IFL Massachusetts Pirates

DB Norrils Signs with Pirates

May 13, 2022 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Massachusetts Pirates News Release


WORCESTER, MA - Defensive back Cheatham Norrils is returning to the Massachusetts Pirates. Since playing with the Pirates in 2018, Norrils has made four stops on his journey back to the defending champions of the Indoor Football League.

Norrils signed with the Salt Lake City Stallions of the Alliance of American Football in 2019 and then won a championship that same season in the Arena Football League with the Albany. With the Empire, Norrils had 27 tackles, assisted on three others, defended five passes, notched four interceptions and forced a fumble. He also has the distinction of playing in the last game ever played in the AFL. In Arena Bowl XXXII, Norrils made four tackles and assisted on two others while defending two passes in Albany's 45-27 win over the Philadelphia Soul.

In 2021 the 6'0", 200 lb. DB played in one game with the New Jersey Flight and seven more with the Jacksonville Sharks of the National Arena League.

Norrils, who still holds the Pirates All-Time record for tackles in a game with 11.5, was part of the Pirates secondary in 2018 when Massachusetts had the best regular season record in the NAL. That year he was second on the Pirates in tackles. In 15 games he had 50 solo stops and assisted on 18 others for a total of 59. He also had 1.5 tackles for a loss, four interceptions, broke up 12 passes and recovered one fumble. He scored two touchdowns; a 41-yard interception return for a score vs. Carolina and a 20-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown vs. Columbus. He holds the Massachusetts All-Time record for average fumble return yardage with 20 and his two interceptions in a game vs. the Maine Mammoths in 2018 is a record he shares with five other players.

Norrils is a native of Toledo, Ohio and played his collegiate ball at the University of Toledo, appearing in 46 games, posting 199 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, one sack, six interceptions, defended 26 passes, forced two fumbles and recovered one. At Toledo he was a two-time All MAC selection and a team captain.

After graduating with a degree in Criminal Justice, Norrils went undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft but was invited to minicamps with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints. In 2017 he signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

The 2021 United Bowl Champions; Massachusetts Pirates are members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Pirates play all home games at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center located at 50 Foster St. Worcester, MA, 01608. For more information on the Massachusetts Pirates please call (508)452-MASS (6277), email contact@masspiratesfootball.com or visit http://www.masspiratesfootball.com. For 2022 season, half-season, luxury, or group ticket packages please call 508-452-MASS (6277) or visit www.masspiratesfootball.com/tickets. Follow the Pirates on Facebook via Facebook.com/MAPirates, Instagram @mass.pirates, and Twitter @mass_pirates.



Indoor Football League Stories from May 13, 2022


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