eight teams spread across the eastern and southern United States, the league's regular season kicked off on March 17, 2017, when the Columbus Lions hosted the Jacksonville Sharks and lost 41–56. The regular season ended 14 weeks later on June 17, 2017, with the Sharks hosting the Monterrey Steel and the Lions visiting the Georgia Firebirds. The playoffs were held in two rounds, with the top seed hosting the fourth seed and the second seed hosting the third seed, with the winners of these games facing in the 2017 NAL Championship hosted by the highest remaining seed.
The 2017 Columbus Lions season was the eleventh season for the professional indoor football franchise and first in the National Arena League (NAL). The Lions were one of eight teams that competed in the NAL for its inaugural 2017 season.
The 2017 Georgia Firebirds season was the second season for the professional indoor football franchise and first in the National Arena League (NAL). The Firebirds were one of eight teams that competed in the NAL for its inaugural 2017 season
The 2017 High Country Grizzlies season was the franchise's inaugural season as a professional indoor football franchise; they are an expansion team of the National Arena League. The Grizzlies were one of eight teams that competed in the NAL for its inaugural 2017 season.
The 2017 Monterrey Steel season was the team's first season as a professional indoor football franchise; they are an expansion team of the National Arena League (NAL). The Steel were one of eight teams that competed in the NAL for its inaugural 2017 season
The Massachusetts Pirates are a professional indoor football team of the Indoor Football League based in Worcester, Massachusetts, with home games at the DCU Center. The Pirates began play in the 2018 season as a member of the National Arena League (NAL).
Darius Prince is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. Before joining the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) in 2019, he played on various indoor football teams including the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks from 2016 to 2017 and the Soul from 2017 to 2018. Prince received 1st Team All-NAL team honors with the Steelhawks and the ArenaBowl MVP Award with the Soul during ArenaBowl XXX in 2017.
