The 2022 National Arena League season was the fifth season of the National Arena League (NAL). The league played with only six teams mostly based in the Eastern United States, with one new team arriving from the American Arena League, the San Antonio Gunslingers, based in Texas. The season ended with the Albany Empire, Carolina Cobras, Columbus Lions, and Jacksonville Sharks qualifying for the playoffs and the Albany Empire winning the championship.
Ironman football For the season, the league re-introduced ironman football rules. This concept had previously been used by the Arena Football League from 1987 up to 2007. Ironman football is a variant that allows players to play in both the offense and the defense for the game. Only two players from the offense, two players from the defense, and one player from the special teams can have a player who has their position for just one side of the ball. The stated goal of the ironman football rules is to see players become more creative by showing their skills on offense and defense.
Teams For 2022, the NAL consisted of six teams without conferences or divisions. Each team played 12 games, six home and six away, with the exception of the Carolina Cobras and the Jacksonville Sharks who both played 14 games, seven home and seven away. During the season, there were two byes given out, with the exception of the Carolina Cobras and the Jacksonville Sharks, where they do not get a bye week.
+2022 National Arena League SeasonTeamsLocationArenaCapacityFoundedJoinedHead CoachAlbany EmpireAlbany, New YorkMVP Arena13,00020202021Tom MenasCarolina CobrasGreensboro, North CarolinaGreensboro Coliseum Complex5,00020182018Josh ResignaloColumbus LionsColumbus, GeorgiaColumbus Civic Center10,00020062017Jason GibsonJacksonville SharksJacksonville, FloridaVyStar Veterans Memorial Arena15,00020092017Siaha BurleyOrlando PredatorsOrlando, FloridaAmway Center20,00020192019Jeff HigginsSan Antonio GunslingersSan Antonio, TexasFreeman Coliseum11,70020202021Fred Shaw Reference for teams in 2022:
Standings +2022 National Arena League StandingsTeam Win Loss PCT PF PA STKz – Albany Empire84.667717619W4y – Carolina Cobras95.643725676W1x – Columbus Lions75.583576554W3x – Jacksonville Sharks77.500707663L2e – San Antonio Gunslingers48.333647720L1e – Orlando Predators39.250492632L6 z – clinched home field advantage
y – clinched home playoff game
e – eliminated from playoffs
Reference:
Playoffs Reference:
Controversies In a game between the Orlando Predators and the San Antonio Gunslingers, after official Andrew McGrath got injured and taken to the hospital in the second quarter due to a broken clavicle and a face laceration, and there were only four referees left. In the fourth quarter, with 24 seconds left, a Gunslinger was close to the end zone, and one referee signaled touchdown while the other signaled him short of the goal line, however, the clock kept until the time was out while the referees were discussing the play. After review, the runner was short of the goal line. The clock was set to four seconds left, however, per league rules there was a 10 second run-off since the ball was not spotted before the previous play. The Gunslingers then scored the game-winning play. After a review by commissioner Chris Siegfried, the lead official, and the supervisor of officials, they decided that that was the correct call. In a game between the Jacksonville Sharks and the San Antonio Gunslingers, Jacksonville player Devin Wilson hit official Gary Vaught from behind. The player was suspended indefinitely.
Awards
Players of the Week +Players of the Week throughout the 2022 NAL SeasonWeeksOffensive Player of the WeekDefensive Player of the WeekSpecial Team Player of the WeekIronman Player of the Week1Devin Wilson, Jacksonville SharksWalter Thomas, Carolina CobrasDarius Prince, Albany Empire (1/4)Jarmon Fortson, Columbus Lions2Sam Castronova, Albany Empire (1/3)Rob Jones, Jacksonville SharksMarc Orozco, Albany Empire (1/3)Darius Prince, Albany Empire (2/4)3Darius Prince, Albany Empire (3/4)Cris Page, Carolina Cobras (1/2)Marc Orozco, Albany Empire (2/3)Zack Brown, Carolina Cobras (1/2)4Malik Henry, Jacksonville SharksKwan Stallworth, Jacksonville SharksTC Stevens, Carolina Cobras (1/3)Miles Kelly, Jacksonville Sharks5Darius Prince, Albany Empire (4/4)Cris Page, Carolina Cobras (2/2)Marc Orozco, Albany Empire (3/3)Dwayne Hollis, Albany Empire6Rakeem Cato, Orlando PredatorsDroell Greene, Columbus LionsCody Barber, Jacksonville SharksAnthony Johnson, Jacksonville Sharks7Arvell Nelson, Jacksonville SharksRodney Hall Jr., Columbus LionsTC Stevens, Carolina Cobras (2/3)Zack Brown, Carolina Cobras (2/2)8Robert Kent, San Antonio Gunslingers (1/2)Kenny Starks, Columbus LionsDarien Townsend, Columbus Lions (1/2)Darien Townsend, Columbus Lions (2/2)9Robert Kent, San Antonio Gunslingers (2/2)Droell Greene, Columbus LionsDaniel Justino, Orlando PredatorsKendrick Ings, Carolina Cobras10Sam Castronova, Albany Empire (2/3)Marvin Ross, Albany EmpireDrew Pearson, San Antonio GunslingersTrevon Shorts, Albany Empire11Sam Castronova, Albany Empire (3/3)Joshua Jenkins, Orlando PredatorsTC Stevens, Carolina Cobras (3/3)DJ Myers, Carolina Cobras12Mason Espinosa, Columbus LionsMaurice Leggett, Columbus LionsNick Belcher, Orlando PredatorsKamrin Solomon, Jacksonville Sharks Reference:
The 2022 All-National Arena League Team
2022 All-NAL Second Team
Offense +PositionPlayerTeamFormer PotW awardsQBRobert KentSan Antonio GunslingersBack-to-back 2022 Offensive Player of the Week.FBPierre TurnerSan Antonio GunslingersWRKhali RashaadSan Antonio GunslingersWRDJ MyersCarolina CobrasWRPhillip BarnettSan Antonio GunslingersOLDashawn JohnsonCarolina CobrasOLBrandon TurnerColumbus LionsCMelvin HollinsAlbany Empire
Defense PositionPlayerTeamFormer PotW awardsMLZack BrownCarolina CobrasTwo time 2022 Ironman Player of the Week.WLTrevon ShortsAlbany Empire2022 Ironman Player of the Week.DBDelvon RandallOrlando PredatorsDBMaurice LeggettOrlando PredatorsDBDroell GreenColumbus LionsDEChei HillJacksonville SharksDELarry FordCarolina CobrasDTKwan StallworthJacksonville Sharks
Special Teams PositionPlayerTeamFormer PotW awardsKMarc OrzocoAlbany EmpireThree time 2022 Special Team Player of the Week.KRDarien TownsendColumbus Lions Reference:
2022 All-NAL First Team
Offense PositionPlayerTeamFormer PotW awardsQBSam CastronovaAlbany EmpireThree time 2022 Offensive Player of the Week.FBZack BrownCarolina CobrasTwo time 2022 Ironman Player of the Week.WRDarius PrinceAlbany EmpireTwo time 2022 Offensive Player of the Week, 2022 Special Team Player of the Week, and 2022 Ironman Player of the Week.WRNyqwan MurrayJacksonville SharksWRDarien TownsendColumbus Lions2022 Special Teams Player of the Week, 2022 Ironman Player of the Week.OLCornelius LewisAlbany EmpireOLFaleoga RussellJacksonville SharksCDerrick ZeiglerCarolina Cobras
Defense PositionPlayerTeamFormer PotW awardsMLKerry StarksColumbus LionsWLDJ MyersCarolina Cobras2022 Ironman Player of the WeekDBJosh JenkinsOrlando PredatorsDBMarkus SmithJacksonville SharksDBDwayne HollisAlbany Empire2022 Ironman Player of the WeekDEKen WashingtonColumbus LionsDEJustin AlexandreSan Antonio GunslingersDTWalter ThomasCarolina Cobras2022 Defensive Player of the Week
Special Teams PositionPlayerTeamFormer PotW awardsKTC StevensCarolina CobrasThree time 2022 Special Teams Player of the WeekKRKali RashaadSan Antonio Gunslingers Reference:
References
See also 2022 Indoor Football League season