After more than 50 years dormant, the Continental Football League (CoFL) is back for its inaugural 2026 season. The league promotes itself as a fan-first, community-owned minor professional gridiron league. Billed as “America’s Summer Game,” the CoFL launches in mid-May with an eight-team, two-division format. The league is emphasizing smaller-to-mid markets, affordable tickets, and a unique hybrid ruleset.
Commissioner Mike Kelly—a former Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach—heads the league from Wheeling, West Virginia. Each team operates as its own business entity with fan ownership via equity crowdfunding, echoing the Green Bay Packers model. Rosters feature a heavy emphasis on young talent (ages 18-25) and at least five local players per team. They are recruiting from nearby high schools or small colleges. The regular season runs just six weeks of divisional play. It is then followed by playoffs and the Continental Cup championship around July 4. A preseason “Week 0” features non-league games.
On the field, the CoFL blends NFL rules for the first three quarters with a “Continental Shift” in the fourth. The Shift has modified Canadian football elements. This includes three downs, unlimited forward motion, a single point for a rouge, etc. on the same 11-on-11 field. The twist is designed to showcase players for CFL scouts amid evolving CFL rules.
Here’s your updated team-by-team preview for the 2026 inaugural season. This reflects the recent announcement that the Michigan Arrows have paused operations for 2026 (with plans to return in 2027). The CoFL has accelerated expansion by adding the revived Norfolk Neptunes as a traveling team in the North Division. The Neptunes will play a limited slate of road games (fulfilling the Arrows’ former away schedule). They will have no home games this season as they build toward full operations in 2027. This keeps the eight-team structure intact while ensuring balanced schedules for the other North Division clubs.
North Division
Ohio Valley Ironmen (Martins Ferry, OH / Wheeling, WV area).
Stadium: Dave Bruney Football Complex (5,500 capacity).
Head Coach: Manny Matsakis.
The league’s flagship franchise and the catalyst for the entire revival. The Ironmen dominated their 2025 slate in the International Football Alliance. They posted strong local TV ratings and buildt momentum with zero financial drama. Matsakis—veteran coach, GM, and publisher of Gridiron Aficionado—relaunched the historic name. He brings a proven player-development philosophy rooted in discipline, culture, and turning undervalued talent into stars.
Expect a gritty, community-driven squad anchored by local pride and a core of returning standouts. These include QB Javonte Howard, RB Jeremiah Nelson, WRs Cahsid Raymond, D’Ago Hunter, and Said Sidibe. Also included is standout DL Chance Knight (a CFL/UFL prospect). Training camp additions like Mount Union alum Nick Turner signal an aggressive roster build targeting a 40-man active group. As the first team announced, the Ironmen helped secure CoFL headquarters in nearby Wheeling. They embody the league’s small-market, fan-owned ethos.
Cincinnati Dukes (Cincinnati, OH).
Stadium: Virgil Schwarm Stadium (6,500 capacity).
Head Coach: Daryl “Slash” Moore.
A 2012 semi-pro powerhouse making the leap to professional ranks. The Dukes bring deep regional rivalries (including the Ironmen) and a blue-collar fan base hungry for pro football. Managing Partner Levar Berry and longtime head coach Daryl “Slash” Moore have built the program from the grassroots up. They are emphasizing mentorship, community impact, and tough, physical football perfectly suited to their compact venue. The Dukes are rebuilding the roster through CoFL regional tryouts while retaining key veterans and adding playmakers. One such player is DB Leondre Pope. Expect a hard-nosed, smash-mouth identity that plays to Cincinnati’s working-class football roots. This will create an electric atmosphere in Virgil Schwarm Stadium.
Indianapolis Capitols (Indianapolis, IN).
Stadium: Grand Park Sports Campus (5,000 capacity).
Head Coach & Managing Partner: Hal Mumme (GM: Tom Lewis).
A direct revival of a classic CoFL brand including their 1969 championship roots. The Capitols bring air-raid fireworks to the North Division. Legendary offensive architect Hal Mumme heads football operations as managing partner. Under his leadership, the offense is promising point-scoring explosions and player development that taps Indianapolis’s deep football talent pipeline. Day-to-day GM Tom Lewis (military veteran with extensive football ops experience) rounds out the leadership. The Capitols are positioned to light up scoreboards. They are also building a cornerstone franchise in a market that lives and breathes football.
Norfolk Neptunes (Hampton Roads, VA – Traveling Team).
Stadium: None (traveling team for 2026; full home operations targeted for 2027).
Head Coach: To be announced later.
The CoFL’s newest addition and a revival of one of the original 1960s CoFL franchises. The Norfolk Neptunes step in as the Michigan Arrows’ replacement following the Arrows’ pause of operations on April 30, 2026. With less than a month until kickoff, the Neptunes will operate as a traveling squad. They will be playing a limited slate of road games. By doing this, they are laying the groundwork for a full Hampton Roads launch in 2027. Their inclusion maintains divisional balance and adds historic flavor to the North. They are giving fans in Virginia a chance to cheer a classic name back on the field this summer.
South Division
Texas Syndicate (Austin, TX).
Stadium: The Pfield (10,000 capacity).
Head Coach: James Champagne.
Led by U.S. Army veteran and former UCLA strength-and-conditioning intern James Champagne. The Syndicate blends veteran leadership with Texas speed in a metro area rich with pro-football history. Champagne’s CHAMP Mentality program and extensive high-school/minor-league coaching background emphasize toughness, discipline, and player development. The team will lean on local talent pipelines while building a physical, opportunistic roster suited for the hybrid CoFL ruleset. The Syndicate is poised to make noise with a blue-collar, high-energy identity that fits Austin’s vibrant sports scene.
San Antonio Toros (San Antonio, TX).
Stadium: Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium (6,000 capacity).
Head Coach & GM: Stan Bedwell.
The Toros return to the Alamo City nearly 50 years after their original run. They are bringing instant nostalgia and local flavor. European Hall-of-Fame quarterback Stan Bedwell serves as head coach and GM. His passing-game expertise, honed under air-raid pioneer Hal Mumme and run-and-shoot specialist Manny Matsakis, promises an explosive aerial attack. The Toros have already signed multiple former UTSA Roadrunners and other local standouts. This is forging a built-in fan connection in one of the nation’s most football-crazed markets. Expect a high-powered offense and community-driven culture that makes Benson Stadium a must-visit destination.
Tall City Black Gold (Midland, TX).
Stadium: Astound Broadband Stadium (15,000 capacity).
Head Coach: Rodney Blackshear.
The Black Gold embody West Texas toughness and oil-patch community support. Head coach Rodney Blackshear brings leadership, discipline, and a run-heavy, physical identity. The Black Gold will rely on homegrown grit and a blue-collar mentality to compete in the stacked South Division.
Fort Worth Braves (Fort Worth, TX).
Stadium: Crowley Stadium (8,000 capacity).
Head Coach: Ruben “Duck” Contreras.
The Braves revive another historic CoFL name and tap into Fort Worth’s rich semi-pro football tradition. Head coach Ruben “Duck” Contreras brings 15 years of coaching experience plus extensive on-field work. His big-time college pedigree and player-development focus are already generating buzz in the DFW metroplex. As a community-owned club, the Braves are building momentum with local support. They will bring a physical, hard-nosed style that should thrive in the intimate Crowley Stadium atmosphere.
What to Watch in 2026
Division races should be tight and physical. The North features legacy revivals, coaching heavyweights and the intriguing addition of the traveling Neptunes. The South is loaded with Texas talent, local rivalries, and Bedwell’s aerial attack in San Antonio. Expect loud crowds in intimate venues and affordable family pricing. This is a league that will feel like minor-league baseball or hockey—but with pads and helmets. The Continental Cup awaits. Mark your calendars: pro football returns to America’s heartland this summer. Who’s your pick to hoist the first modern CoFL trophy?
