The Elon Phoenix football program first fielded a football team in 1909 and currently competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). After 11 seasons in the Southern Conference, Elon joined the Coastal Athletic Association for all sports, including football, in 2014. The Phoenix has appeared in the FCS Playoffs four times in 2009, 2017, 2018 and 2022. They also appeared in the NAIA playoffs six times achieving Championship titles in 1980 and 1981.