Jersey Flight

The Jersey Flight was announced to be joining the National Arena League (NAL) at a press conference on March 20, 2017. Jersey Flight Football, Inc., was reported to be the first 100% African-American-owned professional sports franchise in the state of New Jersey.{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalarenaleague.com/news-m/196-jersey-flight-football-inc-is-pleased-to-announce-the-kick-off-of-the-jersey-flight-football-team.html |title=Jersey Flight Football, Inc. is pleased to announce the kick-off of the Jersey Flight Football Team |publisher=National Arena League |date=March 20, 2017}} The Flight announced the franchise's first head coach would be Jake Grande, former assistant coach and defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Sharks. The owners heavily pursued sponsors and partnerships in order to pay for multiple years of stability.{{cite web |url=http://nj1015.com/new-arena-football-team-looks-to-take-flight-in-new-jersey/ |title=New arena football team looks to take 'flight' in New Jersey |work=New Jersey 101.5 |date=May 26, 2017}} However, the team did not meet the NAL's updated minimum obligations prior to the release of the 2018 schedule in December 2017 and was subsequently removed from the league without playing a game.{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalarenaleague.com/news-m/383-nal-set-to-begin-play-in-april-league-schedule-to-be-released-this-week.html |title=NAL SET TO BEGIN PLAY IN APRIL - League Schedule to be Released This Week |website=NationalArenaLeague.com |date=December 13, 2017 |access-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-date=December 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214014718/http://www.nationalarenaleague.com/news-m/383-nal-set-to-begin-play-in-april-league-schedule-to-be-released-this-week.html |url-status=dead }} A few days later, the Flight announced they had joined the recently formed American Arena League (AAL) for the 2018 season.

After two games played, owners Samuel Davis, Jr. and Kyna Felder-Ruiz were arrested for tax fraud on April 13, 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.trentonian.com/article/TT/20180413/NEWS/180419880 |title=Trenton's arena football owners get arrested, charged with federal tax fraud |work=The Trentonian |date=April 13, 2018}} The team finished the season with an official record of 5–3.

In December 2018, the team announced William Thomas as the new general manager and Adam Turkel as head coach for the 2019 season.{{Cite web |url=http://lockedinmagazine.com/lockedin-on-arena-football-dec-7/ |title=LockedIN On Arena Football Dec 7 |website=LockedInMagazine |date=December 7, 2018}} On March 1, 2019, Turkel was informed he had been let go and claimed the team was folding. However, the Flight announced on March 10 they were playing under new ownership and Nick Coppola had been named head coach.{{cite web |url=https://thecapitalsportsreport.com/2019/03/10/flight-announce-new-ownership-head-coach/ |title=Flight announce new ownership, head coach |website=TheCapitalSportsReport.com |date=March 10, 2019}} The new ownership was later revealed as New Flight Enterprises, LLC. led by Jay Sababu with operations managed by Willard Stanback.{{cite web |url=https://jerseyflightfootball.com/with-a-short-runway-and-new-pilots-jersey-flight-takes-off-for-season-2/ |title=With a Short Runway and New Pilots, Jersey Flight Takes Off for Season 2 |date=April 12, 2019 |website=Jersey Flight}} Due to the late ownership change, the team started the 2019 season late and only played three games against other AAL teams, going 2–1. The team made the divisional playoffs as two of the four teams in the division did not finish the season, and lost to the undefeated West Virginia Roughriders. Head coach Coppola then left the team after the season.

In October 2019, the NAL announced the Flight, under their new ownership, was re-approved to join for the 2020 season along with the West Virginia Roughriders.{{cite web |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/national-arena-league-continues-to-expand-north-with-new-jersey-to-join-the-league-in-2020/n-5565185 |title=National Arena League Continues to Expand North with New Jersey to Join the League in 2020 |website=OurSports Central |date=October 25, 2019}} The team then named Terry Foster as head coach and general manager.{{cite web |url=https://jerseyflightfootball.com/jersey-flight-announces-new-leadership-for-2020-professional-arena-football-season/ |title=Jersey Flight Announces New Leadership for 2020 Professional Arena Football Season |website=Jersey Flight |date=December 19, 2019}} As the 2020 NAL season was cancelled due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Flight did not make their league debut until May 28, 2021, in a 45–42 home loss to the Carolina Cobras. The Flight finished their inaugural NAL season with a 2–6 record and missed the playoffs.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nationalarenaleague.com/stats#/1200/standings?division_id=11634 |title=National Arena League standings |website=National Arena League |access-date=August 1, 2021}} Following the 2021 season, the Flight was not listed as a member of the NAL for the 2022 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalarenaleague.com/stats#/1200/teams?division_id=15180 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203030326/https://www.nationalarenaleague.com/stats#/1200/schedule?season_id=3642 |title=Teams |website=NAL |access-date=December 3, 2021 |archive-date=December 3, 2021}}

In January 2022, the Arena Professional Football League, a new league started by the owners of the Charlotte Thunder, announced the Flight as a member team,{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=898132997735288 |title=The Arena Professional Football League would like to welcome the Jersey Flight to our league in 2022. |website=APFL Facebook |date=January 4, 2022}} but were later replaced by a team called the Jersey Ballaz.{{Cite web |url=https://www.arenapfl.com/APFLTeams.html |title=APFL teams |website=arenapfl.com |access-date=February 14, 2022}}

{{update section|date=May 2021}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.jerseyflightfootball.com/index.php Jersey Flight official site]

{{NAL}}

{{New Jersey Sports}}

Category:2017 establishments in New Jersey

Category:2022 disestablishments in New Jersey

Category:Defunct American football teams in New Jersey

Category:American Arena League

Category:Sports clubs and teams in Trenton, New Jersey

Category:National Arena League teams

Category:American football teams established in 2017

Category:American football teams disestablished in 2022