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The Nashville Kats name has represented three separate franchises in the Arena Football League, all rooted in Middle Tennessee. The original Kats launched in 1997 and quickly established success, advancing to two ArenaBowl appearances before relocating to Atlanta in 2002 and becoming the Georgia Force. A second incarnation returned as an expansion franchise in 2005 and competed through 2007. The Kats brand was revived again in 2024 as part of the relaunch of the Arena Football League, with games initially played at Nashville Municipal Auditorium.
Following strong fan support and multiple sellouts, the franchise expanded its footprint in the region. After selling out F&M Bank Arena for one game in 2024 and two games in 2025, the Kats moved their full-time home schedule to Clarksville beginning in the 2026 season.
Today, the Kats continue to build on a legacy of success while growing a passionate fan base across the region, positioning the franchise for sustained competitive and commercial growth.
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Original Nashville Kats (1997–2001)
The franchise began play in 1997, utilizing the rights of the charter Arena Football League team, the Denver Dynamite. The Kats played at the then-named Nashville Arena, known as “The Alley,” in downtown Nashville. The team name was inspired by the 1967 hit “Nashville Cats” by The Lovin’ Spoonful, and its logo featured a tabby cat in a leather jacket holding a guitar and football.
The Kats were coached by Eddie Khayat in 1997 and 1998, with future NFL head coach Jay Gruden serving as offensive coordinator early in his career. Pat Sperduto later took over as head coach and led the franchise through its most successful stretch.
Nashville earned Arena Football League Organization of the Year honors in its inaugural season and reached the playoffs in every year of its existence. The Kats advanced to back-to-back ArenaBowl appearances (XIV and XV) in their final two seasons in Nashville.
Despite on-field success and strong attendance, the franchise relocated following the 2001 season after ownership was unable to reach a favorable lease agreement with arena management, controlled by the NHL’s Nashville Predators. Majority owner Mark Bloom sold the team to Atlanta businessman Virgil Williams for a then-league-record $12 million. The franchise became the Georgia Force.
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Expansion Nashville Kats (2005–2007)
Following the departure of the original franchise, Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams secured rights to an expansion team and revived the Kats identity. After negotiations with arena operators, the team returned to play in 2005.
Country music star Tim McGraw joined the ownership group as a minority investor, and his presence became a visible part of the game-day experience.
The second incarnation retained much of the original branding, with slight modifications to reflect the Tennessee Titans’ color scheme. A new mascot, Kool Kat, was introduced, and Sperduto returned as head coach.
Operations ceased in October 2007 when ownership elected to suspend the franchise. The Kats were not included in the AFL’s 2010 relaunch.
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2024 Revival
On Nov. 1, 2023, the Arena Football League announced the return of the Nashville Kats for the 2024 season. The ownership group includes Jeff Fisher as President of Football Operations, along with Nashville-based leadership and investors committed to restoring the franchise’s legacy.
Nashville Arena Sports, LLC acquired the Kats trademark, emphasizing the importance of reconnecting with the franchise’s history while building a new era of Arena football in the city.
The Kats introduced a refreshed primary logo while retaining the vintage mark as an alternate. Kool Kat also returned as the team’s mascot.
The 2024 season marked a strong return, as the Kats advanced to the semifinals before falling 35-32 to the eventual ArenaBowl champion Billings Outlaws. The season reestablished the franchise’s competitive presence and energized the Nashville fan base.
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2025: A New League — AF1
The Kats joined Arena Football One in 2025 and named Hall of Famer Darren Arbet as head coach. The team demonstrated steady growth, resilience, and a competitive identity throughout the season.
Nashville finished the regular season with a 6-4 record and advanced to the Arena Crown championship game, falling 60-57 to the Albany Firebirds in a tightly contested matchup. The season highlighted the team’s development and positioned the franchise for continued success.
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2026: New Season Adds Stability
With Darren Arbet returning as head coach and Jeff Fisher leading the ownership group for a second consecutive year, alongside the addition of Jeff Jarrett to the ownership group and management team, the Nashville Kats enter the new season with a talented core and key new additions.
All seven home games will be played at F&M Bank Arena, where crowds are expected to sell out and exceed 5,000 fans per game, reflecting strong community support. The franchise looks to continue its pursuit of an Arena Crown championship while building on the momentum of recent seasons.