05/29/2026
🚨🚨NEW TEAM ALERT🚨🚨
🔥Knoxville, Tennessee get ready, The G.I.F.L. Is coming to a town near you. 👀
Welcome Knoxville Bandits ….!!!!!!
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: A NEW ERA HAS ARRIVED FOR THE KNOXVILLE BANDITS‼️
🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE🚨
KNOXVILLE, TN — After extensive deliberation, strategic evaluation, and in-depth discussions with our coaching staff, players, loyal fan base, and various league executives, the Knoxville Bandits organization has officially reached a decision that marks a massive milestone for our franchise's future and overall growth.
We are proud to announce that the Knoxville Bandits have officially joined The G.I.F.L. for the upcoming 2027 season.
The GIFL has solidified its reputation as one of the fastest-growing, premier professional developmental arena football leagues in the Southeast. Founded and operated by James Moreland—a highly respected professional team owner (Peach State Cats) and professional coach (COLUMBUS LIONS)—the GIFL delivers an elite platform for athletic development and championship-caliber competition.
Commissioner Moreland has structured an incredibly competitive, powerhouse league that already features dominant organizations, including the Main street 29ers, the Georgia Indians owned by coaching master mind Leonard Holmes, and the Grind to Shine Bandits (owned by professional athlete and coach Matt Wells, and led by head coach Enrique Crumbs), among several other top-tier programs. With the league projected to field 15 highly competitive teams for the 2027 season, the caliber of play will be unmatched.
Why the GIFL?
Our front office has closely monitored the trajectory and sustained growth of the GIFL over the past several years. As an organization dedicated to excellence, we recognize this as the perfect environment to elevate our brand, maximize player exposure, and challenge our roster against some of the top athletes in the country. Many athletes each year from this league get to level up to higher level professional leagues because of the exposure and film provided by this league. This move aligns perfectly with our vision of bringing the most action-packed, hardest-hitting arena football to our community.
To the rest of the league and any future opponents: If you’ve been waiting for a shot at the Knoxville Bandits, the standard has been set. We are ready for the challenge, we want the action, and we are built for this level of competition. To meet us on the turf, you will have to step up to the GIFL.
Looking Ahead to 2027
The Knoxville Bandits would like to extend our sincere gratitude to James Moreland and the GIFL executive board for welcoming our franchise into the league. We look forward to a phenomenal, 2027 season.
The work begins now. Let’s go, Bandits!
