2018 Indoor Football League Season Preview

The 2018 Indoor Football League season, the league’s 10th, kicks off tomorrow when the Cedar Rapids Titans and Nebraska Danger face off. There will be six teams in the league this season as opposed to the 10 that played in the 2017 season.


Both teams that played in United Bowl IX last season, the Arizona Rattlers and Sioux Falls Storm, will be returning, as will the Titans, Danger, Green Bay Blizzard and Iowa Barnstormers. The Salt Lake Screaming Eagles and Colorado Crush both ceased operations. The Wichita Falls Nighthawks also ceased operations after their plan to join the Champions Indoor Football (CIF) failed and the Spokane Empire also ceased operations.


All teams in the IFL will come into 2018 with talent. Arizona will be bringing in their talent that won them United Bowl IX last season. They also brought in much new talent, such as 2017 IFL Rookie of the Year in quarterback Verlon Reed.


Sioux Falls will once again be led by head coach Kurtis Riggs as they look to win their seventh title in eight seasons. Nebraska are now run by former Jacksonville Sharks head coach Bob Stoute and former Sharks quarterback Damien Fleming. Stoute led the Sharks to an 8-0 record last season before being fired. Fleming was the starter as Jacksonville won the inaugural NAL title.


Iowa has two quarterbacks in Travis Partridge and Drew Powell who could lead the team to a serious run. They also have a consistent defense. Green Bay got back a future Hall of Famer in BJ Hill and also have several keys on their defensive line and in their secondary. As for Cedar Rapids, things can only go up for them after a 1-15 season in 2017.

The season kicks off tomorrow and will run through June 23. The two conference games will be played the weekend of June 30. United Bowl X is scheduled to be played Saturday, July 7.