American Flag Football League

Last updated
American Flag Football League
Current season, competition or edition:
Sports current event.svg 2025 American Flag Football League season
SportProfessional Flag football
Founded2017
First season2018
PresidentJeff Lewis
No. of teams4
CountryUnited States
Headquarters New York
Official website American Professional Flag Football

The American Flag Football League is a semi-professional flag football league started in 2017. The league was founded by Jeff Lewis in May 2017, and played a tournament-style schedule every summer. League players are not paid during the season and most of them are primarily amateurs, instead cash prizes are awarded to the tournament winners. [1] The AFFL plan to launch a four-team pro league in 2024. [2] However, the AFFL announced in April 2024 that the debut season would be delayed until 2025 with additional teams and a women's division. [3]

Contents

The game is played seven players a side with no kicking game and no tackling.

History

Its first official game was an exhibition played between Team Vick (led by former NFL quarterback Michael Vick) and Team Owens (led by former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens) on June 27, 2017, [4] at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California and was broadcast live on the league's website and rebroadcast on their official YouTube channel, [5] [6] The AFFL also had plans to have eight league-owned teams ready to kick off for an inaugural season in 2018. [7]

In 2018, the league began formal play with its first US Open of Football tournament. [1] [8] [9] The tournament format was broken into two converging, single-elimination brackets, with 32 teams of primarily amateurs on one side vying for the title of America's Champion and 4 teams of primarily professional gridiron football players on the other. The two champions would then meet in the Ultimate Final to decide the US Open champion. Prior to the US Open, the amateur bracket was narrowed down to 32 teams from a field of 124 teams via regional qualifiers. [10] The winning team will take home a $1,000,000 prize. For the 2019 and 2021 seasons, the winning team prize money was $200,000. [11]

In 2021 the league added a women's division, with The Academy defeating She Blitz 26-0 and winning the $200,000 prize money. [12]

2022–present

The league cancelled the 2022 tournament with an aim to move from knockout tournament to a regular professional league, with four to six teams that will play doubleheaders over a 10-week season to be launched in 2023. [2] In October 2022, the league sold its first franchises (Boston and Las Vegas) for $3 million each, while the league mentioned an ongoing discussions about a third franchise in Pittsburgh, with other teams targeted in Florida and Texas. [13] [14] In March 2023 the AFFL pushed the league starting date to 2024, after failing to secure additional owners, franchises and playing locations on time. [2] The league also mentioned they aim to start a women's league in 2025. [2] The AAFL also stated the men's and women's amateur tournaments will continue. [15]

In October 2023 the AFFL announced the league will launch on Saturday, April 27, 2024, with four-teams eight-week season. The teams will be located in Dallas and Nashville in addition to the already announced Boston and Las Vegas. The Championship Game will be played in the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. [16] The teams will barnstorm around the five locations, as all will be playing at the same location each weekend, with each team will play two games a day, for a total of four games at each venue weekly. [17]

Teams

The American Flag Football League inaugural season will kick off with four teams in five locations: [18] [19]

ClubCityStadiumCapacityHead coach
Boston Brigade Quincy, Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Stadium 5,000Matt Bailey
Dallas Ocelots Dallas, Texas Gerald J. Ford Stadium/
Ford Center at The Star 		32,000
12,000		Patrick Alley
Las Vegas Lucky Sevens Las Vegas, Nevada Cashman Field 12,500 [lower-alpha 1] Jerry Urias
Nashville Nighthawks Nashville, Tennessee Vanderbilt University Soccer Complex 1,000Chris Hughes

Players and coaches

For the 2024 season the league announced the hiring of the four head coaches for the inaugural season, all with a deep background in flag football: Patrick Alley (Dallas), Chris Hughes (Nashville), Matt Bailey (Boston) and Jerry Urias (Las Vegas). [21]

On November 21, 2023, the AFFL announced their core players for its inaugural season, as many of the players have competed for USA Football in the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama. [22] [23] The AFFL's pro men's league plan to pay players $1,000 a week, plus travel and away game expenses. [13]

Rules

General rules

Post-snap

Scoring

Penalties

Source: [27]

Champions

YearAmerica's ChampionPro ChampionFinal score
2018Fighting CancerGodspeed
(Captain(s): M. Johnson/J. Forsett)		26–6
2019 [28] Fighting CancerTexas Money Team22–14
2020Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 [29] Kings of FloridaFreaks2-1 [lower-alpha 2]

Media coverage

In 2018, the league reached a broadcast deal with NFL Network, covering the final 11 games of the U.S. Open of Football tournament. [30] [31] [32] The league is leveraging technologies such as using a skycam as the primary angle, on-field graphics (such as a color-changing line of scrimmage and clock) for the league's "Go Clock" rule, and microphones on players. [33]

For the 2021 season, the AFFL reached a broadcast deal with CBS Sports, covering the 2021 tournament's Men's Final and the inaugural Women's Division Final. [34]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arena Football League</span> Professional American arena football league

The Arena Football League (AFL) can refer to one of three successive professional indoor American football leagues in the United States. The first of these was founded in 1986, and played its first official games in the 1987 season, running for 22 consecutive seasons until going bankrupt following the 2008 season. The second league, consisting largely of teams from the first AFL and arenafootball2, purchased the first league's assets out of bankruptcy and resumed play in 2010 as a continuation of the first AFL; this second AFL ran for ten further seasons, before again going bankrupt following the 2019 season. A third AFL, which is not directly connected to the previous two iterations of the league but claiming their histories and trademarks, intends to launch in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag football</span> Variant of American football

Flag football is a variant of gridiron football where, instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier ("deflagging") to end a down. In flag football, contact is limited between players. The sport has a strong amateur following with several national and international competitions each year sponsored by various associations but is most popularly played in America where it was invented. The international governing body for the sport is the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). In 2022, flag football was shortlisted as a proposed discretionary event for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, with inclusion being accepted on October 16, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pro Bowl</span> All-star event of the National Football League (NFL)

The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's star players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Vick</span> American football player (born 1980)

Michael Dwayne Vick is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. Regarded as having transformed the quarterback position with his rushing abilities, he is the NFL leader in quarterback rushing yards and was the league's first quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Vick played college football at Virginia Tech, where he won the Archie Griffin Award as a freshman, and was selected first overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2001 NFL draft. During his six years with the Falcons, he was named to three Pro Bowls and led the team to two playoff runs, one division title, and an NFC Championship Game appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arena football</span> Variation of gridiron football played at ice hockey-sized indoor arenas

Arena football is a variety of eight-man indoor gridiron football. The game is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian football, designed to fit in the same surface area as a standard North American ice hockey rink, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game that can be played on the floors of indoor arenas. The sport was invented in 1981, and patented in 1987, by Jim Foster, a former executive of the National Football League and the United States Football League. The name is trademarked by Gridiron Enterprises and had a proprietary format until its patent expired in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">X League (women's football)</span> American womens tackle football league

The Extreme Football League is a women's semi-professional indoor American football league operating in the United States. The league was originally founded in 2009 as the Lingerie Football League (LFL), and later rebranded as the Legends Football League in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy Vincent</span> American football player (born 1970)

Troy Darnell Vincent Sr. is an American sports executive and former football cornerback who played for the Miami Dolphins, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Dolphins as the seventh overall pick in the 1992 NFL draft. He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023. On September 28, 2011, Vincent was named as one of the preliminary nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2012 in his first year of eligibility and each year since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AFC West</span> One of four divisions in the NFLs American Football Conference

The American Football Conference – Western Division or AFC West is one of the four divisions of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The division comprises the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers.

The Las Vegas metropolitan area is home to many sports, most of which take place in the unincorporated communities around Las Vegas rather than in the city itself. Currently, the Las Vegas Valley has three major league professional teams: the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL), which began play in 2017 as the region's first major pro team, the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) which began play in 2020 after relocating from Oakland, California, and the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB) plan to move to Las Vegas to play at a new ballpark which is estimated to be complete by 2028. When this relocation happens, Las Vegas will have progressed from being the largest market in the U.S. with no teams in the men's major professional leagues to being one of the smallest markets with at least three such teams within less than a decade. In addition, the National Basketball Association has publicly confirmed Las Vegas is being considered for an expansion franchise, which would potentially make Las Vegas by far the fastest market to progress from no teams in the Big Four leagues to having teams in all four leagues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada</span>

Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada traditionally include four leagues: Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), and the National Hockey League (NHL). Other prominent leagues include Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Football League (2009–2012)</span> Defunct American professional football league

The United Football League (UFL) was a professional American football minor league based in the United States that began play in October 2009 and played four seasons, the final one being cut short in October 2012. The small league, which never had more than five teams playing at one time, played most of its games in markets where the National Football League (NFL) had no current presence. Unlike most alternative professional football leagues since the 1980s, the UFL played all of its games in the traditional fall season, competing directly with the NFL, college football, and high school football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Washington, D.C.</span>

Washington, D.C., has major league sports teams, popular college sports teams, and a variety of other team and individual sports. The Washington metropolitan area is also home to several major sports venues including Capital One Arena, RFK Stadium, Commanders Field, Audi Field, and Nationals Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in the San Francisco Bay Area</span> Overview of sports in the San Francisco Bay Area

The San Francisco Bay Area, which includes the major cities of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, hosts six major league sports franchises, with a major women's sports franchise soon to start play, as well as several other professional and college sports teams, and hosts other sports events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in San Diego</span>

Sports in San Diego includes one major professional sports team, other highest-level professional teams, minor league teams, and college athletics. The San Diego Padres play in Major League Baseball (MLB). San Diego FC begins play in Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2025. San Diego State Aztecs teams play in NCAA Division I (FBS). The Farmers Insurance Open is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, played annually at Torrey Pines Golf Course.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professional sports leagues in the United States</span>

Professional sports leagues in the United States includes major professional sports leagues, other highest-level professional leagues, and minor leagues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fan Controlled Football</span> Professional indoor football league

Fan Controlled Football (FCF) is a dormant professional 7-on-7 indoor football league that played two seasons in 2021 and 2022. The league operated on the premise of fans voting on play calls and other in-game events. All games were played at the Pullman Yards in Atlanta, Georgia and broadcast on streaming television. The league plans to return in 2024.

The XFL was a professional American football minor league consisting of eight teams located across the United States in mid-sized to major markets. It is now one of the two-component conferences of the United Football League (UFL), along with the United States Football League (USFL). The XFL league headquarters were in Arlington, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European League of Football</span> Professional American football league

The European League of Football (ELF) is a professional American football league based in Europe, continuing some team names and logos of the former NFL Europe. The ELF played its first season in 2021, and has 17 teams in the 2023 season. Teams are located in Germany, Poland, Spain, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and France, with plans to expand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Football League (2022–2023)</span> Professional American football league

The United States Football League (USFL) was a professional American football minor league that began play on April 16, 2022. It is now one of the two-component conferences of the United Football League (UFL), along with the XFL.

The United States Football League was a proposed American professional football minor league founded in 2008 and aimed to begin play on February 20, 2010. The league was also known as the New United States Football League to distinguish it from the 1983–85 league of the same name. During its lifetime, the league had three different owner groups, with the last one aimed to start a season in 2015, but the plans never materialized; it was not until 2022 that a new version of the USFL would come to fruition; none of these versions of the USFL are directly related to each other.

References

  1. 1 2 Pierce, David (July 11, 2017). "Pro Flag Football—Just Like the NFL, but Exciting!". Wired . Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "American Flag Football League Sells Dallas Team, Plans Women's League". Sportico. 9 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "AMERICAN FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE DELAYS MEN'S PRO LAUNCH TO 2025". Sportico. April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  4. ↑ Taylor, Tom (June 29, 2017). "Star-studded flag football league leans on NFL influences in debut". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  5. ↑ The American Flag Football League - Full Launch Game, League's YouTube channel
  6. ↑ Leung, Diamond (May 18, 2017). "A Pro Flag Football League Is Launching And It Might Be The Most High-Tech League In The World". SportTechie. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Weekly Sports League & Franchise Report by Dan Krieger July 3, 2017". OurSports Central. 3 July 2017.
  8. ↑ Rovell, Darren (May 18, 2017). "Michael Vick to play in trial game for American Flag Football League". ESPN . Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  9. ↑ Redd, Derek (May 19, 2018). "WV Ruckus hopes to make some noise in major flag football tournament". Charleston Gazette-Mail.
  10. ↑ "Bracket".
  11. ↑ "$200,000 on the line this weekend in women's flag football finals in Houston". KHOU. 26 August 2021.
  12. ↑ "American Flag Football League crowns first women's champion with $200K prize". Just Women’s Sports. 31 August 2021.
  13. 1 2 "American Flag Football League Sells Boston, Vegas Franchises for $3M". Sportico. 27 October 2022.
  14. ↑ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger January 23, 2023". OurSports Central. 23 January 2023.
  15. ↑ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger May 9, 2022". OurSports Central. 9 May 2022.
  16. ↑ "American Flag Football League Unveils Team Venues and Schedule". Business Wire. 20 October 2023.
  17. ↑ "American Flag Football League announces venues, schedule". Sports Business Journal. 19 October 2023.
  18. ↑ "American Flag Football's Inaugural 2024 Season To Feature Big Games in North Texas, Including the Championship". Dallas Innovates. 24 October 2023.
  19. ↑ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger November 27, 2023". OurSports Central. 27 November 2023.
  20. ↑ "Las Vegas Lights FC will be Cashman Field's only tenant in 2019". November 29, 2017. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  21. ↑ "THE FUTURE OF FOOTBALL IS FLAG: THE AMERICAN FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE ANNOUNCES HEAD COACHES FOR INAUGURAL SEASON". News Direct. 12 July 2023.
  22. ↑ "American Flag Football League announces core players for inaugural men's pro league". The Washington Post.
  23. ↑ "American Flag Football League Reveals Core Players". Business Wire (Press release). 21 November 2023.
  24. 1 2 "Hall of Fame hosting national flag football event this weekend".
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 Pierce, David. "Pro Flag Football—Just Like the NFL, But Exciting!". Wired.
  26. ↑ "High-Tech Pro Flag Football To Launch, Will American Flag Football League, SMT Succeed?". 18 May 2017.
  27. ↑ "Home - American Flag Football League". American Flag Football League.
  28. ↑ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger July 1, 2019". OurSports Central. July 2019.
  29. ↑ "2021 Men's Division Final Results". American Flag Football League. Archived from the original on 2022-12-03.
  30. ↑ "NFL Network set to air 11 flag football games". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
  31. ↑ Weiner, Natalie (May 26, 2017). "Michael Vick, Other Former Players Talk New Flag Football League". Bleacher Report . Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  32. ↑ "NFL Network to Broadcast Pro Flag Football in 2018 - NFL Football Operations". NFL. 28 February 2018.
  33. ↑ "AFFL Production Style Is Back With U.S. Open of Football on NFL Network". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
  34. ↑ "CBS Sports Network to broadcast American Flag Football League games starting this summer". CBS. 17 March 2021.
  1. ↑ Approximate capacity, including standing room and lawn seating. Cashman Field has 9,334 fixed seating, and it can expand to 14,500 with temporary bleachers. [20]
  2. ↑ Best-of-3 series (46-47, 26-13, 14-0)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.