{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox sports season | title = 2015 Arena Football League season | league = Arena Football League | sport = Arena football | duration = {{nowrap|March 27, 2015 – August 29, 2015}} | season = Regular season | season_champs = San Jose SaberCats | MVP = Dan Raudabaugh (PHI) | MVP_link = | playoffs = League postseason | playoffs_link = | conf1 = American Conference | conf1_link = | conf1_champ = Jacksonville Sharks | conf1_runner-up = Philadelphia Soul | conf2 = National Conference | conf2_link = | conf2_champ = San Jose SaberCats | conf2_runner-up = Arizona Rattlers | finals = ArenaBowl XXVIII | finals_link = ArenaBowl XXVIII | finals_champ = San Jose SaberCats | finals_runner-up = Jacksonville Sharks | finals_MVP = Reggie Gray, SJ | finals_MVP_link = Most valuable player | seasonslist = List of Arena Football League seasons | seasonslistnames = AFL | prevseason_link = 2014 Arena Football League season | prevseason_year = 2014 | nextseason_link = 2016 Arena Football League season | nextseason_year = 2016 }} {{Location map+|USA|width=360|caption='''American: 10px East, 10px South<br>National: 10px Pacific, 10px West''' |relief=no|places= {{Location map~|USA|label='''Gladiators'''|position=top|mark=ButtonViolet.svg|lat=41.482 |long=-81.670}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Soul'''|position=right|mark=ButtonViolet.svg|lat=39.953 |long=-75.164}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''VooDoo'''|position=bottom|mark=ButtonViolet.svg|lat=29.950 |long=-90.080}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Predators'''|position=right|mark=ButtonRed.svg|lat=28.540 |long=-81.380}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Sharks'''|position=right|mark=ButtonRed.svg|lat=30.337 |long=-81.661}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Storm'''|position=bottom|mark=ButtonRed.svg|lat=27.948 |long=-82.459}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''SaberCats'''|position=top|mark=ButtonBlue.svg|lat=37.336 |long=-121.891}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Shock'''|position=right|mark=ButtonBlue.svg|lat=47.659 |long=-117.425}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Thunder'''|position=bottom|mark=ButtonBlue.svg|lat=45.520 |long=-122.682}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Kiss'''|position=left|mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg|lat=33.836 |long=-117.890}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Outlaws'''|position=top|mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg|lat=36.175 |long=-115.136}} {{Location map~|USA|label='''Rattlers'''|position=bottom|mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg|lat=33.448 |long=-112.074}} }}

The '''2015 Arena Football League season''' was the 28th season in the history of the league. The regular season began on March 27, 2015 and ended on August 8, 2015.

==League business==

===Teams=== The city of Las Vegas, Nevada was awarded an expansion team on June 18, 2014. The team, named the Las Vegas Outlaws, was the first AFL team to call Las Vegas home since the Las Vegas Gladiators in 2007. Vince Neil, lead singer of the rock band Mötley Crüe, was the majority owner of the expansion franchise.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/11111566/vince-neil-motley-crue-gets-approval-start-afl-franchise-las-vegas |title=Vince Neil gets AFL approval |publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures |work=ESPN |date=June 20, 2014}}</ref> The Outlaws' expansion draft took place on December 22, 2014.

Two teams that competed in 2014 suspended operations (Pittsburgh Power and San Antonio Talons), and their rosters became signable upon offseason assignment process held on December 23, 2014.

The Iowa Barnstormers were the third and final team to leave the AFL for the 2015 season when they joined the Indoor Football League (IFL) on August 27, 2014. In 2015 all games were televised, most on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, and especially on ESPN3 (available online through WatchESPN) and some on the CBS Sports Network.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theiowabarnstormers.com/news/?article_id=519 |title=Iowa Barnstormers Announce Future Plans, Barnstormers Join Indoor Football League, Hire Head Coach |publisher=Iowa Barnstormers |work=www.theiowabarnstormers.com |date=August 27, 2014 |access-date=December 22, 2014 |archive-date=December 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222164246/http://www.theiowabarnstormers.com/news/?article_id=519 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On July 15, the league took over the daily operations of the Las Vegas Outlaws and New Orleans VooDoo after financial problems and declining attendance. As a result, their game against each other (which was set to be played on the 25th) was cancelled and declared a tie, only the 3rd in AFL history and the only cancellation in league history. The league ran both teams to the end of the season with the intent of looking for new ownership in the offseason but on August 9, the day following the conclusion of the regular season, both teams ceased operations. Las Vegas had qualified for a playoff spot, the final one in the National Conference, but the league's board of directors voted against their inclusion in the postseason, considering that with no team ownership, there was no funding for the team.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/080915aad.html |title=VooDoo, Outlaws Cease Operations |publisher=Arena Football League |work=www.arenafootballleague.com |date=August 9, 2015 |access-date=August 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811220131/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/080915aad.html |archive-date=2015-08-11 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> The Outlaws were replaced in the playoffs by the Portland Thunder, who had finished last in their division but had the better record of the two remaining non-playoff National Conference teams, meaning that all teams in the Pacific Division made the playoffs.

===Alignment=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Conference ! Division ! Teams |- | align="center" rowspan=2 | American | align="center"| East | Cleveland Gladiators, New Orleans VooDoo, Philadelphia Soul |- | align="center"| South | Jacksonville Sharks, Orlando Predators, Tampa Bay Storm |- | align="center" rowspan=2 | National | align="center"| Pacific | Portland Thunder, San Jose SaberCats, Spokane Shock |- | align="center"| West | Arizona Rattlers, Las Vegas Outlaws, Los Angeles Kiss |}

==Regular season standings== {{col-begin|width=100%}} {{col-2}} {{2015 American Conference standings}} {{col-2}} {{2015 National Conference standings}} {{col-end}}

==Playoffs== {{8TeamBracket | RD1=Conference Semifinals | RD2=Conference Championships | RD3=ArenaBowl XXVIII | RD1-group1= <span style="color:darkred;">'''American Conference'''</span> | RD1-group2= <span style="color:darkblue;">'''National Conference'''</span>

| RD1-seed1='''1''' | RD1-team1='''Philadelphia''' | RD1-score1='''47''' | RD1-seed2=4 | RD1-team2=Cleveland | RD1-score2=35

| RD1-seed3=2 | RD1-team3=Orlando | RD1-score3=33 | RD1-seed4='''3''' | RD1-team4='''Jacksonville''' | RD1-score4='''55'''

| RD1-seed5='''1''' | RD1-team5='''San Jose''' | RD1-score5='''55''' | RD1-seed6=4 | RD1-team6=Portland | RD1-score6=28

| RD1-seed7='''2''' | RD1-team7='''Arizona''' | RD1-score7='''72''' | RD1-seed8=3 | RD1-team8=Spokane | RD1-score8=41

| RD2-seed1=1 | RD2-team1=Philadelphia | RD2-score1= 56 | RD2-seed2='''3''' | RD2-team2='''Jacksonville''' | RD2-score2='''61'''

| RD2-seed3='''1''' | RD2-team3='''San Jose''' | RD2-score3='''70''' | RD2-seed4=2 | RD2-team4=Arizona | RD2-score4=67

| RD3-seed1=3 | RD3-team1=Jacksonville | RD3-score1=47 | RD3-seed2='''1''' | RD3-team2='''San Jose''' | RD3-score2='''68''' }}

===Conference semifinals=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Conference ! Date ! Kickoff ! Away ! Score ! Home ! Game site ! Recap |- | align="center" | National | align="center" | August 14 | align="center" | 11:00&nbsp;p.m. EDT | align="center" | Portland Thunder | align="center" | 28–55 | align="center" | '''San Jose Sabercats''' | align="center" | SAP Center at San Jose | align="center" | <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/081515aaa.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091043/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/081515aaa.html | url-status=usurped | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | title=SaberCats Advance to Conference Championship with 55-28 Win Over Thunder | publisher=arenafootball.com | date=August 15, 2015 | access-date=August 9, 2017}}</ref> |- | align="center" | American | align="center" | August 15 | align="center" | 5:00&nbsp;p.m. EDT | align="center" | Cleveland Gladiators | align="center" | 35–47 | align="center" | '''Philadelphia Soul''' | align="center" | Wells Fargo Center | align="center" | <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/081515aae.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182244/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/081515aae.html | url-status=usurped | archive-date=September 23, 2015 | title=Soul Headed to Conference Title Game After 47-35 Victory Over Gladiators | publisher=arenafootball.com | date=August 15, 2015 | access-date=August 9, 2017}}</ref> |- | align="center" | American | align="center" | August 15 | align="center" | 7:30&nbsp;p.m. EDT | align="center" | '''Jacksonville Sharks''' | align="center" | 55–33 | align="center" | Orlando Predators | align="center" | Amway Center | align="center" | <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/081515aah.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808005933/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/081515aah.html | url-status=usurped | archive-date=August 8, 2016 | title=Sharks Beat Predators, 55-33, to Advance to Conference Championship | publisher=arenafootball.com | date=August 15, 2015 | access-date=August 9, 2017}}</ref> |- | align="center" | National | align="center" | August 15 | align="center" | 9:00&nbsp;p.m. EDT | align="center" | Spokane Shock | align="center" | 41–72 | align="center" | '''Arizona Rattlers''' | align="center" | Talking Stick Resort Arena | align="center" | <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/arenabowl/spec-rel/081615aaa.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403001507/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/arenabowl/spec-rel/081615aaa.html | url-status=usurped | archive-date=April 3, 2016 | title=Rattlers Headed to Fifth Straight Conference Championship Game | publisher=arenafootball.com | date=August 16, 2015 | access-date=August 9, 2017}}</ref> |}

===Conference finals=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Conference ! Date ! Kickoff ! Away ! Score ! Home ! Game site ! Recap |- | align="center" | National | align="center" | August 22 | align="center" | 8:00&nbsp;p.m. EDT | align="center" | Arizona Rattlers | align="center" | 67–70 | align="center" | '''San Jose SaberCats''' | align="center" | Stockton Arena<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_28632432/local-sports-digest-sabercats-potential-arenabowl-clincher-would|title=Local sports digest: SaberCats' potential ArenaBowl clincher would be in Stockton|date=August 12, 2015|work=San Jose Mercury News|publisher=mercurynews.com|access-date=August 15, 2015}}</ref> | align="center" | <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/082315aaa.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091034/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/082315aaa.html | url-status=usurped | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | title=SaberCats Defeat Rattlers, 70-67, in Dramatic Conference Championship | publisher=arenafootball.com | date=August 23, 2015 | access-date=August 9, 2017}}</ref> |- | align="center" | American | align="center" | August 23 | align="center" | 5:00&nbsp;p.m. EDT | align="center" | '''Jacksonville Sharks''' | align="center" | 61–56 | align="center" | Philadelphia Soul | align="center" | Wells Fargo Center | align="center" | <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/082315aac.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200139/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/082315aac.html | url-status=usurped | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | title=Sharks ArenaBowl-Bound After 61-65 Win in Philly | publisher=arenafootball.com | date=August 23, 2015 | access-date=August 9, 2017}}</ref> |}

===ArenaBowl XXVIII=== {{main|ArenaBowl XXVIII}} {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Date ! Kickoff ! Away ! Score ! Home ! Game site ! Recap |- | align="center" | August 29 | align="center" | 7:00&nbsp;p.m. EDT | align="center" | Jacksonville Sharks | align="center" | 47–68 | align="center" | '''San Jose SaberCats''' | align="center" | Stockton Arena | align="center" | <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arenafootball.com:80/sports/arenabowl/spec-rel/082915aae.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811130453/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/arenabowl/spec-rel/082915aae.html | url-status=usurped | archive-date=August 11, 2016 | title=SaberCats Win ArenaBowl XXVIII, 68-47 | publisher=arenafootball.com | date=August 29, 2015 | access-date=August 9, 2017 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> |}

==All-Arena team== {| border=0 |- valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! colspan=3 | Offense |- !Position !First team !Second team |- |align=center|Quarterback |Dan Raudabaugh, Philadelphia |Erik Meyer, San Jose |- |align=center|Fullback |Derrick Ross, Jacksonville |Tommy Taggart, Philadelphia |- |align=center|Wide receiver |Reggie Gray, San Jose<br>Donovan Morgan, Los Angeles<br>Anthony Jones, Jacksonville |Rod Windsor, Arizona<br>Joe Hills, Jacksonville<br>Marco Thomas, Philadelphia |- |align=center|Center |Shannon Breen, Philadelphia |John Collins, Portland |- |align=center|Offensive lineman |Moqut Ruffins, Jacksonville<br>Adam Smith, Philadelphia |Rich Ranglin, San Jose<br>Patrick Afif, Spokane |- |} | style="padding-left:40px;" | {| class="wikitable" ! colspan=3 | Defense |- !Position !First team !Second team |- |align=center|Defensive end |Joe Sykes, Jacksonville<br>James Ruffin, Spokane |Mike McAdoo, Arizona<br>Bryan Robinson, Philadelphia |- |align=center|Nose guard |Jason Stewart, San Jose |Willie McGinnis, Cleveland |- |align=center|Middle linebacker |Tyre Glasper, Arizona |Francis Maka, San Jose |- |align=center|Jack linebacker |Alvin Ray Jackson, Jacksonville |Terence Moore, Orlando |- |align=center|Defensive back |Jeremy Kellem, Arizona<br>James Romain, Philadelphia<br>Greg Reid, Jacksonville |Ken Fontenette, San Jose<br>James Harrell, Tampa Bay<br>Rayshaun Kizer, Los Angeles |- |} | style="padding-left:40px;" | {| class="wikitable" ! colspan=3 | Special teams |- !Position !First team !Second team |- |align=center|Kicker |Tommy Frevert, Philadelphia |Mark Lewis, Orlando |- |align=center|Kick returner |Duane Brooks, Portland |Brandon Thompkins, Orlando |- |} |}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

{{AFL seasons}} {{2015 Arena Football League}}

Category:2015 Arena Football League season