Post by David on May 8, 2021 9:12:36 GMT -8
5.6.21 -
On Thursday, the Indoor Football League announced its Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
Through a combination of voting input from the 12 active IFL franchises, team coaches, a fan poll, and current IFL Hall of Fame members, the league announced the additions of Fred Jackson, Heron O'Neal, John Pettit, and Kurtiss Riggs.
The following contains brief information regarding the newest members of the IFL Hall of Fame.
Fred Jackson (RB)
"My journey to the NFL was truly a unique one. Some of my fondest memories of playing football were in the IFL. I was able to learn a lot about the speed of the game. It is an absolute honor to be inducted into the IFL Hall of Fame" - Fred Jackson
- Played for the Sioux City Bandits (2004-2005) of National Indoor Football League/United Indoor Football
- 2005 UIF co-MVP
- Played in first United Bowl game (L 38-40 to Sioux Falls Storm)
- 1x First Team All-Star (2005)
- Ran for 1,770 yards, 53 total touchdowns (40 rushing, 11 receiving, 2 kickoff returns) in 2005
- Went on to play in NFL with Buffalo Bills (2006-2014) and Seattle Seahawks (2015)
- Listed #83 on NFL's Top 200 Players of 2012
- Ranks Top 5 in Buffalo Bills history with 5,646 rushing yards (3rd in team history), 15 100-yard games, and 30 rushing to uchdowns (4th in team history)
- Became first player in NFL history to compile 1,000 rushing and 1,000 kickoff return yards in a season
Heron O'Neal (Head Coach)
"I firmly believe that during any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear is that moment when he has worked his heart out for a good cause and stands exhausted on the field of battle. In the years of coaching in the IFL, I battled against some great coaches and coached some great men and without them I wouldn't be who I am today and I wouldn't be here accepting this nomination. I thank them and all who believed in me" - Heron O'Neal
- Head Coach of Billings Outlaws (2006-2010) and Colorado Ice/Crush (2012-2016)
- 3x United Bowl Champion (2006, 2009, 2010)
- 2014 IFL Coach of the Year (10-4 record w/Colorado)
- Since IFL's inception in 2009, amassed a 61-39 regular season record, 7-3 postseason record
- Overall Career Head Coaching record of 128-58
- 3rd most wins in IFL History (61)
- 2nd most playoff wins in IFL history (7)
- Current Head Coach of the CIF's Salina Liberty (2017-present)
- 2019 CIF Coach of the Year (8-4 record. Champions Bowl V appearance)
John Pettit (Front Office Executive)
"John was everything to the Iowa Barnstormers, from our rebirth in 2008 to the present. John forgot more about indoor football than most of us will ever know. As important as John was to the Barnstormers and indoor football, his presence as a friend and mentor will be missed even more. John was one of the true ‘good guys’ of the sports world. He was always willing to share his knowledge with owners, staff, players and coaches. We miss John greatly and he can never be replaced. We are just thankful he was a part of our lives." - Jeff Lamberti, Iowa Barnstormers owner
- Co-Owner, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Iowa Barnstormers
- Worked in key roles with AFL's Detroit Drive & Connecticut SeaWolves
- Worked with Detroit Tigers (MLB) and Iowa Stars (AHL) from 2003-2008
- Revived Iowa Barnstormers in af2 after 6 season hiatus in 2008
- 2012 AFL Executive of the Year
- Key figure in Barnstormers' move to IFL after 2014 AFL Season
- 2018 IFL Executive of the Year
- 2018 United Bowl Champion
- Daughter Juli is the current General Manager of Barnstormers
Kurtiss Riggs (Head Coach)
"This is an accomplishment I never envisioned, but is an award that really makes me think back to all the great players and coaches that I have had the opportunity to work with and coach. I am very thankful for the tremendous owners that have been willing to take on the indoor game and own a team in the IFL and Sioux Falls. Thank you to my family for their support and being a part of things year in and year out. Thank you to the fan, players, coaches, sponsors, staff, and families that have contributed to the Storm tradition of success." - Kurtiss Riggs
- Head Coach of Sioux Falls Storm (2003-present)
- 11x United Bowl Champion (4 United Indoor Football titles, 7 Indoor Football League titles)
- 4x Coach of the Year (2004, 2006, 2007, 2015)
- 6 straight United Bowl Championships (2011-2016)
- 4 undefeated seasons (2006, 2007, 2012, 2015)
- Over 200 career wins
- 8 straight United Conference Championships (2010-2017)
- 14x United/Intense Conference Champion (2005-2008, 2010-2019)
- Ranked 1st in Regular Season Wins (132), Playoff Wins (22) and IFL Championships (7)
Jackson, O'Neal, Pettit and Riggs will join the following members of the IFL Hall of Fame:
2014: Terrance Bryant (QB) - Sioux Falls Storm; Rich Roste (Radio Voice) - Sioux Falls Storm; Tommy Benizio (IFL Commissioner)
2015: LaRon Council (RB) - Lacrosse Spartans, Green Bay Blizzard, Cedar Rapids Titans; B.J. Hill (DB/KR) - Green Bay Blizzard; Chris Dixon (QB) - Billings Outlaws, Sioux Falls Storm
2016: Mark Blackburn (LB) - Sioux Falls Storm; Lionell Singleton (DB) - Tri-Cities Fever; Tom Wigley (Owner) - Colorado Ice/Colorado Crush
2017: James Terry (WR) - Sioux Falls Storm; Robert Fuller (Head Coach) - Omaha Beef, Fairbanks Grizzlies, Green Bay Blizzard, Bemidji Axemen; Cory Johnsen (DL) - Sioux Falls Storm
2018: Cornelius "Pig" Brown (LB) - RiverCity Rage, Omaha Beef, Nebraska Danger; Charlie Sanders (OL) - Billings Outlaws, Sioux Falls Storm; Jameel Sewell (QB) - Green Bay Blizzard, Nebraska Danger
2019: Javicz Jones (LB) - Texas Revolution, Iowa Barnstormers; Bryan Pray (WR) - West Michigan Thunderhawks, La Crosse Spartans, Green Bay Blizzard, Cedar Rapids Titans, Green Bay Blizzard, Iowa Barnstormers, Spokane Empire; Myniya Smith (OL) - Billings Outlaws, Sioux Falls Storm
2020: No Selections - Season cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
The IFL Hall of Fame Class of 2021 will be honored at halftime during the inaugural IFL Hall of Fame Game between the Sioux Falls Storm and Iowa Barnstormers on Saturday, May 15th at Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
- DKH
(All Player Graphics Credited to the Indoor Football League)
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