The Hamburg Sea Devils re-sign German NFL veteran defensive lineman Kasim Edebali to their roster for the 2022 season, as reported by the German franchise.

"There’s unfinished business. I think nobody in the entire organization needs any extra motivation after remembering the feeling we had stepping off the field last year", Edebali comments on being back with the Sea Devils. He adds: "This game will never be won by individuals, but always by teams. I’ll do everything I can, on and off the field, to help the team win games, give back to the city that I love, and continue to respect and celebrate the game that we love so much with all of Germany and Europe!"

Hamburg Sea Devils general manager Max Paatz explains how the decision of bringing Edebali back came about: “Kasim [Edebali] is 100% football and 100% Hamburg. So, for us, we were certain to 200% at the end of last season that we want to bring him back”. He adds: “I’m super happy that we were able to pull this off and to have Captain Germany back for another season”.

In 2021, Edebali was only able to appear in five games because of an injury that kept him on the sideline. However, the former NFL player recorded eleven total tackles, two tackles for loss, and two-and-a-half sacks.

On paper, this might not seem like the impact a six-year NFL veteran should have. But in 2021, teams were scheming their offensive protection around Edebali to especially keep him away from the football. This enabled a lot of other players like EvansYeboah, Jan-Phillip Bombek, and Nelson Imasuen to get to the quarterback.

Sea Devils defensive coordinator Kendral Ellison also points towards the impact Edebali has on his defense: “Having Kasim [Edebali] back is huge on so many levels. Everyone knows what he brings from an athletic standpoint but what many don’t see is the leadership, inspiration, and knowledge that he brings as well”. Ellison adds: “His gifts go beyond what he can do between those lines but make no mistake about it, he’s still a dawg with a lot left in the tank. He affects the game just by being on the field and when healthy, he wreaks havoc. It goes without being said, after a season marred with injuries, he’s hungry to put a stamp on things and leave no question as to how dominant he can be”.

So far this off-season, the Sea Devils were able to put pen to paper with a lot of different playmakers on the defensive side. As already mentioned, Evans Yeboah and Nelson Imasuen will be back for another season alongside Kasim Edebali and other talented players.

“Kasim [Edebali] is the premier defender in the European League of Football with excellent college and lengthy NFL experience. He brings an unmatched energy to the game that all teams must account for on every offensive snap. He has the ability to take over a game”, Sea Devils head coach Charles Jones notes while expressing his excitement of having such a high-caliber player back on his roster.

With Edebali back in town, the Sea Devils defense looks as scary as any other unit in the European League of Football. It will be interesting to see Hamburg’s opponents game-planning around Edebali once again in 2022.

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