The 2025 IFL season was the 17th season of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The season began on March 21, 2025, with the Jacksonville Sharks defeating the Massachusetts Pirates during the IFL Opening Weekend. The regular season concluded on July 27. The playoffs will conclude with the 2025 IFL National Championship, the league's championship game, in Tucson Arena at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Arizona, on August 23.
Team movement Expansion The IFL announced that one team would be established: On October 24, 2023, the IFL announced the addition of an expansion team in Indianapolis, Indiana who would play at the brand-new Fishers Event Center starting in 2025. On December 15, the team was named the Fishers Freight.
Dormancy The IFL announced that three teams were going dormant: On October 16, 2024, the Duke City Gladiators owner Gina Prieskorn-Thomas announced that the team would be dormant. She stated there were problems with the team's marketing strategies due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. On October 16, 2024, the Frisco Fighters announced that they would be entering dormant status without specifying why. On October 30, 2024, the Sioux Falls Storm announced that they would be going dormant due to their inability to find a secure location to field a team.
Player movement
Free agency Notable players to change teams included: Quarterbacks T. J. Edwards (Frisco to Tulsa), Charles McCullum (Salina to Tucson), Daquan Neal (Bay Area to Quad City), and Drew Powell (Orlando to Arizona) Running backs Jimmie Robinson (Massachusetts to Jacksonville) and Edward Vander (Quad City to Jacksonville) Wide receivers Kentrez Bell (Sioux Falls to Jacksonville), Shaq Curenton (Rapid City to Iowa), Glen Gibbons Jr. (Arizona to San Antonio), Johnny King (Hamilton to Vegas, Jordan Kress (San Diego to Fishers), Elijah Lilly (San Diego to Arizona), Phazione McClurge (Frisco to Tulsa), Jerrime Neal (Arizona to Tulsa), J. T. Stokes (Bay Area to Fishers), and Tamorrion Terry (Duke City to Vegas) Defensive lineman Chima Dunga (Tulsa to Quad City) and Jaylin Swan (Quad City to Fishers) Defensive backs Jericho Flowers (Vegas to San Diego), Tyrell Pearson (Frisco to Fishers), Elijah Reed (Sioux Falls to San Diego), Ravarius Rivers (Green Bay to San Antonio) and Shawn Steele II (Green Bay to Fishers) Kicker Ernesto Lacayo (Duke City to San Diego)
League call-ups Offensive lineman Johari Branch (UFL – DC), Devin Hayes (CFL – Edmonton), Deiyantei Powell-Woods (CFL – Calgary), and Barry Wesley (UFL – Birmingham) Defensive lineman Israel Antwine (UFL – Houston), Atlias Bell (CFL – Toronto), and Daymond Williams (CFL – Toronto) Linebacker Jaiden Woodbey (CFL – Winnipeg) Defensive backs Latavious Brini (CFL – Winnipeg), Javaris Davis (CFL – Winnipeg), Cyrus Fagan (CFL – Calgary), and Amir Riep (UFL – Memphis)
Rule changes The following rule changes were approved at the IFL annual league meeting on January 13–14 in Phoenix, Arizona: Any kicked ball that passes through the end zone without touching the field of play will now be marked at the kicking team’s 20-yard line. The previous adjustment to the 25-yard line has been removed for consistency. If a team leading by 14 points or fewer has possession of the ball during the last minute, they must gain positive yardage; otherwise, the clock will stop. The former rule requiring positive yardage in the final 60 seconds of the game has been reinstated. A linebacker who declares a blitz may now rush from inside or outside the alley. The league has eliminated the restriction on linebackers blitzing outside of the alley. Defensive linemen are now permitted to execute twist moves. The 1-yard grace for wide receivers in motion crossing the line of scrimmage has been removed. A receiver’s foot crossing the line at the snap will now be considered a false start. Other body parts, such as the knee, hand, or head, will not determine the penalty.
Regular season The season will be played over a 19-week schedule, beginning on March 21, 2025, and ending on July 27, 2025. Each of the league's 14 teams will play 16 games, with three bye weeks.
Regular season standings
Coaches poll Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Wk 13 Wk 14 Wk 15 Wk 16 Wk 17 Wk 18 Final Arizona Rattlers 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1111 4 5 6 5 6 3 3 Bay Area Panthers 3 10 8 5 3 333 222 1 111 2 11 Fishers Freight 8 6 4 4 5 10 11 11 12 13 12 13 13 12 11 11 11 9 Green Bay Blizzard 9 7 9 6 6 4 7 7 66 55 33 6 7 6 4 Iowa Barnstormers 12 12 14 14 13 11 13 1313 12 1414141414141414 Jacksonville Sharks 4 4 2 2 4 5 4 4 3 4 6 3 7 5 3 4 7 8 Massachusetts Pirates 10 11 11 11 8 9 9 10 11 10 999 888 9 10 Northern Arizona Wranglers 14 14 13 13 14 14 14 141414 13 1212 1313131313 Quad City Steamwheelers 7 3 3 3 2 2 1 2 55 3 2222 1 22 San Antonio Gunslingers 11 9 7 9 11 12 12 12 10 11 1010 1111 12121212 San Diego Strike Force 6 8 10 10 10 7 8 8 9 777 444 3 4 6 Tucson Sugar Skulls 13 13 12 12 12 13 10 9 8 9 1111 101010 9 10 11 Tulsa Oilers 5 5 6 8 7 8 5 5 4 3 4 8 6 9910 8 7 Vegas Knight Hawks 1 2 5 7 9 6 6 6 7 88 6 8 77 555
+ Legend Improvement in ranking Drop in ranking No change in ranking
Postseason 2025 IFL playoffs
Awards Award Winner Position Team Ref Most Valuable Player Max Meylor Quarterback Green Bay Blizzard Offensive Player of the Year Josh Tomas Running Back Bay Area Panthers Defensive Player of the Year Joe Foucha Defensive Back Bay Area Panthers Special Teams Player of the Year Antonio Wimbush Kick returner Vegas Knight Hawks Offensive Rookie of the Year Ron Brown Jr. Running Back Arizona Rattlers Defensive Rookie of the Year Caleb Streat Defensive Back Iowa Barnstormers Coach of the Year Cory Ross Head coach Quad City Steamwheelers Assistant Coach of the Year Matt Behrendt Offensive Coordinator Green Bay Blizzard IFL National Championship Most Valuable Player Jayden de Laura Quarterback Vegas Knight Hawks
All-IFL teams + All-IFL First Team Offense QB Max Meylor (GB) RB Antonio Wimbush (VEG) WR Quentin Randolph (VEG)Quian Williams (IA)Nyqwan Murray (SA) C Joe Krall (QC) OL Kristopher Stroughter (AZ)Christian Coulter (BA)Navaugh Donaldson (MAS) Defense DL Jaylin Swan (FIS)Jonathan Ross (BA)Keshaun Moore (QC) LB Alan Arslanian (QC) LB/DB Davontae Merriweather (AZ) DB Joe Foucha (BA)Trae Meadows (BA)Caleb Streat (IA) Special Teams K Andrew Mevis (GB) KR Antonio Wimbush (VEG) + IFL All-Rookie Team Offense QB James Cahoon (IA) RB Ron Brown Jr. (AZ) WR TJ Davis (GB)Jalen Bracey (IA)Tyrese Chambers (BA) C AJ Forbes (FIS) OL Christian Coulter (BA)Jaime Navarro (BA) Defense DL David Cagle (QC)Allen Henry (GB)Qaaddir Sheppard (QC) LB Hayden Hatcher (JAC) LB/DB Marquis Waters (MAS) DB Malik Jones (JAC)Caleb Streat (IA)Chris Chunwuneke (QC) Special Teams K Tyler Huettel (SA) KR Arland Bruce (NAZ)+ All-IFL Second Team Offense QB Josh Jones (BA) RB Pooka Williams Jr. (MAS) WR T. J. Davis (GB)Deshon Stoudemire (NAZ)Tyrese Chambers (BA) C Andrew Carter (GB) OL Jake Parks (GB)Jeremy Cooper (FIS)Laquinston Sharp (FIS) Defense DL Claude Davis (VEG)Kivon Bennett (JAC)Wallace Cowins Jr. (SD) LB Royce See (SD) LB/DB Tre Harvey (TUL) DB Camron Harrell (QC)Malik Jones (JAC)James Ceasar (VEG) Special Teams K Kyle Kaplan (QC) KR Joshua Tomas (BA)
Players of the Week The following were named the top performers during the season:
Week Offensive Defensive Special Teams 1 Daquan Neal QB(Quad City) Malik Jones DB(Jacksonville) Tyler King KR(Jacksonville) 2 No awards given 3 Dalton Sneed QB(Arizona) Alan Arslanian LB(Quad City) Andrew Mevis K(Green Bay) 4 T. J. Edwards QB(Tulsa) Joe Foucha DB(Bay Area) Devin Hafford KR(Fishers) 5 T. J. Edwards QB(Tulsa) JaQuez Jackson LB(Tucson) Axel Perez K(Bay Area) 6 Max Meylor QB(Green Bay) Caleb Streat DB(Iowa) Kyle Kaplan K(Quad City) 7 Joshua Tomas WR(Bay Area) Taylor Hawkins DB(Tulsa) Kevin Macias K(Tucson) 8 T. J. Edwards QB(Tulsa) Ahmad Lyons DB(Tucson) Quian Williams KR(Iowa) 9 Max Meylor QB(Green Bay) Andre White LB(Green Bay) Quian Williams KR(Iowa) 10 T. J. Edwards QB(Tulsa) Javaris Davis DB(Jacksonville) Antonio Wimbush KR(Vegas) 11 Joaquin Collazo QB(San Antonio) Atoa Fox DB(San Diego) Antonio Wimbush KR(Vegas) 12 Nate Davis QB(San Diego) Nicholas Harris DB(Quad City) Kyle Kaplan K(Quad City) 13 Max Meylor QB(Green Bay) Jamyest Williams RB(Tucson) Kyle Kaplan K(Quad City) 14 Tyler Huff QB(Jacksonville) John McMullen DL(Tucson) Antonio Wimbush KR(Vegas) 15 Ron Brown Jr. RB(Arizona) Aaron Jackson DB(Fishers) Dylan Barnas K(Jacksonville) 16 Kenji Bahar QB(Massachusetts Tre Henry DL(Tucson) Kevin Macias K(Tucson) 17 Max Meylor QB(Green Bay) Michael Miller DB(San Antonio) Josiah King KR(Fishers) 18 Sam Castronova QB(Tulsa) Bryce Hampton DB(Vegas) Andrew Mevis K(Green Bay) 19 Sam Castronova QB(Tulsa) Jaylin Swan DL(Fishers) Kyle Kaplan K(Quad City)
Head coaching changes Off-season Team Departing coach Incoming coach Notes Fishers Freight — Dixie Wooten Massachusetts Pirates Rod Miller Ameer Ismail After one season, an regular season record, and a 2024 IFL National Championship appearance, Miller left Massachusetts and joined the San Diego Strike Force as their associate head coach and defensive coordinator on October 11, 2024.
On November 25, the Pirates hired Ameer Ismail as their head coach, this will be his second stint with the team. Ismail previously served as the head coach of the Bloomington Edge in 2017, Massachusetts Pirates in 2018, and the Iowa Barnstormers from . He has compiled a regular season record and is in three playoff appearances. Northern Arizona Wranglers Les Moss Ron James On August 31, 2024, Moss stepped down as the head coach of Northern Arizona after leading the team to two playoff appearances, an IFL National Championship title, and a regular season record.
James was hired as Northern Arizona's head coach on September 16, after serving five seasons as the head football coach of Juan Diego Catholic High School. This is James' seventh indoor football head coaching job, serving as the head coach of the Las Vegas Gladiators from , Utah Blaze from , Pittsburgh Power in , Portland Steel in , Tampa Bay Storm in , and Atlantic City Blackjacks in . In his time as an Arena Football League (AFL) head coach, James compiled a regular season record, two AFL Coach of the Year awards, and an ArenaBowl XXX appearance.
In-season Team Departing coach Incoming coach Notes Massachusetts Pirates Ameer Ismail Frederick Griggs On March 9, 2025, Griggs was elevated from associate defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach to head coach after Ismail failed to report to camp, citing that he was looking for coaching jobs on the outdoor spring circuit. San Antonio Gunslingers Tom Menas James Fuller On March 31, 2025, Menas was relieved of his duties as general manager and head coach. Fuller was elevated from assistant head coach and offensive coordinator to head coach. Massachusetts Pirates Frederick Griggs Tom Menas On April 30, 2025, Griggs was relieved of his duties as interim head coach and defensive coordinator, hiring Menas to take both roles.
Arenas On October 24, 2023, the IFL announced that a 2025 Indianapolis expansion team – later to be named the Fishers Freight – would play in the Fishers Event Center. On October 1, 2024, the IFL announced a three-year partnership between the San Diego Strike Force and Frontwave Arena that would start in 2025. On October 20, 2024, the Sioux Falls Storm announced that they had been evicted from Denny Sanford Premier Center after its owners had refused to offer a lease renewal. On October 21, 2024, it was announced that Casey's bought the naming rights of Wells Fargo Arena. Starting on July 1, 2025, the arena was renamed Casey's Center. On November 7, 2024, the IFL announced a three-year agreement to hold the IFL National Championship at the Tucson Convention Center starting in 2025.
Broadcasting