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Columbus Lions
Current season
Established 2006
Play in Columbus, Georgia
at the Columbus Civic Center
ColumbusLions.net
League/conference affiliations
Current uniform
Team colorsBlue, black, silver, white
       
MascotLeo the Lion
Personnel
Owner(s)Richard Maslia[1]
Kacee Smith[2]
John Hargrove
Jay Patel[3]
Eugenio Castro
Bush Sporting Enterprises LLC
ChairmanKacee Smith
PresidentKacee Smith
General managerLee Snow
Head coachDamian Daniels
Team history
  • Columbus Lions (2007–present)
Championships
League championships (5)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (3)
Playoff appearances (17)
Home arena(s)

The Columbus Lions are a professional indoor football team based in Columbus, Georgia, and are a member of the National Arena League (NAL).

The Lions were founded in 2006 as an expansion team of the World Indoor Football League (WIFL). After the WIFL went under in 2007, the Lions joined the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) where they played for two seasons. When the AIFA broke apart, the Lions joined the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL). The Lions joined the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 2012 when the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) teams split up into two new leagues. After the 2015 season, the PIFL broke apart, and the Lions joined American Indoor Football for 2016. They were a founding member of the National Arena League (NAL) for the 2017 season. The then joined the new American Indoor Football Alliance for 2023 before they rejoined American Indoor Football for 2024.[4]

In their first seventeen seasons, the Lions have won five league championships: in 2010, 2015, 2016, 2023, and 2024.

History

Columbus Lions logo 2006–2022

Initial seasons (2007–2016)

The Lions were founded in 2006. They began play in the short-lived World Indoor Football League (WIFL) in 2007. The Lions' inaugural game on February 26, 2007, was marred by tragedy when opposing defensive back Javon Camon of the Daytona Beach Thunder was killed after a hard but clean hit by Lions fullback Cedric Ware during the fourth quarter.[5][6] The Lions finished with the best regular season record, but lost the championship to the Augusta Colts. For the Lions' inaugural season, head coach Jason Gibson won the league's Coach of the Year Award.

The WIFL collapsed after the season and the Lions moved to the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) where they played two seasons in 2008 and 2009, winning their division in 2009. They would then join the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) and play from 2010 to 2011. They won the SIFL championship in 2010 defeating the Louisiana Swashbucklers in President's Cup II,.[7] The SIFL split into two separate leagues before the 2012 season, with the Lions going to the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). In 2015, they defeated the Richmond Raiders in PIFL Cup IV.

Following the Lions' 2015 championship, the Lions moved back to American Indoor Football (AIF), formerly the AIFA, for the 2016 season.[8] The Lions completed the regular season 8–0 and won the 2016 AIF Championship over the West Michigan Ironmen.[9] One week after winning the championship, the Lions announced they were leaving the AIF for the 2017 season.[10]

National Arena League (2017–2021)

Columbus playing the Louisiana Swashbucklers on April 14, 2012. Note the pink numbers in support of cancer awareness.[11]

In July 2016, Lions' owners Skip Seda and his father, Keke Seda, announced the formation of a new league called the Arena Developmental League to begin play in spring 2017.[12] They named former Canadian Football League, Arena Football League, and AF2 coach John Gregory as the league's commissioner. In November 2016, the Jacksonville Sharks joined and the Sedas yielded control over the new league for it to become the National Arena League.

The Lions appeared in the NAL playoffs in every season they participated. They, and the NAL, would not play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They made three appearances in the NAL Championship Game, losing to the Jacksonville Sharks 27–21 in 2017, the Carolina Cobras 66–8 in 2018, and the Albany Empire 79–62 in 2021.

New ownership (2022–present)

On August 30, 2022, the Lions announced new ownership led by Jeff Levack, who also has ownership stake in the Orlando Predators and Albany Empire. He was a part of two staffs that helped the Empire win three championships in four years.[13] On September 13, 2022, they introduced new branding for the team designed by former player and designer, Mike Jones. They also announced arena football veteran player and coach Chris McKinney as the second head coach in team history after Gibson had left and became head coach of the Jacksonville Sharks.[14] On December 22, the National Arena League had announced that the membership of the Lions had been discontinued.[15] One day later, the Lions announced they have joined the regional American Indoor Football Alliance.[16] They played only home games, going 6–0,[17] and defeated the Mississippi Raiders 55–10 in the league championship.[18]

On August 4, 2023, the Lions announced their return to relaunched American Indoor Football for the 2024 season.[19]

Season-by-season results

League champions Conference champions Division champions Playoff berth League leader
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results
Finish Wins Losses
2007 2007 WIFL 1st 10 4 Lost World Indoor Bowl I (Augusta) 60–63
2008 2008 AIFA Western South 2nd 10 4 Lost Divisional (Mississippi) 50–52
2009 2009 AIFA South 1st 11 3 Won Divisional (Fayetteville) 45–35
Lost Semifinal (Reading) 51–60
2010 2010 SIFL 2nd 8 3 Won Semifinal (Lafayette) 54–22
Won President's Cup II (Louisiana) 68–13
2011 2011 SIFL Eastern South 1st 11 1 Won Divisional (Trenton) 62–60
Lost Eastern Conference Championship (Albany) 61–75
2012 2012 PIFL 3rd 6 6 Lost Semifinal (Albany) 36–60
2013 2013 PIFL 6th 4 8 Did not qualify
2014 2014 PIFL American 2nd 7 5 Lost American Conference Championship (Nashville) 39–44
2015 2015 PIFL 1st 8 3 Won Semifinal (Lehigh Valley) 69–41
Won PIFL Cup IV (Richmond) 64–38
2016 2016 AIF Southern 1st 8 0 Won Southern Division Semifinal (New Mexico) 49–37
Won Southern Division Championship (Florida) 79–66
Won AIF Championship (West Michigan) 74–32
2017 2017 NAL 3rd 9 3 Won Semifinal (Lehigh Valley) 52–50
Lost NAL Championship (Jacksonville) 21–27
2018 2018 NAL 4th 8 7 Won Semifinal (Massachusetts) 50–36
Lost NAL Championship (Carolina) 8–66
2019 2019 NAL 4th 6 8 Lost Semifinal (Jacksonville) 43–67
2020 2020 NAL Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 2021 NAL 2nd 6 2 Won Semifinal (Orlando) 61–43
Lost NAL Championship (Albany) 62–79
2022 2022 NAL 3rd 7 5 Lost Semifinal (Carolina) 51–65
2023 2023 AIFA 1st 6 0 Won AIFA Championship (Mississippi) 55–10
2024 2024 AIF 1st 5 0 Won AIF Championship (Corpus Christi) 46–20
Totals 130 62 All-time regular season record
14 11 All-time postseason record
144 73 All-time regular season and postseason record

Players

Current roster

Columbus Lions roster
Quarterbacks
  • -- Marcus Brooks
  • -- Tommie Neely


Running backs

  • -- Romello Kimbrough


Wide receivers

  • -- Damecio Ewing
  • -- Romond Deloatch
  • -- Jarmon Fortson
  • -- Tremell Gooden
  • -- Michael Swann
  • -- Brian Robinson
  • -- Tyson Jarrell
  • -- William Bonilla


 Offensive linemen
  • -- Horace Roberts
  • -- Justin Youmes
  • -- Brackin Smith
  • -- Corey Washington
  • -- Morris Scott
  • -- Wayne Callwood


Defensive linemen

  • -- Desmond Scott
  • -- DeAndre Brown
  • -- Jatavius Ponder
  • -- Ken Washington


 Linebackers
  • -- Dekoven Ware
  • -- Marte' Sears


Defensive backs

  • -- Kyle Griswould
  • -- James Gray
  • -- Droell Greene
  • -- Benjamin Smiley


Special teams

  • ---- Rysan Richardson
 Reserve lists
  • Phillip Russell
  • Rookies in italics
  • Roster updated January 3, 2024
  • 27 Active, 1 Inactive

Awards and honors

The following is a list of all Lions players who have won league awards:

Staff

Columbus Lions staff

Front office

  • Owner – Richard Maslia
  • Owner – Kacee Smith
  • Owner – John Hargrove
  • Owner – Jay Patel
  • Owner – Eugenio Castro
  • Owner – Bush Sporting Enterprises LLC
  • General manager – Lee Snow
  • Director of football operations – Robert Cross
  • Director of sales and marketing – Matthew Kelley
  • Director of fan experience – Megan Hudson
  • Director of partnerships – Nicole Mesis
  • Director of game day operations – Matthew Jones

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • TBD
 Defensive coaches
  • TBD




Head coaches

Note: Statistics are correct through the 2024 American Indoor Football season.

Name Tenure Regular season Playoffs Awards
W L Win% W L
Jason Gibson 2007–2022 119 62 .657 12 11
Chris McKinney 2023 6 0 1.000 1 0
Damian Daniels 2024–present 5 0 1.000 1 0

References

  1. ^ Lee Snow (21 June 2023). "Lions Welcome Experienced Newcomer to Ownership Group". www.columbuslions.net. Columbus Lions. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Lions Add New Member To Ownership Group". Columbus Lions. November 10, 2020.
  3. ^ "Staff". Columbus Lions. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "COLUMBUS LIONS JOIN AMERICAN INDOOR FOOTBALL (AIF) FOR THE 2024 INDOOR SEASON". aif-proindoorfootball.com. American Indoor Football. August 3, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  5. ^ "Indoor football player dies after head-to-head hit". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. February 27, 2007. Retrieved February 27, 2007.
  6. ^ "Daytona player dies". www.ledger-enquirer.com. Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved February 27, 2007.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Chris White (July 19, 2010). "SIFL CHAMPIONSHIP: Fans soak up Lions' big win". www.ledger-enquirer.com. Ledger-Enquirer. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  8. ^ Keith Groller (September 14, 2015). "Steelhawks moving to a new indoor football league for 2016". www.mcall.com. The Morning Call. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  9. ^ Dana Barker (June 19, 2016). "Lions capture AIF title in bizarre, blowout fashion". www.ledger-enquirer.com. Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  10. ^ "Columbus Lions leaving AIF following 2016 season". www.wltz.com. Frankly and WLTZ. June 27, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  11. ^ Matthew Hester (April 10, 2012). "Kicker Trey Crum Returns to Lions". www.proifl.com. Professional Indoor Football League. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  12. ^ "Lions owner Seda establishes new Arena Developmental League". Ledger-Enquirer. July 7, 2016.
  13. ^ "LIONS PURCHASED BY VETERAN ARENA FOOTBALL OWNERSHIP GROUP". www.columbuslions.net. Lee Snow. August 30, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  14. ^ "Lions introduce new head coach, new team logos". www.wtvm.com. Jonathon Hoppe and Tony Reese, WTVM. September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  15. ^ "NAL DISCONTINUES MEMBERSHIP OF THE COLUMBUS LIONS". National Arena League. July 14, 2022.
  16. ^ "LIONS JOIN REGIONAL ARENA LEAGUE". National Arena League. December 23, 2022.
  17. ^ "And the regular season comes to a close at 6-0!". Facebook. June 23, 2023.
  18. ^ "LIONS WIN IT ALL!". Columbus Lions. July 21, 2023.
  19. ^ "COLUMBUS LIONS JOIN AMERICAN INDOOR FOOTBALL (AIF) FOR THE 2024 INDOOR SEASON". aif-proindoorfootball.com. American Indoor Football. August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  20. ^ {{https://www.columbuslions.net/news/lions-bringing-league-mvp-mason-espinosa-back-for-
  21. ^ "Lions' QB Kacz named PIFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year". www.ledger-enquirer.com. Ledger-Enquirer. July 13, 2015. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  22. ^ "Columbus Lions' WR Terrence Ebagua named PIFL MVP". www.ledger-enquirer.com. Ledger-Enquirer. July 19, 2015. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  23. ^ {{https://www.columbuslions.net/news/mason-espinosa-wins-the-2021-nal-most-valuable-pla
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