Owens joins Indoor Football League

ALLEN, Texas — After getting ignored by the NFL and rejecting an offer from the Arena Football League, Terrell Owens will make his return to professional football in the IFL.

The six-time Pro Bowl receiver has accepted an offer to be a player — along with some ownership stake — for the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League, which features 8 players on offense and defense on a 50-yard indoors field.

The Chicago Slaughter also plays in the 16-team IFL but plays in the United Conference while the Allen Wranglers from Allen, Texas, play in the Intense Conference. The two clubs who have to advance to the United Bowl championship game to meet this season.

The Chicago Rush of the AFL reportedly made an offer to Owens last fall. According to one report last month, Allen Wranglers general manager Drew Pearson, a former NFL star with Dallas, offered Owens between $250,000 to $500,000 and part ownership to sign with the club.

The Wranglers, who open their season Feb. 25 at home, extended the offer to Owens last month. They posted on their website Thursday that they’re excited to announce it was official.

In a video message on his Twitter page, Owens exclaimed he’s “headed back to Texas.” He ends his short clip saying, “Allen, Texas, I’ll see you in the end zone.”

The 38-year-old Owens didn’t get any NFL offers to play last season after surgery on his left knee. He played for the Dallas Cowboys from 2006-08.

Associated Press contributed to this report.