The Arena Football League has a message -- "we are back!" -- the league that went dormant years ago is returning, and they're making some history in the process, becoming the first American sports league with a Black commissioner at the helm!
TMZ Sports has learned Lee A. Hutton III has been installed as the league's new commish. Hutton's an attorney who worked on big cases involving the NFL and NCAA ... so he's been around the sports world for years.
The AFL plans to relaunch with 16 teams next year, and play a 10-game season.