Berlin Thunder

What a amazing week one of the 2025 ELF football season. Whether it was nail-bitting finishes, highlight plays, or of course the league's passionate fans that make the gameday so specail. It was great to see ELF football back in full swing.On the Fantasy side of things we were able to record the top scorers from a fantasy perfective for week one. Due to the transition to StatsPerform, team points will only be awarded starting from Week 2. That said, team stats for Week 1 will be added by today, and once they’re in, we’ll announce the winner of the first weekly prize. Some features that were originally planned for Week 1 — like adding friends and live player stats — had to be postponed due to the StatsPerform integration. We’re now aiming to launch both features with Week 3. Thanks for your understanding and support — we’re working hard to make your fantasy experience even better! Sign up for ELF Fantasy manager here! With week one in the books let's take a look at what woul've been the perfect line up for our opening weekend slate. Quarterback: Jakeb Sullivan, Berlin Thunder (47.02 Points) The veteran threw only two incomplete passes on the day as he led the Thunder to a easy victory. Sullivan finished the game with a league best 413 passing yards and a impressive seven touchdowns. RB1: Glen Toonga, Nordic Storm (24.50 Points) The reigning MVP picked up where he left off last season with 114 yards on only 12 carries. Toonga also scored the first touchdown in the history of the Nordic Storm before leaving the game with an injury. In the passing game, he addd three catches for 41 yards. RB2: Gennadiy Adams, Berlin Thunder (23.90 Points) Adam's ran for 66 yards on only 11 carries reaching the endzone once. He also added a receiving touchdown on two catches for 33 yards. WR1: Bryce Goggin, Berlin Thunder (41.60 Points) Goggin introduced himself to the ELF with a monster performance catching 7 passes for 166 yards and two scores. Goggin created several huge plays and seems to be the go-to guy for Sullivna moving forward in Berlin.  WR2: Brendan Beaulieu, Nordic Storm (32.90 Points) In Beaulieu's first ELF game he caught 9 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns as he helped the Nordic Storm roll to a big road victory in thier team's first ever game. TE: Adria Botello Moreno, Nordic Storm (18.50 Points) Another member of the Storm on this list is veteran Botello Moreno. The Spanish veteran scored two touchdowns on only 4 catches finishing the game with only 25 yards, but two touchdowns.  Flex: Auston Osborne, Cologne Centurions (30.90 Points) The former Bowling Green standout was maybe the only silver lining for Cologne in this game. The ex-D1 pass catcher hauled in 8 passes for 169 yards and a score of 92 yards in his first ELF game.  Kicker: Mathy's Dupoint, Paris Musketeers & Timo Bronn, Stuttgart Surge (9 Points) Both kickers looked great in week one hitting field goals in key spots for thier team. Dupont hit three short field goals vs the Rhein Fire while Bronn hit two field goals and 3 extra points in his return to the Surge.  Defense/Special teams: Wroclaw Panthers (30 Points) The Panthers held the Enthroners too only 12 points in a resounding week one win. Panthers defensive back Devan Burrell scored twice once on a kick return and again on a interception return for maybe the play off the week. Wroclaw finished the game with 5 sacks, dominating the Enthroners up front. Watch all the games on DAZN!  

Week 1 is in the book! There were many highlights and some players who presented themselves in excellent shape in the season opener. They are the ELF Stats Leaders Week 1. Passing Leader #1 Jakeb Sullivan (BTH) (413 YDS) #2 Russell Tabor (MUC) (260 YDS) #3 Jadrian Clark (NDS) (258 YDS) Jakeb Sullivan ©Eric Muehle. Passing Touchdown Leader #1 Jakeb Sullivan (BTH) (7 TDs) #2 Jadrian Clark (NDS) (5 TDs) #3 Demarcus Irons Jr. (WPA) (3 TDs) Rushing Leader #1 Tomiwa Oyewo (SRG) (122 YDS) #2 Glen Toonga (NDS) (114 YDS) #3 David Brzozowski (WPA) (113 YDS)  Tomiwa Oyewo ©Svenja Sabatini. Rushing Touchdown Leader #1 Demarcus Irons Jr. (WPA) (2 TDs) #1 Karri Pajarinen (VIK) (2 TDs) #1 Reilly Hennessey (SRG) (2 TDs) Demarcus "DJ" Irons Jr. ©Lukasz Skwiot. Tackling Leader #1 Jan Mayerhofer (RAI) (11 total Tackles) #1 Marius Kensy (RHF) (11 total Tackles) #2 Aleksandar Borkovic (ENT) (10 total Tackles) Sack Leader #1 Max Parkinson (NDS) (3 Sacks, 38 Sack YDS) #2 Lucky Ogbevoen (VIK) (2 Sacks, 15 Sack YDS) #3 H. Ogrodowczyk (WPA) (2 Sacks, 12 Sack YDS)     Interception Leader #1 Devan Burrell (WPA) (1 Int., 82 INT YDS) #2 Luke Glenna (NDS) (1 Int., 70 INT YDS) #3 Emmanuel Delgado (BTH (1 Int., 44 INT YDS) Devan Burrell ©Lukasz Skwiot. Kicking Leader #1 Mathys Dupont (PAR) (3, FG ATT, 3 FG made, 100% accuracy)  #2 Alvaro Peñas (MAD) (2, FG ATT, 2 FG made, 100% accuracy)  #2 Timo Bronn (SRG) (2, FG ATT, 2 FG made, 100% accuracy)  Get all the stats after Week 1 Don't miss a play - watch the ELF live on DAZN

The season has started, the first matchday is over. Some teams have started with a defeat, others with a win. How do the results affect the winning in season opening games? Note: Since not all teams have been part of the European League of Football since 2021, not every team has played the same number of opening games. Therefore, the sorting is based on the percentage of success.  Some fans must be very strong now. Four franchises have not been able to win any of their season-opening games yet. Frankfurt Galaxy (2021: L, 2022: L, 2023: L, 2024: L. 2025 L) Fehérvár Enthroners (2023: L, 2024: L, 2025: L) Prague Lions (2023: L, 2024: L, 2025: L) Helvetic Mercenaries (2023: L, 2024: L, 2025: L) After the clear defeat against Berlin Thunder, the success rate of the Cologne Centurions has changed. Cologne Centurions (2021: L, 2022: W, 2023: L, 2024: L, 2025: L)   Good news for the Munich Ravens. In this year, they were able to win their first season opening game.  Munich Ravens (2023: L, 2024: L, 2025: W) The Berlin Thunder improved their position with a clear 63:14 victory against the Cologne Centurions in Week 1. Berlin Thunder (2021: L, 2022: L, 2023: W, 2024: L, 2025: W) The narrow and tough 12-13 defeat against the Madrid Bravos caused the Hamburg Sea Devils to slip from 75 to 60 percent. Hamburg Sea Devils (2021: W, 2022: W, 2023: L, 2024: W, 2025: L) Not the start to the season the Raiders had hoped for. After the loss to the Munich Ravens, they were only able to win half of their season opening games. Raiders Tirol  (2022: L, 2023: W, 2024: W, 2025: L) We have made it past the halfway mark. For the first time, the Musketeers were unable to win their first game of the season. They were only two points away from a win against champions Rhein Fire. Paris Musketeers (2023: W, 2024: W, 2025: L) We are getting closer to perfection. Nevertheless, there have been defeats. But in this year, Stuttgart Surge won their Opening Game against Frankfurt Galaxy. Stuttgart Surge (2021: W, 2022: L, 2023: W, 2024: W, 2025 W)   Let's move on to the elite. Fans of these five teams were also able to see an opening game victory in this year. Wroclaw Panthers (2021: W, 2022: W, 2023: W, 2024: W, 2025: W) Vienna Vikings (2022: W, 2023: W, 2024: W, 2025: W) Rhein Fire (2022: W, 2023: W, 2024: W, 2025: W) Madrid Bravos (2024: W, 2025: W) Nordic Storm (2025: W) Don't miss a single ELF Game - get your Game Pass!

Season five of the European League of Football is finally here! Saturday already showed exciting matches and many highlights. Sunday also remained exciting. A look at the early games. Watch all plays live with the ELF Game Pass on DAZN! Raiders Tirol @ Munich Ravens: 7:20 The Raiders Tirol wanted revenge after losing to the Munich Ravens in Week 14 of last season. That loss ended their playoff hopes. But this time, they lost again. The Munich Ravens won the first game of the 2025 season in a hard-fought defensive game. Strong Tabor and defense Young quarterback Russell Tabor played his first ELF game for the Ravens — and won. He had some problems in the passing game, with less than 50% of his passes completed and 2 interceptions. But when it mattered most, he made big plays. He scored one touchdown with a run and threw for two more. Both defenses played very well. They made life hard for the quarterbacks. The Ravens’ defense stopped Raiders QB Connor Miller and also controlled the strong running game of Tirol. The Raiders had more time with the ball but only managed 269 total yards. Ravens offense more dangerous Even though it was a tough game, the Ravens were more productive. They had over 400 total offensive yards. Key players like Justin Rodney and Malik Stanley made big plays to help the Ravens win this important interdivisional game. Next game: Big challenge vs. Berlin Thunder In Week 2, the Ravens will face another tough opponent: the Berlin Thunder. Berlin started the season strong with a big win over the Cologne Centurions. It will be exciting to see how the Ravens perform next week. Watch the Raiders at Ravens highlights here! Cologne Centurions @ Berlin Thunder: 14:63 Berlin Thunder make an impressive start to the new season against the Cologne Centurions. A special victory, especially for Head Coach Jag Ball, who was still coaching the Centurions on the sidelines in 2024. With a good game plan, the experienced coach gave his opposite number, Javan Lenhardt, no chance. A strong Jakeb Sullivan played a key role in this. The 2024 ELF passing leader picked up right where he left off last season. The A-import scored 44 yards with his very first pass and broke the 100 passing yards mark already before the end of the first quarter. The 30-year-old completed 22 of his 24 passes and scored a total of 413 passing yards and seven touchdowns. Watch the Centurions at Thunder highlights here! On the other side, the game came too early for new Centurions quarterback Keegan Mccormack-Reamer. He was replaced by Homegrowns QB Jan Leuker, who had to fight against a strong Thunder defense. His highlight: a long pass to wide receiver Austine Osborne for 92 yards and a touchdown. Good news for the Centurions: The team already has a bye week next week and can, after the eventful days shortly before the start of the season, further deepen the game plan and integrate their new quarterback. Don't miss a single game - Get your Game Pass here!

After a amazing start to the 2025 season yesterday let's take a look at the the storylines for Week 1 Sunday: Nordic Storm at Helvetic Mercenaries - 13:00 CET New team.. same stars? Former MVP quarterback Jadrian Clark and running back Glen Toonga will make their highly anticipated debuts for the expansion Nordic Storm this Sunday. Fans already have high expectations for the Storm without even seeming them play yet. On the other side NFL veteran receiver Keelan Cole will make his own ELF debut for a promising Swiss squad.  Cologne Centurions at Berlin Thunder - 13:00 CET Can the new look Thunder make some noise in 2025? The Thunder go into season five with new uniforms and new head coach Jag Bal at the Helm. Veteran quarterback Jakeb Sullivan is joined by his former teammate Gennadiy Adams and 2024 All star William Lydle. The Capital city squad is eager to prove the doubters wrong and shake things up in the North division.    Raiders Tirol at Munich Raven - 13:00 CET The ELF's best new rivalry?Today's match up between these two teams marks the latest chapter in whats been a epic rivalry between Munich and Tirol. Only a few hours apart these two squads know each other well. Last year the Ravens ended the Raiders playoff hopes defeating them in the final week of the regular season, starting a long off-season in Tirol. Expect this to be a fiesty game between two squads that don't like each other.  Vienna Vikings at Prague Lions - 16:25 CET Running it back in Vienna The Vikings nearly pulled off a perfect season in 2024 before loosing the championship game to the Rhein Fire. This year they return the core of their squad and have added some intriguing new pieces. For Prague new head coach Dave Warner has brought in a influx of talent as the Czech team looks to be much improved from last season.   Frankfurt Galaxy at Stuttgart Surge - 16:25 CET Are the Surge a team of destiny? The Stuttgart Surge enter the season with a remarkable opportunity in front of them, to secure a home game in the ELF championship in September. They return much of the 2024 squad and have also added new stars to a strong Nucleus. Frankfurt hopes to enter a new era of Galaxy football with head coach Bart Andrus at the helm.  Watch all the games today on DAZN! Watch all the highlights from yesterday's action!

The European League of Football is entering its fifth season, and Week 1 already brings us some top-level matchups. After a long off-season, all teams have worked hard to build their rosters. To make it easier for ELF fans, we’ve created an overview of all players and their status for Game Week 1. With just one click on the name of a franchise, you can see their full Week 1 Roster Report and find out which players will be on the field this weekend. Game Week 1 Matchups: May 17, Saturday 18:00 CET – Fehérvár Enthroners at Wroclaw Panthers 18:00 CET – Rhein Fire at Paris Musketeers 20:00 CET – Hamburg Sea Devils at Madrid Bravos May 18, Sunday 13:00 CET – Nordic Storm at Helvetic Mercenaries 13:00 CET – Cologne Centurions at Berlin Thunder 13:00 CET – Raiders Tirol at Munich Ravens 16:25 CET – Vienna Vikings at Prague Lions 16:25 CET – Frankfurt Galaxy at Stuttgart Surge Get ready for an exciting start to the season! Get your tickets for the 2025 season

The time has finally come! The fifth season of the European League of Football is about to start. The time has finally come! Players, managers, and fans of Nordic Storm are certainly thinking the same thing. For the young franchise from Copenhagen, Denmark, May 18th, 2025 will be a very special day.  That's when Storm will not only play their first game in the European League of Football, but also their first game in franchise history. The team managers built an entire organization from scratch this offseason. The first success could be celebrated against the Helvetic Mercenaries.  However, a new ELF team was not always immediately successful in its first game in the European League of Football. We take a look at the first ELF games in the history of the current teams.  The Ferhévár Enthroners did not get off to a particularly good start. They opened the season with a clear 3:36 defeat at home against Berlin Thunder in 2023. The Wroclaw Panthers are the champions in season opening games. They haven't lost one yet, and accordingly won the first ELF game in franchise history. At home, the Panthers beat the Cologne Centurions 2021 in a spectacular game with 55:39.  The Prague Lions, on the other hand, suffered a defeat. They played their first ELF game at home in 2023. They lost 15:18 against the Leipzig Kings, who are no longer part of the ELF.  The last team in the East Division, however, was successful again. In 2022, the Vienna Vikings played away against the Raiders Tirol and won 29:23.     Berlin Thunder have been part of the ELF since 2021. They lost their first game at home 27:37 against the Leipzig Kings.  The Hamburg Sea Devils also started 2021, but they did a better job. In Hamburg, the Sea Devils beat Frankfurt Galaxy 17:15.  The current ELF champions Rhein Fire also won. In 2022, they also played their first game against Frankfurt Galaxy. Fire won 29:26 on the road.  The Helvetic Mercenaries lost their first game under their new name in 2024. The Barcelona Dragons won 23:19 in Switzerland. Madrid Bravos also competed in the ELF for the first time in 2024. The team from Spain won the Classico against the Barcelona Dragons by a clear 42:12.      The Munich Ravens, meanwhile, suffered a defeat at the start. They lost 38:59 at home against the Raiders Tirol in 2023. The Austrians were also unable to win their first game in 2022. The Raiders Tirol lost against the Vienna Vikings with 23:29. It was the only season opening game so far that was not won.  The Cologne Centurions have been part of the European League of Football since 2021. They lost their first game against the Wroclaw Panthers by a clear 39:55. Just like Frankfurt Galaxy. Only they didn't lose to the Panthers, but to the Sea Devils, and by a much narrower margin of 15:17. The Paris Musketeers have delighted their fans in two years in the ELF. This was also the case in the first franchise game in 2023, which they won 24:17 against the Cologne Centurions.  Stuttgart Surge were also successful in their first game, but in 2021. They won 21:17 away against Barcelona Dragons on the road. Don't miss a single ELF Game - get your Game Pass!

The Berlin Thunder have signed American defensive lineman William Lydle. Lydle was one of the ELF’s top interior defensive lineman last season for the Cologne Centurions. Now he returns to the ELF this time joining the Berlin Thunder.  In 12 games, he recorded 60 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, and forced 3 fumbles. Lydle was named a second team all-star for his 2024 performance. He was also voted the #6 of the ELF’s Top 100 Players for 2024.  Lydle hopes to give the Thunder’s defense a boost as they head into week one against Lydle’s former team the Cologne Centurions. He is also playing for his former head coach Jag Bal who was with him in Cologne last season. Get Your Ticket to the 2025 ELF Championship Game!

The ELF season is here and the team rosters are set. With this article, you have the chance to take a look at your team’s roster. Here is the roster of Berlin Thunder: Active Players Offense: Quarterback#12 Ferras El-Hendi #7 Jakeb Sullivan Running Back#21 Gennadiy Adams #23 Adrian Peter #26 Emil Fuchs Tight End#85 Nicolai Schumann #81 Niclas Kranz #25 Moritz Teuchert Wide Receiver #3 Bais Kouanda #16 Niklas Schumm #87 Tristan Güther #17 Maximillian Kuschel #18 David Thiem #29 Benedikt Ehren #2 Tyler Foster #13 Bryce Goggin Offensive Tackle#55 Thomas Bertrand Offensive Guard#56 Connor Bolton #71 Gideon Grabert #72 Jose Ariza #75 Izuchi Nnabuo Center #79 Cedric Ouattara #67 Robert Sövegjarto Defense Defensive Tackle #90 Ben Baierl #50 Hamsa El-Zein #96 Fabian Tchuda #0 William Lydle #96 Giani Pilot #33 Emmanuel Delgado Defensive End #99 Aaron Große #5 Moritz Hiendleder #44 Rick Baunacke #17 Neville Krüger #22 Philip Thiele Outside Linebacker #69 Christopher Wartenberg #8 Paul Seifert #64 Justin Kopka Linebacker #53 Niclas Klopsch #27 Paul Stegemann #48 Bastian Gersöne #1 London Harris #24 Marcello Alvarez Cornerback #28 Simon Otto #15 Moritz Thiele #9 Jonas Gacek #4 Rabbi Junior Free Safety #20 Iiro Pekkarinen #14 Peter Daigeler Strong Safety #14 Joshua Poznanski Special Teams Punter #19 Nils Schauerte Inactive Players Injured or PUP Players Practice Squad If you want to take a closer look at each player, check out the player profiles on our website. Take a closer look at the roster of the Berlin Thunder

One of the more interesting divisions in the ELF this upcoming season is the North Division, consisting of the Rhein Fire, Nordic Storm, Hamburg Sea Devils, and Berlin Thunder.  Let’s take a look at some of the top storylines from these four franchises. Could we see a Rhein Fire three-peat? A three-peat is no easy feat. Just ask the 2025 Kansas City Chiefs. The Rhein Fire have an opportunity to make history and claim a third straight title under head coach Jim Tomsula. However, the team has undergone major changes as star quarterback and running back Jadrian Clark and GLen Toonga have left the squad.  New quarterback Chad Jeffries hopes to help the Rhein Fire keep the championship standard burning this season. A fierce Nordic Storm brewing? The Nordic Storm enter the 2025 ELF season as the league’s only brand new franchise. The team consists of several ELF veterans and a talented list of hometowns from both Sweden and Denmark. The Storm made the biggest splash of the off-season, signing former MVPs and Rhein Fire stars in QB Jadrian Clark and RB Glen Toonga. The two will face off against their former team twice in divisional play.  The experience and star power of the team will have to carry the rest of the squad which will be new to the higher level of ELF football. Head coach John Schoop leads the league’s most intriguing team into 2025 with high expectations.    Berlin’s new look The Thunder entered the 2025 with new head coach Jag Bal, new uniforms, and several new players added to the roster. The Capital city team will be led by ELF veteran QB Jakeb Sullivan and running back Gennadiy Adams. They also recently signed All-Star defensive tackle William Lydle. Let’s see how much noise the Thunder can make in 2025. Hamburg Sea Devils - A new Era Recently Lee Rowland takes over as the head coach in Hamburg. Fatah was able to show off his recruiting talents and convince DPOY Kyle Kitchens to come to Hamburg this off-season, along with ELF veteran WR Terryon Robinson.  One question that remains is at the quarterback position where “rookie” Micah Leon will take over for the Sea Devils after spending his final college years at the University of Florida.  Get Your Tickets to the 2025 ELF Championship Game!

The Berlin Thunder have made a splash signing prior to the start of the ELF season, bringing in veteran and ELF champion running back Gennadiy Adams.  A proven resume Adams played last season with the Wroclaw Panthers putting up 345 yards rushing and 324 yards receiving with 8 total  touchdowns. Before playing in Poland last season, Adams spent two seasons with the Frankfurt Galaxy in 2021 and 2022 helping them win the league’s inaugural title.  Adam’s had a clutch 43 yard touchdown run in the 2021 ELF championship game helping the Galaxy win the game. Now he reunites with former Galaxy quarterback Jakeb Sullivan in Berlin.  The Russian born running back has a long history as an impact player in Europe beginning in 2019 and playing for the Potsdam Royals in German Football League. There he amassed 1,246 yards and 15 touchdowns on 250 carries. Adams also played for the Royals in 2023 rushing for 797 yards and 11 touchdowns as the Royals won the German Bowl.  College experience Before coming to Europe, he attended Benmidji State University (Minnesota) (NCAA Div. II) for the last two years of his college career, recording 1,246 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns while catching 20 passes for 271 yards and another four touchdowns. He was also a two-year member of the Simon Fraser University football team in Burnaby, B.C., Canada in 2013 and 2014 where he averaged 6.3 yards per carry in 10 games in 2014. Adam’s hopes to bring some playmaking ability to the Berlin offense that will feature several new faces in 2025.  Get Your Tickets to the ELF Championship game!

As part of our preview series for all 16 teams in the European League of Football heading into the 2025 season, we turn our spotlight to Berlin Thunder. After years of building a competitive foundation, Berlin enters 2025 with a mix of seasoned American imports, elite European additions, and standout homegrown talent — all under the leadership of an experienced coaching staff ready to guide the franchise into championship contention. American Imports – Jakeb Sullivan returns as a top-tier QB Quarterback Jakeb Sullivan remains the centerpiece of the Thunder offense. After successful stints with Frankfurt Galaxy, including a championship in 2021, and a solid 2024 season in Berlin, Sullivan returns as one of the most experienced and efficient quarterbacks in the ELF. Known for his accurate passing and strong football IQ, Sullivan’s leadership is expected to be crucial for Berlin’s postseason aspirations in 2025. On the defensive side, American defensive tackle William Lydle has joined the team from the Cologne Centurions over the offseason. His physicality and strength make him a key enforcer in Berlin’s defensive line unit. Homegrown Heroes – Ferras El-Hendi and Emil Fuchs lead the charge Quarterback Ferras El-Hendi, a German native with ELF experience at the Leipzig Kings, returns as the reliable backup to Sullivan and continues to develop within the system. Wide receiver Niklas Schumm, another homegrown standout, brings speed and route-running precision to the offense, making him a dependable target in the passing game. Defensively, young talents like defensive end Aaron Große Kleinmann and cornerback Jonas Gacek are part of a growing wave of Berlin-developed talent. These players add valuable depth and contribute significantly on special teams and rotational packages. European Imports – RB Adams leads the running game Berlin has added a number of elite European players to its 2025 roster. In the backfield, running back Gennadiy Adams brings explosiveness and versatility. With previous ELF experience at both Frankfurt Galaxy and the Wrocław Panthers, Adams is expected to be a dual-threat contributor in the run- and in the passing-game.  Offensively, British offensive lineman Connor Bolton provides size and strength in the trenches. His protection will be critical to giving Sullivan time to operate in the pocket and drive the vertical passing game. Also joining from European ranks is Italian defensive back Felix Proulx, another player with excellent ball skills and athleticism to bolster the secondary. Coaching Staff – Jag Bal brings leadership and vision The 2025 season marks a new chapter for Berlin Thunder under the leadership of head coach Jag Bal. Known for his strong leadership, player development focus, and international coaching experience in the European League of Football, Bal steps in to guide a talented Berlin roster with championship potential. The former Thunder head coach back in 2021 returns for his second tenure with the team. Playoff Prospects – Ready to challenge the ELF Berlin Thunder comes into 2025 with a mature roster, a returning star quarterback, and a coaching staff that has built a well-defined identity. With a strong mix of American leadership, European strength, and German talent, the Thunder are poised to compete in the league. Berlin fans can expect a season full of grit, highlight plays, and a shot at making the ELF playoffs in 2025.  © European League of Football

One of the headlines of the ELF off-season was the Paris Musketeers signing Jack Del Rio as their next head coach. The story made waves across the football world as the ELF and the Musketeers were able to convince the former superbowl winning coach to come to France. “Yeah, Jack Del Rio is obviously a household name in the NFL. He's been a coordinator, been a head coach in the NFL. To me, it speaks volumes about the quality of the league and it's a testament to what the franchises have done in order to convince somebody of his magnitude to come over and be the head coach.” -Commissioner Patrick Esume   Jack Del Rio & Jim Tomsula ELF fans know Del Rio isn’t the only former NFL head coach in the league as Jim Tomsula has led the Rhein Fire to back to back titles in his three years in Düsseldorf. Now the former San Francisco 49ers coach leads the Fire into 2025 without MVP quarterback and running back Jadrian Clark and Glen Toonga, giving the Fire and Tomsula new challenge: “It’s consistency again that keeps you still up there. And the consistency is Jim Tomula and his coaching staff, right? Richard Kent, tremendous coach. So, I think that these two gentlemen, they're going to put a very good football team on the field that's well coached. They might not be as strong as the two years before, but they're going to be up there again.” Along with Del Rio and Tomsula, the ELF has several coaches with NFL experience including new head coach of the Frankfurt Galaxy Bart Andrus, who spent 5 seasons as an assistant coach in the NFL, as well as coaching in the CFL and USFL.  Other coaches in the ELF this season with NFL experience include: Berlin Thunder: OL coach Art Valero Nordic Storm: Head coach John Schoop & defensive coordinator Brandon Noble  Prague Lions:  DB coach Darqueze Dennard  Madrid Bravos: Head coach Andrew Weidinger, defensive coordinator Jim Collins Fehervar Enthroners: Head coach Mark Ridgley Raiders Tirol: Head coach Jim Herrmann, offensive coordinator Charlie Eger, and RBs coach Terry Malone  Hamburg Sea Devils: Defensive coordinator Ray Woodard Helvetic Mercenaries: DL coach Nordly ‘Cap’ Capi  Vienna Vikings: Analyst Norm Chow and kicking coach Giorgio Tavecchio

In April, we are revealing the Top 100 graded players of the 2024 European League of Football season, based on SportsMetrics’ advanced evaluation system. These rankings are based only on on-field performance — including consistency, impact, and position-specific stats. Today, we highlight the player ranked #2. #2 Kyle Kitchens Kyle Kitchens is one of the most dominant players in ELF history — and once again, he proved it in 2024. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year had another outstanding season and earned the #2 spot in this year’s Top 100. Kitchens led the league with 16.5 sacks, breaking his own ELF record (16) from the previous season. He also led the league in tackles for loss (TFL) and forced fumbles, continuing to be a nightmare for offensive lines across Europe. His ability to change a game with just one play is what sets him apart from others. A new chapter with the Sea Devils In the offseason, Kitchens made a big move. He signed with the Hamburg Sea Devils, bringing his elite pass-rushing skills to a new franchise. Now, the goal is clear: help the Sea Devils return to their winning ways and make a push for the playoffs. With his experience, leadership, and unmatched production, Kyle Kitchens will be one of the most important players to watch in the 2025 season. Don't miss a single game - Get your Game Pass now!

Things will kick off at the beginning of May. Three German coaches will then experience a very special week with the NFL team Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Two of them already coached in the European League of Football.  The team from the NFC South invites to the one-week “National Coaching Academy”. For several years now, the program has attempted to offer talented football coaches intensive further training opportunities at NFL level. Provided that they have been coaching for at least three years and work in a team at high school, college or semi-professional level.  1500 applications were received worldwide for the 25 free places. The applicants came from the USA, Japan, England, Denmark and Germany. With Nadine Nurasyid, Henry Schlegel and Simon Bramberger, three German coaches made it through. German participant made history Nurasyid is a well-known football face in Germany. Last season, the 38-year-old worked as a defensive assistant coach for Stuttgart Surge. Born in Munich, she started out as a player with the Munich Cowboys Ladies in 2013 and later played for the German national team for a long time. After her active career as a play, she remained with the Cowboys as a coach, where Nurasyid made international history in 2022.  To date, she is the first and only woman in Europe to lead a men's football team in a first division as head coach. Since 2023, she has also been working as an NFL expert for the streaming service DAZN and on television for RTL. Simon Bramberger, a former teammate of Nurasyid, has also joined the NFL program. The former offensive tackle has been the Cowboys' run game coordinator and offensive line coach for several years. ELF Coach as one of the greatest coaching talents in Europe  Henry Schlegel will be the third German coach in the “National Coaching Academy”. At the same time, the 25-year-old is probably one of the youngest participants. Schlegel is regarded as one of the biggest coaching talents in European football. He took on his first coaching job in 2019 as wide receiver coach of the Hildesheim Young Invaders. In the same year, he was promoted to offensive coordinator.  In 2022, he gained his first experience in US football when he accepted a volunteer position at Division I FCS Bethune-Cookman University. In 2023, Schlegel was promoted to Offensive Coordinator of the Berlin Thunder. At only 23 years old at the time, he became the youngest OC in the history of the European League of Football. During this offseason, Schlegel signed as quarterback coach at the newly founded team Nordic Storm. Henry Schlegel ©Eric Muehle. The big dream of the NFL is on the line Part of the program includes group training courses and team meetings. The team's rookie camps take place at the same time. This allows the aspiring coaches to observe the knowledge they have learned directly in practice. The participants will be mentored by a prominent team of experts. Among them are Super Bowl Champion Jon Gruden, Bruce Arians and Tony Dungy. Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles and General Manager Jason Licht will also be involved. After the coaching program, a special opportunity awaits the participants. Five of them will be selected to join the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. They will be allowed to stay with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and gain practical experience during training camps, offseason workout programs and minicamps of the NFL teams and thus qualify for a career as an NFL coach. Don't miss a single ELF Game - get your Game Pass!

In April, we are revealing the Top 100 graded players of the 2024 European League of Football season, based on SportsMetrics’ advanced evaluation system. These rankings are based only on on-field performance — including consistency, impact, and position-specific stats. Today, we highlight the player ranked #4. #4 Aaron Jackson Aaron Jackson takes the #4 spot in the ELF Top 100 after a fantastic 2024 season. Even though Berlin Thunder finished with a 5-7 record, Jackson had an incredible individual year. A versatile weapon on the field He was the receiving leader of the season and showed his talent in many ways. Jackson caught 11 touchdowns, ran for 4 touchdowns, and even threw one. He was also one of the best returners in the league. Originally, Jackson was set to play for the Helvetic Mercenaries in 2025. However, things changed. Due to a contract disagreement, Jackson decided to leave the ELF. The Mercenaries said in a statement: “Due to contractual disagreements with his previous team, Aaron Jackson has decided to retire from ELF football. After discussions, we have agreed to his request and terminated his contract.” Jackson now plays for the Berlin Rebels in the German Football League. Don't miss a single game - Get your Game Pass now!

In April, we are revealing the Top 100 graded players of the 2024 European League of Football season, based on SportsMetrics’ advanced evaluation system. These rankings are based only on on-field performance — including consistency, impact, and position-specific stats. Today, we highlight the player ranked #7. #7 Ludvig Myren The 2024 season didn’t go as planned for the Berlin Thunder. They only won 5 out of 12 regular season games and finished third in the Eastern Conference. Still, their defense showed many strong moments—especially thanks to linebacker Ludvig Myren. A defensive leader in Berlin Myren was one of the top performers on the team, showing consistent and high-level play all season. In 11 games, he recorded 130 tackles, 2 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble. His efforts earned him a spot on the ELF Second All-Star Team. After three years with Berlin Thunder, Myren made a big decision in the offseason—he joined the new franchise, Nordic Storm. With his talent and experience, he will be a key part of their defense. Ludvig Myren leaves Berlin as one of the top linebackers in the league and is ready to make a big impact with his new team. Get your tickets for the Championship Game in Stuttgart!

The European League of Football will soon be entering the new season. Will Rhein Fire make the three-peat? Who are the new stars of the teams? Questions upon questions. The teams have to answer many of them on the pitch, while we answer others in our “ELF Wire” format. Preparations for fith season of league history are in full swing. The teams have been practicing for a few days now and the final deals are being finalized. Over the past weeks and months, the front offices have worked hard to present the best possible roster for the upcoming season.    These are now almost completely finalized. Most of the spots are taken. Only a few announcements are still missing, so stay tuned and follow our channels and those of the teams closely.  The Opening Weekend will then begin on May 17th with the games Wroclaw Panthers vs. Ferhervar Enthroners, Paris Musketeers vs. Rhein Fire and Madrid Bravos vs. Hamburg Sea Devils. You can find a complete overview of all games here. Be ready. Don't miss a single ELF Game - get your Game Pass!

In April, we are revealing the Top 100 graded players of the 2024 European League of Football season, based on the advanced evaluation system by SportsMetrics. These rankings reflect pure on-field performance, with position-specific stats, consistency, and impact across the season. Today, we take a look at players ranked #70 to #61. #70 Darragh Leader  Darragh Leader was a scoring machine for the Raiders Tirol. The Irish kicker was one of the most reliable in the ELF last season. Whether it was a field goal or an extra point, Leader got the job done. His accuracy gave the Raiders a strong boost in close games. For now, it’s still unknown where he’ll play in 2025. Stanley was one of the best receivers last season. ©Roland Johannes #69 Malik Stanley  A well-known name across the league, Malik Stanley showed once again why he's one of the ELF’s top receivers. Despite playing fewer games last season, the American wideout still finished with elite numbers for the Munich Ravens. His ability to make big plays secured him a well-deserved spot in the Top 100. #68 Jakob Sullivan  Jakob Sullivan is a true ELF veteran and a former champion. The American quarterback led the league in passing yards in 2024. While the season didn’t go as planned for Berlin Thunder, Sullivan proved that he remains one of the top QBs in Europe. Joc Crawford plays for the Mercenaries in the 2025 season. ©Eric Ribé #67 Joc Crawford  Even at age 37, Joc Crawford keeps performing at a high level. Last season, he played for the Milano Seamen and brought energy and power to their offense. For 2025, he joins the Helvetic Mercenaries, showing no signs of slowing down. #66 Isaiah Weed  Another exciting addition for the Mercenaries is QB Isaiah Weed. Known for his dual-threat ability, Weed can beat defenses through the air and on the ground. His explosive style made him one of the most exciting quarterbacks to watch last season. #65 Ryan Rimmler  Ryan Rimmler had a tough start to the season, but he improved each week. His biggest moment? A record-breaking 60-yard field goal — the longest in ELF history. That one kick alone made headlines across the league. The Hamburg Sea Devils got top cornerback Roedion Henrique. ©Petra Kutasi #64 Roedion Henrique  Henrique is one of the most consistent defensive backs in the league. Last season with the Enthroners, he made several big plays and proved once again why he’s a top DB. For 2025, he’s headed to the Hamburg Sea Devils to bring experience and leadership to the secondary. #63 Martin Pinter Martin Pinter made a name for himself last season with the Cologne Centurions. His ability to stop the run and pressure the quarterback caught the attention of the Frankfurt Galaxy, who signed him for 2025. Pinter brings toughness and production to an already strong defense. #62 Sandro Platzgummer  The former New York Giants running back showed his elite talent in the ELF. Platzgummer was a key part of the Galaxy’s offense and formed a strong duo with QB Matthew McKay. In 2025, he'll team up with Gerald Ameln to create a dangerous backfield. Marius Kensy wants to win the third title in a row for Rhein Fire. ©Fabio Deinert #61 Marius Kensy Marius Kensy was one of the best linebackers in the league last season. With 94 tackles and 2 sacks, he played a big role in Rhein Fire’s Championship-winning season. He’s back for 2025 and ready to lead the defense again. Stay tuned as we continue to count down the Top 100 players of the 2024 ELF season — with more stars, stats, and stories to come! Get your tickets for the Championship Game in Stuttgart!

In April, we are revealing the Top 100 graded players of the 2024 European League of Football season, based on the advanced evaluation system by SportsMetrics. These rankings reflect pure on-field performance, with position-specific stats, consistency, and impact across the season. Today, we take a look at players ranked #80 to #71. #80 Hugo Dyrendahl What a rookie year for the 26-year-old. The linebacker was able to establish himself right away with Frankfurt Galaxy, starting all twelve games and recording 135 tackles. He even made it to the All-Star team. Despite his big role, Dyrendahl had to answer the call of home. The Swedish native will play for Nordic Storm next season. #79 Juan Flores-Calderon In a rather disappointing Milano Seamen team, Flores-Calderon was a real bright spot. The 21-year-old wide receiver collected 732 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. The 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year will also be seen in the ELF next season. But then with the Madrid Bravos. ©Sergio Bisi. #78 Ken Hike Jr. The free safety joined the Vienna Vikings late after spending some time in Switzerland, but still had a direct impact. Especially in terms of turnovers. In five games, he made two interceptions, forced a fumble and recovered three more. He also had eleven pass deflections. Next season, Hike Jr. will prove this talent with the Prague Lions. ©Alexandre Bertrand. #77 Krzystof Wis The middle linebacker is one of the cornerstones of the Wroclaw Panthers' defense. Together with superstar A.J. Wentland, Wis makes life difficult for opposing running backs. The 37-year-old veteran recorded 78 tackles, including ten for loss and 6.5 sacks last season.  #76 Jakub Smutný Defensive tackle Jakub Smutný also likes to bring running backs to the ground. The 28-year-old Czech had his breakthrough last season and more than doubled his number of tackles. The Prague Lions rewarded this with a contract extension. ©Jakub Platenik #75 Nicolas Khandar After a rookie season with only four games as a backup, the running back celebrated his breakthrough last season. The 31-year-old recorded 686 rushing yards and four touchdowns. After two years with Stuttgart Surge, the Frenchman returns to his home country and joins the Paris Musketeers. 74 Flamur Simon What a year for Flamur Simon. The linebacker established himself at Rhein Fire, became a starter, put in outstanding performances and played a big part in Rhein Fire celebrating their second ELF Championship title in a row. So it's no wonder that the German extended his contract this offseason. ©Lina Bollig #73 Raul Cernuda Pastor Raul Cernuda Pastor showed potential with the Barcelona Dragons in 2023 and performed well with the Madrid Bravos in 2024. The homegrown tight end established himself as a starter and contributed five touchdowns. The 28-years-old even made it to our Homegrown Team of the Year. 72 Luke Glenna The US import was an important cornerstone of a strong Madrid Bravos defense. As a result, the safety was selected to the All-Star team — just like the year before for the Barcelona Dragons. Now the 25-year-old is ready for a new adventure and joins Nordic Storm. ©Maxime Le Pihif #71 Nicolai Schumann The Berlin Thunder homegrown is one of the best tight ends in the league. The 33-year-old veteran has already been voted onto the ELF All-Star Team twice. Don't miss a single ELF Game — get your Game Pass!

We are only 5 weeks away from the start of the 2025 season here in the European League of Football. Let’s see what last minute moves are being made as teams look to complete their rosters before training camp. Munich Ravens load up on defense The Munich Ravens will bring back defenders Wael Nasri, Etuale Lui, and Christoph Nitzlnander. As the Bavarian squad hopes to make another playoff run this year.  One new face for the Ravens will be safety Cole Coleman. Cole knows the ELF playing for the Vienna Vikings last season. Prior to coming to Europe the former Elon DB spent time in the NFL and CFL.    Stuttgart Surge recharge with talent The Stuttgart Surge are bringing back outstanding defensive back Raheem Simiram-Wilson. The ex-CFL starter and Schwabisch Hall Unicorn returns for his second season in Stuttgart, after recording 6 interceptions, 162 interception return yards, 5 pass break-ups, and 2 tackles for loss — all in just 10 regular season games. Simiram-Wilson will be joined once again by homegrowns Lasse Engel and Konstantin Katz. At quarterback they will also bring back 23-year old quarterback Lars Heidrich who filled in admirably for Reilly Hennessey at times last year.  Berlin Thunder sign D1 American WR The Berlin Thunder have finally signed their second American import as receiver Jeremiah Webb joins veteran quarterback Jakeb Sullivan on offense. Webb caught 6 passes for 659 yards and 5 touchdowns last fall for the South Alabama Jaguars(NCAA D1).  Enthroners beef up the offensive line The Fehérvár Enthroners continue to build their roster for the 2025 season by adding offensive lineman Tomás Middleton. The Panamanian talent will play a key role in protecting quarterback Brock Domann. Middleton has experience playing in Mexico and for the Barcelona Dragons in the ELF.  Paris Musketeers sign All-American DL The Paris Musketeers have signed defensive tackle Lamonte McDougle. The former All-American  joins former NFL head coach Jack Del Rio in the French capital as the first American import on defense for the French squad. McDougle played for West Virginia, Washington State, and UTSA during his college career. He was a standout in the GFL in 2024 for the Dresden Monarchs.   Get Your Tickets to the ELF Championship!    

In the coming month of April, we will be releasing the top 100 graded players of the 2024 season according to sportsmetrics. The grades reflect the individual's performance on the field. Grading System for Players and Teams SportsMetrics Grades evaluate both individual players and teams based on their performance in a single game as well as the entire season. The grades are designed to provide an accurate and comprehensive assessment of a player’s performance in different categories such as passing, rushing, receiving, defense, and kicking. Each category is further divided into player positions, such that each player’s performance is evaluated against other players in the same position. The grades are designed to be scalable for different player positions, meaning that a linebacker’s performance is compared to other linebackers in each category. Weighted Metrics Each category in the SportsMetrics grading system sets different weights on statistical in-game metrics. These metrics are then weighted based on their importance to the category to provide an accurate evaluation of a player’s performance. This ensures that the grading system is fair and objective, and the players’ performance is evaluated based on the metrics that matter the most in each category. Comparison and Scaling To compare and scale the teams’ and players’ performance, SportsMetrics Grades use a specially fitted sigmoid function. This function ensures that the grades are scaled appropriately, and the players’ performance is evaluated accurately based on the metrics in each category. The stats are compared with the overall distribution of league performance in each category and then weighted by the category weights. Limitations While SportsMetrics Grades provides an accurate and unbiased evaluation of the players and teams, it has some limitations. Currently, it is technically not possible to rate offensive line players accurately. Thus, those players were rated by expert opinions. Additionally, the ratings for defensive backs should be read cautiously, as the best defensive backs may not have the best numbers since quarterbacks try to avoid throwing in their direction. Don't miss a single ELF Game - Get your Game Pass Players Overview ELF x Sports Metrics Top 100 Graded Players - #100-#91 ELF x Sports Metrics Top 100 Graded Players - #90-#81 ELF x Sports Metrics Top 100 Graded Players - #80-#71 ELF x Sports Metrics Top 100 Graded Players - #70-#61 ELF x Sports Metrics Top 100 Graded Players - #60-#51  

The Berlin Thunder have finally signed their second American import as receiver Jeremiah Webb joins veteran quarterback Jakeb Sullivan on offense. Webb, played last season for South Alabama University catching 36 passes for 659 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Chicago native will make his pro debut for the Thunder this season in his first experience outside of college. Webb had a outstanding finale to his college career catching 6 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns, earning him MVP of the "Salute to Vets" bowl.    The 1.83 cm pass catcher has experience playing for South Alabama’s special teams and had 254 yards for the South Dakota University Coyotes before transferring to South Alabama. Webb is also a former high school quarterback.  The ELF rookie receiver hopes to build a connection with veteran quarterback Jakeb Sullivan in the German capital. The Thunder also bring back offensive weapons like tight end Nicolai Schumann and Bias Kounda.  Get Your Tickets to the 2025 ELF Championship!