We are incredibly proud to celebrate our CEO, Jerry Bruce Kurz, on his induction into the Illinois Sports Hall of Fame ~ Class of 2026! 🏆🏈 Jerry is a true football visionary whose impact on the game has spanned more than five decades. While he was a standout safety for the University of Oklahoma's 1967 Big 8 Championship team and had an outstanding, Hall-of-Fame semi-pro career, his greatest legacy is the one he has built off the field. As one of the three founding fathers of the Arena Football League, Jerry helped revolutionize the sport. He has done it all—serving as a player, coach, GM, owner, league executive, Commissioner, and today, the CEO of Arena Football One. Under his visionary leadership, our sport expanded globally to Europe, Australia, and China, securing national television contracts and unprecedented growth. His commitment to excellence doesn't stop at the gridiron. Jerry holds both a Juris Doctor and a Ph.D., and alongside his wife, Kathryn, has successfully operated the Hall & Kurz law firm since 1980. His guiding philosophy perfectly captures his remarkable journey and the spirit of AF1: "The size of the dog is not the deciding factor...it is the fight in the dog." Congratulations, Jerry, on this incredibly well-deserved honor! Your perseverance, teamwork, and determination continue to inspire us all. Welcome to the Illinois Sports Hall of Fame! 👏 #AF1 #ArenaFootballOne #FootballVisionary #IllinoisSportsHOF #HallOfFame #ClassOf2026 #SportsLeadership

We wanted to clear up some playoff confusion. Quarterfinal matchups will be announced after this weekend. Semifinal matchups will be finalized after the quarterfinals. Who's making the final? Drop your picks in the comments below ⤵️ Watch AF1 LIVE this weekend, on VICE TV, HTN, theaf1.com and the AF1 YouTube channel 📱