MONSTER signing: Former Leipzig Kings defensive end Kyle Kitchens will play for Berlin Thunder in 2022

Nov 12th, 2021 00:00, by Tim Hanswillemenke

The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year signed with the Berlin Thunder for the upcoming season, as the franchise announced on social media. Of the players who switched teams for the upcoming season, Kitchens' signing may be the most impactful one yet.

At the beginning of October, defensive end Kyle Kitchens was honored with the Defensive Player of the Year award at the European League of Football Honors powered by Project Pixxl. With 39 solo tackles, 23 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and league-leading 12.5 sacks, Kitchens was a nightmare for opposing offenses in 2021.

DE Kitchens on the sidleine during a game in 2021. ©Mariann Wenzel

After re-signing tight end Nicolai Schumann, defensive back Moritz Thiele and American running back Jocques Crawford, the Thunder made a splash-move and signed American defender Kitchens: “To get the Defensive Player of the Year in Kyle Kitchens on our roster makes me extremely excited, because it once again underlines our ambition for the upcoming season. He shares our vision and believes in our program and that makes us really proud”, Thunder head coach Johnny Schmuck commented via social media.