As voted on by the league’s head coaches. These are the tone-setters—the players who changed games with pressure, range, and timely takeaways.
DEFENSIVE LINE – Jaylin Swan, Fishers Freight
The league’s sack leader (9.5) and a top-five TFL producer (17.5), Swan lived in opposing backfields and forced offenses to account for him on every snap.
DEFENSIVE LINE – Jonathan Ross, Bay Area Panthers
Ross co-led the IFL in tackles for loss (20.0) and added 5.5 sacks, pairing burst with heavy hands to wreck runs and compress pockets.
DEFENSIVE LINE – KeShaun Moore, Quad City Steamwheelers
A complete disruptor: 9 sacks (No. 2 in the league), 20.0 TFL (tied for No. 1), and 4 forced fumbles—production that swung possessions and field position.
LINEBACKER – Alan Arslanian, Quad City Steamwheelers
The IFL’s tackling champion with 125 total stops, Arslanian erased yards after contact and even added ball production with 4 interceptions.
LB/DB – Davontae Merriweather, Arizona Rattlers
A true hybrid who fit anywhere on the second level, Merriweather piled up 83.5 tackles while shutting down space and finishing plays in the alley.
DEFENSIVE BACK – Joe Foucha, Bay Area Panthers
Seven interceptions (tied for league lead) and 22 total passes defended (Tied for No. 2) underscored Foucha’s instincts and closing burst in a secondary that smothered passing games.
DEFENSIVE BACK – Trae Meadows, Bay Area Panthers
Another cornerstone of Bay Area’s clamp-down unit, Meadows matched 7 interceptions with 22 passes defended and added 2 forced fumbles for good measure.
DEFENSIVE BACK – Caleb Streat, Iowa Barnstormers
Seven interceptions with three returned for touchdowns—Streat turned takeaways into points and consistently changed momentum with his ball skills.
Front to back, this unit was suffocating: sacks that stalled drives, tackles that set the edge, and takeaways that flipped games. Week after week, they defined what elite defense looks like in the Indoor Football League.