The 2022 National Arena League season was the fifth season of the National Arena League (NAL).^[1] The league played with only six teams mostly based in the Eastern United States, with one new team arriving from the American Arena League, the San Antonio Gunslingers, based in Texas.^[2] The season ended with the Albany Empire, Carolina Cobras, Columbus Lions, and Jacksonville Sharks qualifying for the playoffs^[3] and the Albany Empire winning the championship.^[4]

For the season, the league re-introduced ironman football rules.^[5] This concept had previously been used by the Arena Football League from 1987 up to 2007.^[5] Ironman football is a variant that allows players to play in both the offense and the defense for the game.^[6] Only two players from the offense, two players from the defense, and one player from the special teams can have a player who has their position for just one side of the ball.^[6] The stated goal of the ironman football rules is to see players become more creative by showing their skills on offense and defense.^[6]

For 2022, the NAL consisted of six teams without conferences or divisions. Each team played 12 games, six home and six away, with the exception of the Carolina Cobras and the Jacksonville Sharks who both played 14 games,^[7][8][9] seven home and seven away.^[10][11] During the season, there were two byes given out,^[7] with the exception of the Carolina Cobras and the Jacksonville Sharks, where they do not get a bye week.^[7]

Reference for teams in 2022:^[22]

z – clinched home field advantage

y – clinched home playoff game

e – eliminated from playoffs

Reference:^[3][23]

Reference:^{[3][4][24][25]}

• In a game between the Orlando Predators and the San Antonio Gunslingers, after official Andrew McGrath got injured and taken to the hospital in the second quarter due to a broken clavicle and a face laceration, and there were only four referees left. In the fourth quarter, with 24 seconds left, a Gunslinger was close to the end zone, and one referee signaled touchdown while the other signaled him short of the goal line, however, the clock kept until the time was out while the referees were discussing the play. After review, the runner was short of the goal line. The clock was set to four seconds left, however, per league rules there was a 10 second run-off since the ball was not spotted before the previous play. The Gunslingers then scored the game-winning play. After a review by commissioner Chris Siegfried, the lead official, and the supervisor of officials, they decided that that was the correct call.^[26]

• In a game between the Jacksonville Sharks and the San Antonio Gunslingers, Jacksonville player Devin Wilson hit official Gary Vaught from behind. The player was suspended indefinitely.^[27][28]