As time expired on the Arizona Rattlers’ season last year, the San Diego Strike Force had three men in motion. The penalty should have ended the game, but the referees didn’t see it.
San Diego scored and the Rattlers’ shot at a repeat Indoor Football League championship was gone.
The Rattlers had their chance for revenge on March 28 in their first game of 2026 and they didn’t miss it. They beat San Diego 47-29, a victory that was the culmination of intense offseason workouts, major roster reconstruction and a king-sized chip on the shoulder of their coach/general manager.
“We went into the offseason feeling like we never got beat, and didn’t get a chance to repeat,” Kevin Guy said. “There were some people trying to push my buttons in the offseason and I’m taking this year personally. You don’t poke the bear. I’m back, I’m mentally dialed in, and I’m telling you right now this is going to be one hell of a year for us.”
Guy is a legend in indoor football, operating as the Rattlers coach and general manager since 2008. During that time, he has won five championships and has a career winning percentage of .758.
At the end of last season, Guy said that there would be consequences for how it ended and in turn, the Rattlers replaced 75% of their roster, including long-time wide receiver Isaiah Huston and 2023 championship game MVP quarterback Dalton Sneed.
Max Meylor, the 2025 IFL MVP, signed with the Rattlers in the offseason after a 67-touchdown season that saw him lead the Green Bay Blizzard to the IFL championship, losing to Vegas in a thrilling 64-61 game.
After the Rattlers signed Meylor, they received a message from the medical staff that three-time MVP quarterback Drew Powell would be available to play, and the Rattlers subsequently signed him as well.
Now the Rattlers have two IFL MVPs on the roster and Guy will have a tough decision to make if Meylor doesn’t play up to his MVP standard.
“It was about winning week one,” Guy said. “Max, those last three or four days of camp, really came on strong, but I feel like I got two quarterbacks I can win with.”
Meylor started last Saturday against San Diego and scored five touchdowns, three passing and two with his legs. It was an impressive debut for the former MVP, and after the game, he talked about how excited he is for the year.
“I’m just happy I’m on this side of the team,” Meylor said. “It’s a great organization and a great fan base. It was really fun.”
There are no outdoor games in the IFL, but as another sign of Guy’s focus this season, the Rattlers hosted their training camp outside in the Valley’s record-setting March heat.
Guy said that heat was instrumental in helping his team get ready for the season.
“Arizona heat is different,” rookie safety Yashyn McKee Sr. said. “I’m from New Jersey, so I’m not used to the heat, but I felt like we were all in shape, everybody was flying around and no one was tired.”
Meylor said Green Bay hosted all its practices indoors last year, but he came to Arizona prepared.
“I definitely brought my sunscreen,” he said.
McKee and the defense have been a happy surprise for Guy and the Rattlers. They secured two interceptions and forced a turnover on downs. Indoor football is played on a 50-yard field, and punting is illegal, which means forcing turnovers is the only way teams can get a stop on defense.
“We look for (defensive backs) that have a history of making interceptions,” Guy said. “It’s a possession game; it’s not a field position game.”
McKee said he and the rest of the team pride themselves on being physical, smart, and forcing turnovers.
“Our whole secondary we’re fresh, we’re intelligent and physical,” McKee said.
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