From the CEO

The biggest splash we've ever made.

Thursday the Indianapolis Capitols named Mike Vanderjagt Head Coach and General Manager. Within twenty-four hours, Peyton Manning came out publicly to endorse the hire on camera. The response has crossed 300,000 social engagements and is still climbing. It is the largest media splash any Continental Football League club has ever made — and this is what a league in year two is supposed to look like.

Below: the announcement, Manning's message, next Thursday's meet-and-greet in Westfield, where we stand on 2027 expansion, and a look at the fall window we didn't have last year.

Around The League · Indianapolis Capitols

Capitols name Mike Vanderjagt Head Coach and General Manager

Mike Vanderjagt · Head Coach & GM, Indianapolis Capitols

The Indianapolis Capitols announced Thursday that Mike Vanderjagt has been named the club's Head Coach and General Manager for the 2027 CoFL season. The former All-Pro placekicker played eight seasons for the Indianapolis Colts and one with the Dallas Cowboys, and remains the most accurate kicker in NFL history. In Indianapolis, his name still means something.

President and Managing Partner Lauren Boczek on the hire:

Full announcement and bios live at indycapitols.com. Announcement courtesy of the Indianapolis Capitols.

The Moment · Peyton Manning

“I'm very excited to see you take on this next challenge.”

▶ Watch Peyton Manning's full message on the CoFL Network

Within hours of Vanderjagt's hire, Peyton Manning recorded a personal message for his former teammate:

The message — including Manning's callback to the 55-yarder in the snow that Mike hit to force overtime, and the 53-yarder in overtime that won it, in the Colts' 2002 game against Denver — has become the largest media splash any CoFL club has made to date. Over 300,000 social engagements in the first twenty-four hours, and still growing.

Mark Your Calendar · Westfield, IN

Thursday, Aug. 20 · Coach Vanderjagt meet-and-greet

Media and community-leader inquiries: indycapitols.com.

2027 Expansion · The Standard

Three more market meetings this week — and a higher bar

Ownership conversations continued this week with three additional prospective markets. As the calendar tightens toward 2027, the League is spending more time vetting each opportunity — the capital, the venue plan, the community roots, and the operational discipline required to run a club at CoFL standard.

At the same time, we are working closely with the clubs already in the League to make sure every 2027 organization enters next season operating at its best. No verbal-only commitments. No shortcuts. That is how you protect the ones who did it right.

Prospective owners: coflfootball.com/ownership

The Fall Window · Local Football Season

This is the window we didn't have last year

High-school football is back. Local college football is back. This fall, our clubs have something they did not have twelve months ago — real runway to be seen in the youth, high-school, and small-college markets where CoFL fans live. Last year most clubs did not launch until after the new year, and the timing simply was not there. This year it is.

The playbook: show up at the stadiums, sponsor the programs, put jerseys on kids, get in front of the parents. The 2027 season starts this fall in the bleachers.

Coming Next Week · Broadcast

A broadcast announcement is on the way

Next Friday's edition of The Continental will include a broadcast-side announcement we've been building toward for months. Watch this space.

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Wherever you get your football, we're there.

THE CONTINENTAL · THE PEOPLE'S LEAGUE

Continental Football League · Indianapolis, Indiana

coflfootball.com  ·  [email protected]