by Howie Hanson Arena Football One reported significant growth in digital engagement following the opening week of its 2026 season, according to league data released Tuesday. The league said it recorded sharp increases across multiple platforms in a year-over-year comparison with Week 1 of the 2025 season, including an 1,800% rise in Instagram views and…
Month: April 2026
AF1 Week 1 Notebook
by Howie Hanson Arena Football One opened its 2026 season with eight of nine teams in competitive, head-to-head play during a four-game Week 1 schedule. Defending AF1 champion Albany defeated Minnesota 50-23, extending its winning streak to 13 games dating to last season. Kentucky beat Michigan 34-26 at home. Oregon won 33-16 at Washington. Oceanside…
Rebound Off the Net: Week 1 Officiating Recap with Director of Officials Jason Capogna
In this episode of Rebound Off the Net Live, Joshua sits down once again with Jason Capogna, Director of Officials for AF1, to recap Week 1 from the officials’ perspective. They break down key calls, points of emphasis, and how officiating crews handled the opening slate of games, offering insight into what stood out and…
Fan Zone Live! with Michigan Arsenal Coach Liotta
We’re back with another episode as Michigan Arsenal head coach Shawn Liotta joins the show following a tough season-opening road loss to Kentucky. What went wrong? What gets fixed? And how does the Arsenal respond with a quick turnaround? All eyes now shift to Friday night as Michigan prepares for a big matchup against the…
Albany’s efficiency, Henry’s arm highlight Arena Football One Week 1
by Howie Hanson The opening weekend of the Arena Football One season delivered what the arena game promises at its best — tempo, space and quarterbacks pushing the pace — while four teams established early footing in the standings. Albany, Oceanside, Kentucky and Oregon all opened with victories, while Nashville had a Week 1 bye….
Standard Holds: Albany Opens Title Defense with Commanding Win Over Minnesota
ALBANY, N.Y. — The standard in Arena Football One looked unchanged Saturday night. Defending champion Albany opened its 2026 season by overwhelming the Minnesota Monsters 50-23, using a dominant second half to turn a competitive game into a runaway at MVP Arena. Albany led just 21-17 at halftime before seizing control after the break. Quarterback Joshua…
AF1 opens 2026 season with defending champion Albany atop Fan Zone rankings
by Howie Hanson Arena Football One will open its 2026 season this weekend with four games involving eight of its nine teams, an opening slate that immediately tests roster stability, early identity and the league’s competitive balance. The spotlight lands Saturday night in Albany, where the defending champion Firebirds — coming off a 12-0 title…
AF1 Fan Zone: Weekly Power Ratings – Preseason Edition
The AF1 Fan Zone Weekly Power Rankings are out, and if you’ve been waiting to argue about something, this is your moment. Here’s the deal: these rankings aren’t coming from just one voice. They’re an average of ballots from Scott Birk, Howie Hanson, Zach Keilman, and Joshua Cox. Four different viewpoints, one list. As you…
Fan Zone Live! Preseason State of the League with Gary Compton and Jeff Fisher
AF1 Commissioner Jeff Fisher and Director of Football Operations Gary Compton joined Tim and Scott for an in-depth conversation on the state of Arena Football One. Fisher, bringing decades of NFL head coaching experience, shared insight into the league’s direction, growth, and long-term vision, while Compton provided perspective on the football operations that shape the…
The Standard Without Its Star: Albany Faces Life After Castronova
by Howie Hanson The departure of quarterback Sam Castronova to the Houston Gamblers has reshaped the opening weekend narrative for the Albany Firebirds and casts a wider spotlight on roster stability across Arena Football One. Castronova, the league’s most valuable player last season, led Albany to a 12-0 record and championship, establishing the Firebirds as the standard in AF1’s inaugural campaign. His…