About Us
Athens Indoor Football was built with one goal in mind; create a professional sports experience that feels authentically Athens. Rooted in one of the greatest football communities in America, the organization was founded to bring high-energy indoor football, unforgettable entertainment, and year-round excitement to Akins Ford Arena.
More than just a team, Athens Indoor Football represents the next chapter of sports and entertainment in Northeast Georgia. From the beginning, the vision has centered around community, culture, and creating something the city can proudly call its own. With a leadership group deeply connected to football, athletics, business, and the Athens community, the organization is focused on building a franchise that delivers both on and off the field.
Beginning in 2027, Athens Indoor Football will compete in the Indoor Football League (IFL), bringing one of the fastest-growing and most exciting forms of professional football to downtown Athens. From game presentation and fan experience to community involvement and partnerships, every part of the organization is being built to reflect the energy and identity of Athens itself.
Why Athens
Athens has always been a football city. From legendary Saturdays in the fall to a passionate year-round sports culture, the foundation for professional indoor football already exists here.
The launch of Athens Indoor Football is about more than introducing a new team; it’s about building a lasting sports tradition inside Akins Ford Arena while creating new opportunities for fans, families, businesses, and the community to rally behind something uniquely their own.
With the success and momentum surrounding downtown Athens and Akins Ford Arena, the timing was right to bring another major professional sports franchise to the city. Athens Indoor Football was created to continue that momentum while delivering a fast-paced, immersive, and community-first experience unlike anything else in the region.
Ownership
Athens Indoor Football is backed by a high-profile ownership group made up of respected names across professional football, collegiate athletics, and sports business. Their combined experience, leadership, and passion for the game provide the foundation for the organization’s long-term vision and growth.
Jerome Bettis
Jerome Bettis, widely known as “The Bus,” is one of the most accomplished running backs in National Football League history. A standout at the University of Notre Dame, Bettis was selected in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, where he made an immediate impact by rushing for over 1,400 yards and earning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Bettis joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1996, becoming the centerpiece of their offense for more than a decade. Known for his powerful running style, durability, and consistency, he rushed for over 13,000 career yards, currently ranking him 8th among all-time leading rushers in NFL history. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, the defining moment of his career came in his final season, when he helped lead Pittsburgh to victory in Super Bowl XL, winning the championship in his hometown of Detroit before retiring from the game in 2006.
Following his playing career, Bettis transitioned into broadcasting and business, becoming a respected football analyst and entrepreneur. He established the Jerome Bettis Bus Stops Here Foundation in 1997, which offers inner-city youth opportunities and resources to build a better future. Currently an Atlanta area resident, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
David Pollack
David Pollack is one of the most decorated defensive players in University of Georgia history, following in the footsteps of fellow legend Herschel Walker as a three-time First-Team All-American. A dominant force in the SEC, Pollack won multiple national awards – including the Ted Hendricks Award twice – and set a school record with 36 career sacks. He led Georgia to three straight top-10 finishes, highlighted by a 13–1 season and Sugar Bowl victory in 2002, and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
Selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, Pollack’s professional career was cut short due to a neck injury. He quickly transitioned into broadcasting, joining ESPN in 2009 and becoming a longtime analyst on College GameDay.
Off the field, the Athens area resident is a motivational speaker and co-founder of the Pollack Family Foundation, which focuses on faith, family, and community.
Brian Jordan
Brian Jordan is one of the rare athletes to successfully compete at a high level in both the National Football League and Major League Baseball. A standout two-sport star at the University of Richmond, Jordan excelled as both a safety in football and an outfielder in baseball before turning professional in both sports.
Jordan began his pro career in the NFL in 1989, playing safety for the Atlanta Falcons, where he became known for his physical play and leadership in the secondary. After three productive seasons in football, he made the rare decision to fully commit to baseball, transitioning to a full-time career in Major League Baseball in 1992.
On the diamond, Jordan enjoyed a 15-year career, most notably with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves. Known for his power, athleticism, and defensive ability, he hit over 180 home runs and drove in more than 800 runs during his All-Star career. He was also a key member of multiple postseason teams, including the Braves during their run of division titles.
After retiring as a player, Jordan transitioned into broadcasting, becoming a respected baseball analyst and commentator. He is also a best-selling children’s book author, as his Brian Jordan Foundation helps young people reach their full potential through literacy.
Mike Sammond
Mike Sammond is a seasoned sports executive and award-winning broadcaster with extensive experience across professional, collegiate, and international sports. He has held leadership roles with multiple franchises, including Minority Owner, President, and CEO of the Columbus Wardogs (arenafootball2); President of the Montgomery Maulers (National Indoor Football League); and Vice President of Business Operations for the Birmingham Steeldogs (arenafootball2) and Birmingham Bulls (East Coast Hockey League). He has also driven corporate sponsorship and broadcasting initiatives for the Georgia Force (Arena Football League) and Atlanta Knights (International Hockey League).
A graduate of the UGA Henry Grady School of Journalism, Sammond has been a Sports Anchor at CNN Headline News, Sports Director at WRBL-TV in Columbus, GA, and a sports talk host and reporter for Sports Radio 92.9 The Game in Atlanta and WRFC Radio in Athens. His play-by-play experience spans professional and collegiate baseball, football, basketball, and hockey.
Internationally, he has served as an announcer for Olympic Broadcasting Services and Olympic Channel News, covering the Summer and Winter Olympic Games from Vancouver 2010 through Paris 2024, as well as providing play-by-play for the 2015 European Games and 2023 Pan American Games.
Tom Sheldon
Vice President
Lee Duncan
President and CEO of Alliance Group
beau Henderson
Founder of RichLife Advisors
Alan Miller
Physician at Alan Miller M.D
Keith Nabb
President of Affordable Medicare Solutions
Scott Phelan
Executive VP of Janney Montgomery Scott
Mark Parkman
Co-Managing Partner of BlueStar Studios
Management
Mike Sammond
President & CEO
Tom Sheldon
Vice President
Kris Altiere
Agency Partners
Britton Briley
Agency Partners
Board of Advisors
Rece Davis – ESPN Sportscaster and Host of College Gameday
Charles Felix – Former ArenaFootball2 (af2) and East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) Team Owner
David Greene – Partner at Sterling Seacrest and Former UGA Quarterback
Dawn Intili – Senor Director of Marketing at DIRECTV
Chip Jakins – CEO of Jackson EMC
Scott Lowry – Partner at Lowry Legal Counsel and UGA Law Professor
Roger Manis – President Rowdy Sports TV
David Stob – Former Business Advisor with UGA Small Business Development Center
Angela Wagenti – Owner of Vrooom Technology and Former Owner of Columbus Lions Indoor Football Team