From NFL to the ELF: These guys are game changers!

The 2024 ELF season features several players with NFL experience, following in the footsteps of other former NFL players to suit up such as Michael Sam, Kasim Edeballi, JR Tavai, and Giorgio Tavecchio.

While many of the ELF’s import players attended NFL mini camps and participated in the NFL’s pre-season, we’ll show players who spent time either on an NFL team's practice squads or active roster.

Dominic Eberle - Berlin Thunder

The Nuremberg native spent several seasons in the NFL playing for the Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, and Las Vegas Raiders. After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL, even ranked as the third-best overall, in 2021 & 2022 the former soccer player made 3-4 field goals with a distance of 51, kicking for both the Houston Texans and the Detroit Lions.

Eberle recently played in the XFL for the Seattle Sea Dragons as their starting kicker, making 14 of 18 field goals (78%). The homegrown's return to Germany makes him likely to be the league's best kicker for the upcoming season.

Sandro Platzgummer - Frankfurt Galaxy

The Austrian running back went viral back in 2021 for an explosive 48-yard run in the NFL pre-season with the New York Giants. However, he never got a chance to play in the regular season, spending three years on their practice squad.

The football-playing medical student returned to his hometown of Innsbruck last year, playing for the Tirol Raiders, before suffering an ACL tear in the fourth game of the season. Now, Platzgummer hopes to return to his NFL form for a new team, joining the Frankfurt Galaxy this season.

Matt Cole - Wrocław Panthers

The 27-year-old receiver and return specialist comes to Poland after several seasons in the NFL and CFL. In 2020, Cole played in two games for the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent, as well as spending the 2020, 2021, and 2022 seasons on the practice squads of the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, and Carolina Panthers.

The dynamic returner and pass catcher aims to gel with Panthers quarterback Steven Duncan and his college teammate, AJ Wentland, as Wrocław sets its sights on a post-season berth in 2024. Cole was in the same draft class as Berlin's Dominic Eberle.

Chris Ezeala - Stuttgart Surge

The Munich-born linebacker played two seasons as a fullback for the Baltimore Ravens in 2018 and 2019. Ezeala spent those two seasons on the Ravens practice squad after being discovered by the NFL IPP program in 2017. Before that, he played in the German Football League as a linebacker.

Now, after stints in the CFL and the Cologne Centurions, the former NFL athlete returns to the ELF joining Jordan Neuman and a star-studded Stuttgart Surge defense hoping to get back to the title game this fall.

Aaron Donkor - Rhein Fire

The Göttingen native was another NFL IPP player out of Germany who spent two seasons on the Seattle Seahawks practice squad before stops in the XFL and CFL in 2023. The former basketball player and NFL undrafted free agent is an explosive athlete at the edge position with an elite first step off the line of scrimmage.

After years of perfecting his craft on practice squads, Donkor is ready to show off the skills and athleticism that made him an NFL athlete in front of his friends and family back home with the 2023 Champion Rhein Fire.

Connor Wedington - Cologne Centurions

From California to Cologne, Wedington comes to the Dome City after a successful NCAA career with the Stanford University Cardinal. During his college career, Wedington produced 971 receiving yards and served as the team's primary kick returner in 2019. Following a blazing fast 4.44 40-yard dash at his pro-day, Wedington was signed by the Seattle Seahawks following the 2021 NFL Draft.

The 1,83 m receiver spent the next three seasons on the practice squads of the Seahawks, 49ers, and Texans, before signing with the Centurions in December.

Kelvin McKnight - Rhein Fire

The Floridian wide receiver and kick returner joins his old college teammate Omari Willaims in Düsseldorf, after spending the last four seasons playing in the NFL, CFL, and XFL. After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, McKnight signed with the Denver Broncos where he spent two seasons on the practice squad, which included a short stint with Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.

In 2021, the 1,75m speedster signed at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL, earning a spot on the roster for two seasons. Most recently, McKnight led the XFL in kick returns yardage as a member of the Seattle Sea Dragons. The experienced pro could be a new favorite target for 2023 ELF MVP Jadrian Clark as he and head coach Jim Tomsula look to make it back-to-back championships this year.

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