Massachusetts Pirates

Last updated

Massachusetts Pirates
AmericanFootball current event.svg Current season
Established 2017;7 years ago (2017)
Play in Lowell, Massachusetts
at the Tsongas Center
MassPiratesFootball.com
Massachusetts Pirates Logo.svg
League/conference affiliations
Current uniform
Massachusetts Pirates - 2021 Away Uniform Colors.jpg
Team colorsTeal, navy, gold, white
    
MascotArthur
Personnel
Owner(s)Hassan Yatim
Jawad Yatim
PresidentJawad Yatim
General managerJawad Yatim
Head coachRod Miller
Team history
  • Massachusetts Pirates (2018–present)
Championships
League championships (1)
Conference championships (1)
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (6)
Home arena(s)

The Massachusetts Pirates are a professional indoor football team of the Indoor Football League based in Lowell, Massachusetts, with home games at the Tsongas Center. [1] The Pirates began play in the 2018 season as a member of the National Arena League (NAL).

Contents

The Pirates are the first indoor or arena football team to ever call Lowell home. Before moving to Lowell, the Pirates were based in Worcester, Massachusetts and played their home games at the DCU Center. The Pirates were the third indoor/arena team to call Worcester home, following the Massachusetts Marauders of the Arena Football League (1994) and the New England Surge of the Continental Indoor Football League (2007–2008)

History

National Arena League (2017–2019)

After numerous speculation beforehand, the Pirates were officially announced as members of the NAL on November 15, 2017. [2] The team began play in the 2018 season. The Pirates won their inaugural game, played at the DCU Center on April 7, defeating the Maine Mammoths 51–24. They were led most of the season by quarterback Sean Brackett until the second-to-last regular season game where he was injured for the remainder of the season in a 46–35 loss to the Jacksonville Sharks, who then took over the top seed in the NAL. Darron Thomas started the following week in 67–7 win over the win-less Lehigh Valley Steelhawks; following a Sharks loss to the Mammoths the Pirates secured the top seed and a home game in the 2018 playoffs. The team finished their inaugural season with a regular season record of 11–5 but lost the semifinal playoff game to the Columbus Lions 50–36. After the season, inaugural head coach Ameer Ismail was hired as the head coach of the San Diego Strike Force expansion team in the Indoor Football League, [3] but then joined the NAL's Carolina Cobras instead. [4]

For the 2019 season, offensive coordinator Anthony Payton was named the head coach. [5] The team finished in third place with an 8–6 record and qualified for the playoffs. They lost the semifinal game to the Carolina Cobras 30–26.

Following the 2019 season, the NAL announced it was creating a new league via a merger with Champions Indoor Football. The Pirates announced it did not agree with the merger and withdrew from the league. [6] Head coach Payton then left to become head coach of the Carolina Cobras and was replaced by Patrick Pass. Two weeks after the announced merger, it was dissolved and the Pirates rejoined the NAL. [7] The 2020 season was then cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic making arenas unavailable. The team was removed from the NAL when it was not offered an extension on its initial three-year membership agreement [8] while the team was openly looking to join other leagues. [9]

Indoor Football League (2021–present)

On August 19, 2020, the Pirates announced that they were joining the Indoor Football League for the 2021 season as its first East Coast-based team and had signed a three-year lease extension with the DCU Center. [10] The Pirates finished in second place following the regular season and defeated the regular season champion, the Arizona Rattlers, in the United Bowl to win their first league championship.

In 2022, head coach Pass transitioned to become the director of football personnel development for the Pirates and defensive coordinator Rayshaun Kizer was promoted to head coach. [11] The Pirates finished the season with a record of 11–5 in the regular season and fell to the Quad City Steamwheelers in the first round of the IFL playoffs in OT 39–38. Four players were selected to the All-IFL team at the end of the season. Defensive back Aarion Maxey-Penton and wide receiver Thomas Owens received First All-IFL team honors while defensive lineman Da'Sean Downey and offensive lineman Roubbens Joseph received Second All-IFL team honors. [12]

On November 6, 2023, the Pirates announced that they had signed a multi-year lease with the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell beginning with the 2024 season. [1]

Personnel

Current roster

Massachusetts Pirates roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

  •  3 Jimmie Robinson

Wide receivers

  • 14 Hassan Beydoun
  •  7 Darren Carrington II
  •  6 Dallas Daniels
  • 23 Tyler Hudson
  • 81 Thomas Owens
  • 11 Teo Redding
  • 88 Isaac Zico
Offensive linemen
  • 55 Johari Branch
  • 74 Jeremy Cooper
  • 77 Navaughn Donaldson
  • 72 Jake Guidone

Defensive linemen

Linebackers
  • 10 Lamont Bishop
  • 19 Calvin Bundage
  • 22 Jaiden Woodbey

Defensive backs

Special teams

  • 13 Henry Nell
Reserve lists
  • Currently vacant

Rookies in italics
Roster updated June 26, 2024
30 Active, 0 Inactive

Management

Statistics

Season-by-season results

League championsConference championsPlayoff berthLeague leader
Season League Conference Regular season Postseason results
FinishWinsLossesTies
2018 NAL 1st1150Lost semifinal (Columbus) 36–50
2019NAL3rd860Lost semifinal (Carolina) 26–30
2020NALSeason cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 IFL 2nd1130Won first round (Bismarck) 44–19
Won semifinal (Frisco) 43–22
Won United Bowl (Arizona) 37–34
2022 IFLEastern2nd1150Lost quarterfinals (Quad City) 38–39
2023 IFLEastern3rd960Lost quarterfinals (Sioux Falls) 39–42
2024 IFLEastern3rd880Won first round (Frisco) 53–50
Won semifinal (Green Bay) 51–28
Lost IFL National Championship (Arizona) 16–53
Totals58330All-time regular season record
55—All-time postseason record
63380All-time regular season and postseason record

Head coaches

Note: Statistics are correct as of the 2024 Indoor Football League season.

NameTermRegular seasonPlayoffsAwards
WLTWin%WL
Ameer Ismail20181150.68801
Anthony Payton2019860.57101
Patrick Pass 2020–20211130.78630 2021 United Bowl Champion
Rayshaun Kizer 20221150.64701
Mark Stoute2023960.60001
Rod Miller2024–present880.500212024 United Bowl Finalist

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona Rattlers</span> Arena football team

The Arizona Rattlers are a professional indoor American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. They are currently members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team in the Arena Football League and were the third oldest active franchise in the AFL until their departure in 2016. They play their home games at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. They previously played at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Bay Blizzard</span> American indoor football team

The Green Bay Blizzard is a professional indoor football team based in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, founded in 2003. The Blizzard began play in the Indoor Football League in 2010, after having played the previous seven seasons in af2, the now-defunct minor league of the Arena Football League. They play their home games at the Resch Center. The team's logo represents Bruiser, the team mascot.

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

The Omaha Beef are a professional indoor football team based in Omaha, Nebraska. The Beef plays their home games at Liberty First Credit Union Arena in nearby Ralston. The Beef competes in the National Arena League (NAL). The Beef has been a member of several leagues, including being a charter member of Champions Indoor Football (CIF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iowa Barnstormers</span> Arena football team

The Iowa Barnstormers are a professional indoor football team based in Des Moines, Iowa. They are currently members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). They play their home games at Wells Fargo Arena, known in indoor football circles as "The Well".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spokane Shock</span> Arena football team

The Spokane Shock were a professional indoor American football team based in Spokane, Washington, that played their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. The team was initially a member of arenafootball2 (af2), the Shock won division titles in all four seasons and ArenaCups in 2006 and 2009 before they joined the Arena Football League (AFL) in its 2010 relaunch. The team advanced to the playoffs three times after joining the AFL, winning ArenaBowl XXIII in their first season, making them the only arena football franchise to win both the ArenaCup and the ArenaBowl.

Kevin Guy is an arena football coach and former wide receiver and defensive back who is the head coach for the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played his college football at the University of West Alabama, and was an AFL wide receiver and defensive back from 1996 to 1999. He has been a football coach since 2000, and first served as a head coach in 2000 as the interim head coach for the New Jersey Red Dogs. After being the defensive coordinator for the San Jose SaberCats from 2006 to 2007, he became the Rattlers head coach in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacksonville Sharks</span> Arena football team

The Jacksonville Sharks are a professional indoor football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, playing their home games at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. As of 2024, they are members of the Indoor Football League (IFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cedar Rapids River Kings</span> American indoor football team

The Cedar Rapids River Kings are a professional indoor football team based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They were previously members of American Indoor Football and play their homes at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse.

The Louisville Xtreme were an indoor football team based in Louisville, Kentucky, with home games at the KFC Yum! Center. They began play as the Kentucky Xtreme in the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) in 2013 and 2014. Midway through the 2014 CIFL season, the league removed the team's membership and the Xtreme temporarily suspended operations. After playing the 2015 season in the semi-professional Minor League Football Alliance (MLFA), the team rebranded as the Louisville Xtreme in 2017. In 2020, the Xtreme were added to the American Arena League (AAL) but cancelled its season citing the COVID-19 pandemic. For the 2021 season, the Xtreme were announced to be joining the National Arena League, but instead joined the Indoor Football League three months later.

Tyler Knight is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Omaha Beef of the National Arena League (NAL). He played college football at Mississippi Valley State, and currently plays for the Sioux City Bandits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billings Wolves</span> Indoor football team in Montana, US

The Billings Wolves were a professional indoor football team based in Billings, Montana and members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Wolves began play in 2015 as an expansion team of the IFL. The Wolves were owned by Ron Benzel and coached by Chris Dixon. The Wolves played their home games at the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.

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

Champions Indoor Football (CIF) was a professional indoor American football minor league created in 2014 out of the merger between the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL) and Lone Star Football League (LSFL), plus one team from the Indoor Football League and two expansion teams.

Rayshaun Kizer is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator of the Tucson Sugar Skulls of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He was the former head coach and defensive coordinator of the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League (IFL) and of the Omaha Beef of Champions Indoor Football (CIF). He is also a former National Football League, Canadian Football League, and Arena Football League defensive back. He played his college football at Walsh University and graduated with his bachelor's degree in Computer Science. He has been a member of the New York Jets of the National Football League, Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League, Orlando Predators, Philadelphia Soul, Arizona Rattlers, New Orleans VooDoo, Los Angeles KISS and Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League and Green Bay Blizzard of the Arena Football 2. He also served as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and special teams coach of the Bismarck Bucks of the IFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Arena League</span> American indoor football league

The National Arena League (NAL) is a professional indoor football league that began play in 2017. As of the end of the 2024 season, the league consisted of five teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia Roughriders</span>

The West Virginia Roughriders were a professional indoor football team based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They were founded in 2016 as the Richmond Roughriders and played at the Richmond Coliseum in 2017 and 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolina Cobras (NAL)</span> American indoor football team

The Carolina Cobras are a professional indoor football team in the National Arena League (NAL) and that began play for the 2018 season. Based in Greensboro, North Carolina, the Cobras play their home games at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frisco Fighters</span> Indoor football team

The Frisco Fighters are a professional indoor football team based in Frisco, Texas. A member of the Indoor Football League, the Fighters play their home games at the Comerica Center. The team was set to participate in the 2020 season, but were unable to play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2021 Indoor Football League season was the thirteenth season of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The league played the season with twelve teams, down from thirteen the previous season, by adding one expansion team, one team from the National Arena League, one team from the American Arena League, and four teams going on hiatus. In addition, three existing teams made their IFL on-field debut after the 2020 season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

James Ray Fuller is an American football coach and former defensive back who is currently the offensive coordinator for the San Antonio Gunslingers of the National Arena League (NAL). He played college football at Walla Walla CC and Portland State before being selected in the 8th round of the 1992 NFL draft; he went on to play three seasons with the San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles while also spending time in the World League of American Football (WLAF) for the Scottish Claymores and Arena Football League (AFL) for the Portland Forest Dragons. He later served as a coach for the Forest Dragons, Bakersfield Blitz, Philadelphia Soul, Dallas Desperados, Dallas Vigilantes, Richmond Raiders, Maine Mammoths, and Jacksonville Sharks.

The 2024 Indoor Football League season is the sixteenth season of the Indoor Football League (IFL). It is also the second year it functions as a de facto minor league of the UFL, having originally started as a partnership with the XFL.

References

  1. 1 2 "Massachusetts Pirates Ink Multi-Year Agreement with The Tsongas Center". MassPiratesFootball.com. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  2. ↑ "The Massachusetts Pirates, a new arena league football team, to play at Worcester's DCU Center". MassLive.com. November 15, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Indoor Football League takes flight in America's Finest City with the San Diego Strike Force". San Diego Strike Force. December 17, 2018.
  4. ↑ "2018 NAL Coach of the Year joins Cobras". Carolina Cobras. January 5, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Pirates Name Payton Head Coach - Gilliam Defensive Coordinator". Pirates. January 7, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Pirates Weigh Anchor from NAL/CIF Partnership". Massachusetts Pirates. September 26, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Pirates Return to NAL for 2020". Massachusetts Pirates. October 10, 2019.
  8. ↑ "NAL Update: Massachusetts Pirates". National Arena League. July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  9. ↑ Garven, Rich (June 23, 2020). "Indoor football: Massachusetts Pirates continue to focus forward". Telegram & Gazette .
  10. ↑ Bonner, Michael (August 19, 2020). "'An anchor team to build towards': Worcester Pirates become first east-coast team to join Indoor Football League, ink 3-year extension at DCU Center". The Republican . Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  11. ↑ "PIRATES MOVE PASS TO FRONT OFFICE, PROMOTE HEAD COACH FROM WITHIN". Massachusetts Pirates. January 29, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Pirates' Thomas Owens and Aarion Maxey-Penton Named To All-IFL First Team". Massachusetts Pirates. August 8, 2022.
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.