Super Bowl 53 takes place this weekend (Feb. 3, 2019) inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, which is relevant to this story because the Los Angeles Rams were the first professional football team to put its logo right on its helmets.
Good thing those players didn’t sign with American 7 Football League (A7FL), or they might be getting head tattoos, instead.
That’s because A7FL is the first full-contact, full-tackle football league to forgo the use of protective gear, including helmets and safety pads. It’s kind of like the prison yard game in Stallone’s Lock Up, only not as muddy.
And nobody will get shanked by Chink Weber drive a Mustang onto the field after the game.
Leading the charge will be the inimitable David Isaacs, co-founder of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), who joins A7FL as chairman of its advisory board.
“We’ve always said the A7FL was like the UFC of football. A7FL is challenging football like UFC did with boxing, so we are very excited to have David with us during the next stage of our growth,” said Ryan DePaul, president of A7FL.
“I have been immensely impressed with all that Sener and Ryan have accomplished with the American 7s Football League, so it’s a privilege to join them as chairman of the advisory board,” said Isaacs. “Removing equipment to make any sport safer seems counterintuitive and we faced similar issues when we launched the UFC and created the sport of mixed martial arts. With the A7FL, football can be safer but still thrilling full-contact competition. I can’t wait to get started.”
A7FL has 18 teams spread across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., with plans for future expansion. Opening day is April 7, 2019, and you can bet I’ll be rooting for the NJ Thrashers — because the PA Misfits are just wack.
For much more on A7FL click here.
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