Minnesota Monsters drop first AF1 game in Albany

Defending champion Albany Firebirds rally in second half to defeat Monsters 50-23

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:49am

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A cubist, geometric illustration depicting a Minnesota Monsters football game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, gold, and white.The Minnesota Monsters' first Arena Football One game against the defending champion Albany Firebirds was a hard-fought battle, with the Firebirds pulling away in the second half.Albany Today

The Minnesota Monsters' first game in the new Arena Football One (AF1) league did not go as planned, as they fell 50-23 to the defending champion Albany Firebirds on Saturday night. The Monsters were within 21-17 at halftime, but were outscored 29-6 in the second half as Albany QB Joshua Kulka threw four of his five touchdown passes after the break.

Why it matters

This was the debut game for the Minnesota Monsters in the newly formed AF1 league, which is looking to revive the popularity of indoor American football. The Monsters, a new expansion team, were hoping to get off to a strong start, but the loss to the defending champions raises questions about how competitive they will be in their inaugural season.

The details

Minnesota scored the first AF1 touchdown in franchise history late in the first quarter on a 14-yard pass from Ja'Vonte Johnson to Clarence Williams. Jamal Couch had a short touchdown catch in the first half, and Shannon Brooks ran in a 1-yard score in the second half, but it wasn't enough to keep up with the Firebirds' offensive onslaught. Albany QB Joshua Kulka threw five touchdown passes, with four coming in the second half as his team pulled away.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 12, 2026.
  • Minnesota (0-1) will play their next game on the road against the Michigan Arsenal on April 25, 2026.

The players

Joshua Kulka

The quarterback for the Albany Firebirds, who threw five touchdown passes in the game, four of them coming in the second half to lead his team's comeback.

Duane Brown

The Albany Firebirds player who caught two touchdown passes and also scored on a missed field goal return.

Ja'Vonte Johnson

The Minnesota Monsters quarterback who threw a 14-yard touchdown pass for the team's first AF1 score.

Clarence Williams

The Minnesota Monsters player who caught the team's first AF1 touchdown pass from Ja'Vonte Johnson.

Shannon Brooks

The Minnesota Monsters player who scored on a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the second half.

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What they’re saying

“We knew Albany would be a tough opponent, but we fought hard and had our chances. We'll learn from this and come back stronger next game.”

— Ja'Vonte Johnson, Minnesota Monsters Quarterback

What’s next

The Minnesota Monsters will look to bounce back from their opening-game loss when they travel to face the Michigan Arsenal on April 25, 2026.

The takeaway

The Minnesota Monsters' debut in the new Arena Football One league did not go as planned, as they were unable to hold off a second-half surge by the defending champion Albany Firebirds. The loss raises questions about the Monsters' competitiveness in their inaugural AF1 season, but the team remains optimistic they can learn from this experience and improve going forward.