Chicago Blitz (indoor football)

Last updated
Chicago Blitz (indoor football)
Established 2014
Play in Villa Park, Illinois
at the Odeum Expo Center
ChicagoBlitzCIFL.png
League/conference affiliations
Continental Indoor Football League (2014)
  • North Division (2014)

American Indoor Football (2015–2016)

  • Northern Division (2016)
Midwest Professional Indoor Football (2018)
Current uniform
Team colorsGold, black, white
   
Personnel
Owner(s)Mike Oliver
General managerMike Dortch
Head coachMike Oliver
Team history
  • Chicago Blitz (2014–2016, 2018)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (1)
Home arena(s)

The Chicago Blitz were a professional indoor football team based in Villa Park, Illinois. The Blitz were members of American Indoor Football (AIF) in 2015 and 2016 and the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) in 2014. They played their home games at the Odeum Expo Center. The Blitz briefly joined the regional Midwest Professional Indoor Football (MPIF) for the 2018 season, but ceased operations once again after three games.

Contents

Franchise history

2014

The Blitz came into existence in January 2014, after the Chicago Slaughter announced that they would be sitting out the 2014 season just one month before the regular season began. [1] The team's name and logo (but not the colors) are an adaptation of the United States Football League franchise of the same name.

On February 9, 2014, the Blitz played their first ever game, losing 42–25 to the Saginaw Sting. [2]

2015

On October 4, 2014, the Blitz announced they were joining X-League Indoor Football [3] for the 2015 season. Shortly after, the team was removed from the X-League website, and was no longer affiliated with the X-League. On October 15, 2014, the Blitz joined American Indoor Football (AIF), following former CIFL team, the Sting. [4] The Blitz finished the regular season 6–2, earning the 3 seed in the AIF playoffs. They defeated the 2nd seeded Saginaw Sting 63–45 in the AIF semifinals, earning a berth in the 2015 AIF Championship Game. The Blitz traveled to York, Pennsylvania to take on the York Capitals for the AIF crown. The Blitz fell to the Capitals 30–58. [5]

2016

The Blitz played their second season in the AIF as members of the Northern Division. The team earned a 3–3 record but cancelled their final game of the season at the West Michigan Ironmen and team owner Mike Oliver immediately announced that the team was for sale. After the season ended, the AIF removed the Blitz from its team listings.

2018

The Blitz returned for the 2018 season as members of the regional Midwest Professional Indoor Football (MPIF). The Blitz began their season on the road, defeating the Cincinnati Flex 46–33. The Flex folded shortly afterwards. The Blitz then lost to the Midway Marauders (28–38) and West Michigan Ironmen (41–68). On March 30, 2018, the Blitz announced they had left the MPIF stating: "This is not the brand of football the Chicago Blitz has been accustomed to in the past, nor is it a brand we want to be associated with, from league standards to their flagship team." [6] The Blitz then canceled the rest of their 2018 games.

Season-by-season results

League ChampionsConference ChampionsDivision ChampionsPlayoff BerthLeague Leader
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results
FinishWinsLossesTies
2014 2014 CIFL North3rd730
2015 2015 AIF 3rd620Won AIF Semifinals (Saginaw) 63–45
Lost AIF Championship Game (York) 30–58
2016 2016 AIFNorthern330
20182018MPIF120
Totals17100All-time regular season record (2014–2016)
11—All-time postseason record (2014–2018)
18110All-time regular season and postseason record (2014–2018)

Notable players

Final AIF roster

2021 Chicago Blitz roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Kickers

Injured Reserve

Exempt List

Practice squad

  • currently vacant
  • rookies in italics
  • Roster updated May 12, 2016
  • 30 Active, 2 Inactive

→ More rosters

Awards and honors

The following is a list of all Chicago Blitz players who have won league awards

SeasonPlayerPositionAward
2014 Julie Harshbarger K CIFL Special Teams of the Year
2015 Julie Harshbarger K AIF Special Teams of the Year

All-League players

The following Blitz players have been named to All-League Teams:

Coaches of note

Head coaches

NameTermRegular seasonPlayoffsAwards
WLTWin%WL
Mike Oliver 2014–2016, 201817100.63011

Coaching staff

Chicago Blitz staff
Front office
  • General manager – Mike Dortch
  • Director of player personnel – Vince Mucci
  • Equipment manager – Jeff Henderson
 

Head coach

  • Head coach - Mike Oliver

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive coordinator – Mike Oliver
  • Assistant offensive coordinator – Dave Auwerda
  • Offensive Line - Chris Van Stone

Defensive coaches

  • Defensive coordinator – Noel Soto
  • Assistant defensive coordinator – Dennison Robinson
  • Defensive line – Chris Van Stone

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Indoor Football</span> Former professional indoor football league

American Indoor Football (AIF) is a professional indoor football league, one of the several regional professional indoor football leagues in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Continental Indoor Football League</span> US indoor football league

The Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) was an indoor football league based along the Midwestern United States region that played nine seasons from 2006 to 2014. It began play in April 2006 as the Great Lakes Indoor Football League (GLIFL). It was formed by Jeff Spitaleri, his brother Eric, and a third member, Cory Trapp, all from the Canton, Ohio, area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erie Explosion</span> American indoor football team

The Erie Explosion was a professional American indoor football team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2007 as the Pittsburgh RiverRats, the Explosion played in the Professional Indoor Football League, the United Indoor Football League, the Southern Indoor Football League, the Continental Indoor Football League and the American Indoor Football Association and operated continuously from 2007 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saginaw Sting</span> American indoor football team

The Saginaw Sting was a professional Indoor Football team based in Saginaw, Michigan. The team was most recently a member of American Indoor Football (AIF). They began play in 2008 as an expansion team in the Continental Indoor Football League and then moved to the Indoor Football League for the 2009 season. They suspended operations for the 2010 season before becoming an inaugural member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League. The following season they were suspended by the UIFL and re-joined the CIFL under new ownership. The team has since moved to the AIF. The owners of the Sting were Stuart Schweigert, Rob Licht and Jim O'Brien. The Sting played their home games at The Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indianapolis Enforcers</span> Indoor football team

The Indianapolis Enforcers were a professional indoor football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team was a member of the Continental Indoor Football League. The Enforcers joined the CIFL in 2011 as an expansion team. The Enforcers were the second indoor football team to be based in Indianapolis, the first being the Indiana Firebirds of the Arena Football League from 2001 to 2004. The founder and owner of the Enforcers was K.C. Carter. The Enforcers played their home games at The SportZone in Indianapolis after playing the 2011 season as a travel team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Kentucky River Monsters</span> Professional indoor football team based in Highland Heights, Kentucky

The Northern Kentucky River Monsters were a professional indoor football team based in Highland Heights, Kentucky. The River Monsters began play as a charter member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League (UIFL) for its inaugural 2011 season spending one season in the UIFL before reaching an agreement with league management to leave. After a two-year hiatus, the River Monsters returned in 2014 as a member of the South Division of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL). The River Monsters played their home games at The Bank of Kentucky Center. On June 6, 2011, it was announced that the UIFL and the River Monsters mutually agreed to part ways, leaving the team free to join another league. However, the UIFL had a lease agreement with the arena, which hampered the likelihood the River Monsters would play in Highland Heights in 2012. The team had been mentioned as a charter member Stadius Football Association in 2012, but that league never got off the ground. The team suspended operations on October 1, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Pythons</span>

The Chicago Pythons were a professional indoor football team based in Homer Glen, Illinois. The team was a member of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL). The Pythons joined the CIFL in 2012 as an expansion team under the name "Chicago Vipers". They changed their name to the "Chicago Pythons" four weeks into the season. The Pythons were the third indoor football team based in the Chicago area. The Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League were based in Rosemont, and the Chicago Slaughter of the Indoor Football League are based in Hoffman Estates. The Pythons replaced the Chicago Knights, formerly the Chicago Cardinals, as the Illinois-based CIFL team, which replaced the Slaughter after they left for the Indoor Football League after a dispute with CIFL management. The Owner of the Pythons was Michael Duran. The Pythons were supposed to play their home games at The Megaplex in Homer Glen, Illinois, but the team never hosted a home game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detroit Thunder</span> American professional indoor football team

The Detroit Thunder was a professional indoor football team based in Fraser, Michigan. The team was a member of the Continental Indoor Football League. The Thunder were the third indoor football team to have called the Motor City home, following two Arena Football League teams: the four-time ArenaBowl champion Detroit Drive (1988–1993) and the Detroit Fury (2001–2004). In addition, a team called the Motor City Reapers was proposed for the 2007 CIFL season, but the team folded before ever playing a single game. The Thunder were owned by Terrence and Lawrence Foster.

The 2013 Detroit Thunder season was the first season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise.

The 2013 Continental Indoor Football League season will be the Continental Indoor Football League's eighth overall season. The regular season will start on Friday February 8, with the Marion Blue Racers visiting the Saginaw Sting at the Dow Event Center, and will end with the 2013 CIFL Championship Game, the league's championship game being held on, or around, May 18. The league approved the expansion of the playoff format from four teams to six teams.

The 2014 Chicago Blitz season was the first season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise.

The 2014 Saginaw Sting season was the sixth season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise.

The 2015 American Indoor Football season was the tenth season of American Indoor Football (AIF). The regular season began March 20, 2015, and ended on May 23, 2015. Each team played an 8-game schedule, with the exception of the Maryland Eagles, who were scheduled to play a 4-game schedule, all on the road. The top 4 teams in the league advanced to the playoffs that began on May 30, 2015.

The 2015 Saginaw Sting season was the seventh season for the American Indoor Football (AIF) franchise, and their first season in the AIF.

The 2015 Chicago Blitz season was the second season for the American Indoor Football (AIF) franchise, and their first season in the AIF.

The 2015 ASI Panthers season was the first season for the American Indoor Football (AIF) franchise, and their first and only season in the AIF.

The 2015 York Capitals season was the third season for the American Indoor Football (AIF) franchise, and their third season in the AIF.

Supreme Indoor Football (SIF) is an inactive professional indoor football league based in the Southeastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Michigan Ironmen</span> Sports team

The West Michigan Ironmen are a professional indoor football team based in Muskegon, Michigan, the Ironmen play their home games at Trinity Health Arena. The team joined American Indoor Football (AIF) in 2016. The AIF ceased operations following the 2016 season, leaving the Ironmen without a league. They joined Champions Indoor Football for the 2017 season. For the 2018 season, the team was originally announced to have joined the Indoor Football League, however, the team was forced to sit out the 2018 Indoor Football League season. The team was then sold and played in the regional Midwest Professional Indoor Football for the 2018 season until they could rejoin the CIF in 2019. However, they were not among the list of members for the 2019 CIF season and instead joined the American Arena League.

The 2016 American Indoor Football season was the eleventh and final season of American Indoor Football (AIF). The regular season began February 27, 2016, and ended on May 23, 2016. Each team played a game schedule of varying lengths.

References

  1. ↑ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSportsCentral. January 27, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  2. ↑ Cory Butzin (February 10, 2014). "Saginaw Sting overcome slow start, roll to big win over Chicago Blitz in CIFL season opener". www.mlive.com. MLive Media Group. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Chicago Blitz Are Latest to Join X-League". X-League Indoor Football. October 4, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Chicago Blitz Joins AIF". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 15, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  5. ↑ Eric Thomas (June 6, 2015). "Watson's defense spurs York Capitals to AIF championship vs. Chicago Blitz". www.ydr.com. The York Daily Record. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  6. ↑ "March 30, 2018, Blitz Facebook post". Facebook. March 30, 2018.
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.