On October 7, 2025, the league announced the Odessa Drillers as the league's sixth team and newest expansion team. They will be the first team to play in the city since the West Texas Warbirds/Desert Hawks played briefly in the failed revival of the Arena Football League in 2024 before folding. The team is set to play their home games at the Ector County Coliseum. AIF commissioner Larry Clark is quoted as saying, "We're excited to bring professional indoor football back to Odessa and to welcome Drillers to the AIF family. The Ector County Coliseum is a unique and iconic venue, and we look forward to seeing it rocking with Drillers fans in 2026."[1]
Longtime arena/indoor football player/coach Terrence Foster was named the first head coach, but stepped down to become the new commissioner of the AIF. Shortly after, the team named Brandon Henderson as their head coach.[2] (Foster would later join their rival Midland Frac-Attack as part of the "Oil Bowl Series" rivalry.)
As of April 2026, Fort Stockton High School (Fort Stockton, Texas) broadcast class/internet channel Tumbleweed+ began carrying Drillers home games on their Facebook and YouTube channels. The staff includes adult commentators and a staff consisting totally of high school students, a first for professional sports.
