Albany Firebirds are your 2025 Arena Crown Champions

Albany, NY — Perfection, achieved.

The Albany Firebirds completed an undefeated season with a 60-57 victory over the Nashville Kats in front of a packed MVP Arena, earning the 2025 Arena Crown Championship. The win brings another title to Albany — one of the most iconic cities in arena football — and cements the Firebirds as the standard in Arena Football One.

The Firebirds never trailed after taking an early 8-7 lead and answered every challenge Nashville threw at them. In a game filled with explosive plays and high-level execution, Albany made the winning plays when it mattered most.

Firing Early and Often

All-Arena kicker Henry Nell opened the scoring with a deuce on the kickoff. Nashville responded quickly with a touchdown, but Sam Castronova, the league’s MVP, answered with a rushing score on the Firebirds’ first play from scrimmage.

The two teams traded scores in the first quarter. Castronova found Darien Townsend for a 21-yard touchdown, and Townsend celebrated with his signature Dirty Bird dance as Albany went up 17-13.

The Firebirds’ defense came up with a massive goal-line stand midway through the second quarter, stopping Nashville on four straight downs inside the two-yard line. On the next drive, a wild play saw Isaiah Scott make a contested catch before a fumble bounced into the hands of Duane Brown, who ran it in for a Firebirds touchdown and a 32-19 lead.

Nashville managed a safety just before halftime, cutting Albany’s lead to 32-21.

Controlling the Second Half

Castronova opened the third quarter with a touchdown pass to Brown to extend the lead to 39-21. Nashville responded, but Albany kept answering. Castronova connected with Scott again for his fourth touchdown pass, making it 46-27.

The Kats kept pressing. Nashville’s defense forced a turnover on downs and trimmed the lead to just three points early in the fourth. But on fourth and long, Albany converted and Castronova capped the drive with his third touchdown pass to Scott, who finished the game with 8 catches for 155 yards.

With 1:18 left and the Firebirds clinging to a 53-49 lead, Castronova ran it in himself to put Albany up by two scores, 60-49. Nashville scored again with five seconds remaining, but Albany recovered the final kickoff to seal the win.

Mission Complete

Sam Castronova was named Championship MVP, finishing with seven total touchdowns and 251 yards. The Firebirds’ defense came through with key stops, and the offense was nearly unstoppable from start to finish.

When we spoke with head coach Damon Ware before the season, he said the Firebirds had “unfinished business.” After a flawless season and the Arena Crown in hand, that business is officially complete.

Albany Firebirds are your 2025 Arena Crown Champions