Established in 2020 as the Oakland Panthers, the team never played in Oakland due to COVID. The next year it was announced the team would play at San José’s SAP Center. The Panthers also sat out the 2021 season due to COVID restrictions, despite the rest of the league playing. They play in the Indoor Football League (IFL).
Rebranded as the Bay Area Panthers, the team went 1-15 in their first season. However, in 2023 the team turned it all around and went from last to first in the division and won the IFL championship. The Panthers beat the Sioux Falls Storm 51-41 and Bay Area quarterback Dalton Sneed was named MVP.
The team is co-owned by former NFL player and Oakland native Marshawn Lynch.