The National Indoor Football League (NIFL) was a professional indoor football league in the United States. For their first six years, the league had teams in markets not covered by either the Arena Football League or its developmental league, AF2, however, that changed briefly with their expansion into AFL markets such as Atlanta, Denver, and Los Angeles, and AF2 markets such as Fort Myers and Houston. Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson, New Orleans Saints quarterback John Fourcade and Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl running back Bam Morris, all played in the NIFL. The league folded in 2008.
The RiverCity Rage were a professional indoor football team. They played home games at the Family Arena in Saint Charles, Missouri, part of the metropolitan area of St. Louis, Missouri, in past seasons, played in the Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis in the 2006 season, and returned to the Family Arena for the 2007 UIF season.
The Beaumont Drillers were a professional indoor football team. They played their home games at Ford Arena in Beaumont, Texas. They originally began playing as the Louisiana Rangers in the Indoor Professional Football League (IPFL) in 2000 when they replaced the Louisiana Bayou Beast. As the Rangers, they played their home games at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria, Louisiana. After the league collapsed, the Rangers moved into the National Indoor Football League (NIFL). After two seasons, the franchise moved to Beaumont, Texas, and became the Drillers. The team left the NIFL in 2008 and played in the American Professional Football League in 2008 with new ownership. The team played most of their schedule, cancelling two home games. The team played in APFL Bowl VI, because of the Conroe Storm withdrawing, but lost.
The Lincoln Capitols were a professional indoor football team that played their home games at Pershing Auditorium in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. They originally planned on becoming the Nebraska Knockout, but the name was scrapped. From 1999 to 2000, they were the Lincoln Lightning of the original Indoor Football League before the IFL was bought out. The Lightning then played in the Arena Football's farm league during the 2001 season, before leaving the league and joining the National Indoor Football League as the Capitols. During their four-year run, the franchise's most prominent player was a former Nebraska Cornhusker running back named Damon Benning and the franchise's owner was Andrew Cheesman. In 2005 through 2006 they had 2 standout players, Nate Jacks from Atlanta, Ga, a graduate from Clinton High School and Mike Carrawell from St. Louis, MO. The two was a combo with Coach Chris Simpson, who brought the two kick returners in to play two roles. Mike was an All-American slot receiver from Quincy University and Nate was a shutdown corner back from KU.
The Sioux City Bandits are a professional indoor football team based in Sioux City, Iowa, and compete as a member of Champions Indoor Football (CIF). The team was founded in 1999 as the Sioux City Attack. In 2001, the team assumed their current name of the Bandits. The Bandits joined the CIF as result of the merger in 2014. The Bandits play their home games at the Tyson Events Center.
The American Professional Football League (APFL) was an indoor football league that was founded in 2003. After the 2012 season, most of the teams left to start the Champions Professional Indoor Football League. The league consisted of professional and semi-professional teams, with a few core teams that played a full 10 game schedule and other teams that played partial schedules. At the end of each season, the playoffs were contested between the league's core teams. The first few years of league play were dominated by the Kansas Koyotes, but in later years the league had more parity and more stable members, resulting in the first championship won by another team, the Iowa Blackhawks, and the first championship game not involving the Koyotes, when the Iowa Blackhawks defended their championship against the Mid-Missouri Outlaws in the 2010 APFL season. Former Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl champion Clayton Holmes played for the Kansas Koyotes and former Kansas State star QB Jonathan Beasley played for the Wichita Aviators.
The Kansas Koyotes were a professional indoor football and were a charter member of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League. Based in Topeka, Kansas, the Koyotes played their home games at Landon Arena.
The Wichita Aviators were a professional indoor football team that played in the American Professional Football League (APFL). The Aviators played their home games in Britt Brown Arena at the Kansas Coliseum during the team's first season (2005). In 2006, the Aviators played their home games at the Wichita Ice Center in Wichita, Kansas. The Wichita Aviators and Kansas Koyotes were both owned by APFL founder Ralph Adams. Carl Caldwell was the head coach of the Aviators, and Mike McCoy was the General Manager.
The Lincoln Haymakers were a professional indoor football team based in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Haymakers played their 2013–2014 home games at the Pershing Center.
The Conroe Storm was an American indoor football team based out of Conroe, Texas, that played in the American Professional Football League. They were originally slated to play in the Ultimate Indoor Football League before that league's aborted merger with the NAIFL. After it appeared the NAIFL wouldn't play, they moved to APFL.
The Springfield WolfPack were an indoor football team based in Springfield, Missouri. The team played in the American Professional Football League (APFL). They folded along with the league in 2012. Home games were played at Mediacom Ice Park in Springfield, Missouri.
The Texas Thunder were a professional indoor football team that played in the American Professional Football League in 2004. The Thunder tied the Missouri Minutemen 42-42 in their inaugural APFL game.
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represents South Dakota State University in college football. The program competes at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). The Jackrabbits play their home games at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium on South Dakota State's campus in Brookings, South Dakota. South Dakota State is considered to be among the few perennial powers in the FCS. South Dakota State is also one of only 13 FCS schools to host ESPN's College GameDay. GameDay came in 2019 when the #3 Jackrabbits hosted the #1 NDSU Bison, where they lost a close battle 23-16 after losing their starting QB to a season ending knee injury.
The Florida Scorpions were an indoor football team. They were a 2008 expansion member of the American Professional Football League. They played their home games at the Manatee Civic Center. They played their first season in the National Indoor Football League as the Sarasota Knights. The NIFL suspended operation on May 14, 2007 and have advised teams to attempt to re-establish themselves financially for an attempt at a 2008 season. The Knights decided to move to the APFL, where they played in the newly-formed South Division. The APFL, and the Scorpions, would folded after the 2008 season.
The Nebraska Extreme were an indoor football team that plays in the American Professional Football League. They started as the Omaha Extreme and played their 2006 season in the MIFL. They finished with a 5-3 record.
Missouri S&T Miners refers to the students, graduates, and sports teams of Missouri University of Science and Technology. Until 1964, the school was known as the "Missouri School of Mines", and until 2008 it was the "University of Missouri—Rolla". The nickname "Miner", or a variation of it, is common at mining schools in many states. The teams compete in Division II of NCAA sports. Missouri S&T was a long-time member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) until they joined the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) in 2005. Missouri S&T's official school colors are silver and gold; the color green has historic relevance and is also used prominently.
The 2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Bill Snyder. The Wildcats played their home games in KSU Stadium. The team finished the season with a win-loss record of 11–4, and a Big 12 Conference record of 6–2. They notched a stunning 35–7 victory over the #1 ranked Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Game. With their first conference championship since 1934, they earned a berth in one of the Bowl Championship Series bowl games, the 2004 Fiesta Bowl, where they were defeated by the Ohio State Buckeyes, 35–28. The Wildcats played 15 games, most in school history.
The Kansas Storm played in the American Professional Football League in 2005. The Storm was founded by Chad and Jessica Jagerson. The Storm were originally going to play in the Midwest Indoor Football League but the league never kicked off. Storm Officials met with the APFL and thus an agreement was made for the Storm to play in the APFL as a travel team for the 2005 season and then move to an arena for the 2006 season.
The Mid-Missouri Outlaws were a professional indoor football team which began play in 2006 and were a charter member of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League. Based in Sedalia, Missouri, the Outlaws played their home games at the Mathewson Exhibition Center at the Missouri State Fairgrounds.
The Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL) was an indoor football league based along the Midwestern United States region. The league began play in February 2013. In August 2014, the CPIFL and Lone Star Football League (LSFL) completed a merger to form Champions Indoor Football (CIF) and began play in 2015.
