ATHENS CRUSH SIGN REIGNING IFL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER LIAM THOMPSON

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

ATHENS CRUSH SIGN REIGNING 
IFL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER  
LIAM THOMPSON
 

Accomplished Quarterback Joins Athens For Inaugural 2027 Season

 
ATHENS, Ga. — October 13, 2026 — The Athens Crush have made a major addition to their inaugural roster, signing quarterback Liam Thompson, the reigning Indoor Football League Most Valuable Player, the organization announced today.
 

Thompson joins the Crush following a spectacular 2026 season with the Green Bay Blizzard in which he established himself as one of the IFL’s most dynamic quarterbacks. He passed for 2,743 yards and 66 touchdowns while adding 784 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns, leading Green Bay to the No. 1 overall seed in the IFL and a berth in the league championship game.
 

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Liam Thompson join the Athens Crush,” said Rob Keefe, Head Coach and Director of Football Operations. “I’ve had the opportunity to coach Liam before, and I know exactly what he brings to the table. He is an extremely talented quarterback, but more importantly, he is a competitor, a leader, and someone who understands what it takes to win in this league. Having the reigning MVP join in our first season is a tremendous opportunity for the Crush.”
 

A member of the NFL’s New York Giants rookie mini-camp in 2024, Thompson began his professional career with the IFL’s Bay Area Panthers in 2025 after a record-setting collegiate career at Wabash College. A four-year starter, Thompson finished his college career with 11,149 passing yards, 102 touchdown passes and a 65.2 percent completion rate. He also rushed for 1,747 yards and 31 touchdowns. He was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year three times.
 

Thompson also brings a connection to Crush head coach Rob Keefe, who coached him during his first professional season with Bay Area.
 

“I’m extremely excited to be coming to Athens and being part of the first season of the Athens Crush,” said Thompson. “Coach Keefe and I have a great relationship, and I have a tremendous amount of confidence in him and what he’s building. The opportunity to be part of a brand-new organization and help establish something special from the beginning was something I couldn’t pass up. I’m ready to get to Athens and get to work.”
 

The signing gives the Crush a proven playmaker at the most important position on the field as the organization prepares for its inaugural season at Akins Ford Arena in March 2027.
 

“We said from the beginning that we wanted to build this organization the right way, and that includes putting a championship-caliber product on the field,” said Mike Sammond, Team President & CEO. “Signing the reigning IFL MVP is a tremendous statement about what we’re building in Athens. Liam is an exceptional football player, and we believe Athens fans are going to have a lot of fun watching him play.”
 

The Athens Crush will play eight regular-season home games at Akins Ford Arena during the 2027 season. Season tickets and additional team information can be found at AthensCrush.com.

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About the Athens Crush:

The Athens Crush are a new professional Indoor Football League (IFL) franchise set to begin play in March 2027 at Akins Ford Arena in Athens, Georgia. Led by an ownership group that includes Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis, College Football Hall of Famer David Pollack, and former MLB All-Star and NFL standout Brian Jordan, the organization is committed to bringing high-energy, family-friendly entertainment and championship-caliber football to the Classic City. For more information, visit AthensCrush.com.
 

About the Indoor Football League:
 

The Indoor Football League (IFL) is the premier professional indoor football league in North America and the longest continuously operating indoor football league in the United States. Entering its 19th season, the IFL features fast-paced, high-scoring action played on a 50-yard field inside arenas across the country. For more information, visit GoIFL.com.