Can't Miss Prospect Trevor Lawrence Signs with Birmingham Iron
Birmingham Iron Land Their Quarterback
August 27, 2020
Birmingham, AL - The National Champion winning Clemson Tiger Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has decided to forego his junior season at the college level to play professionally for the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football. Lawrence is projected to be the #1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, which he intends to enter after completing his one-year $3M contract with the Iron.
Lawrence won the starting job for the Tigers midway through his freshman season, leading them to an undefeated season that ended with a victory in the 2019 National Championship Game. As a sophomore, he led Clemson to another undefeated regular season before being defeated by LSU in the 2020 National Championship Game.
Birmingham Iron owner Jim Speros, a Clemson alum, was going to make sure he got this deal done after his Iron once again fell short of the Alliance Championship in July.
Oakland Panthers Move to the IFL
August 31, 2020
Oakland, CA - Roy Choi and Black Panthers Sports and Entertainment LLC announced this morning that the Oakland Panthers would be sitting out the 2021 AAF season and would be joining the Indoor Football League for the 2022 season. The team lost an estimated $25M in 2020 and weren't willing to proceed with the Alliance any longer. All Panther players and coaches are on Alliance contracts and are now Free Agents.
Gladiators and Predators Follow Panthers Move
September 3, 2020
Cleveland, OH - Dan Gilbert along with Cleveland Sports LLC and David Seigel along with Orlando Predators LLC followed suite with the Oakland Panthers of earlier this week. The Cleveland Gladiators and Orlando Predators would both be joining the Indoor Football League for the 2022 season. All Predators and Gladiators players and coaches are on Alliance contracts and are now Free Agents.
With the recent moves, the Alliance is sitting with 19 teams, not an ideal number. They'll be in scramble mode to find a 20th team over the next three months.