Clark vs. ex-team: Storm’s explosive playoff showdown
Florian Puth

It is arguably the most explosive storyline of this year’s Wild Card Round: quarterback Jadrian Clark will lead the Nordic Storm into their first-ever playoff game — against none other than Rhein Fire, the team with which he won back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024. For Fire, it’s about nothing less than making history with a potential three-peat.
Clark himself appears unfazed by the drama surrounding the matchup. “We’re extremely proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in our first season as a team. We couldn’t be more excited to return home and host our first-ever playoff game as a franchise. We know it’s going to be another incredibly competitive matchup, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Clark delivers MVP-level stats in his fifth ELF Season
On the field, Clark has underlined his claim to be one of the league’s elite quarterbacks. In eleven games, he completed 65 percent of his passes, threw for 3,708 yards, and racked up an impressive 47 passing touchdowns against just nine interceptions. Only Madrid Bravos quarterback Reid Sinnet has posted better passing numbers. For the Storm, Clark has been the undisputed centerpiece of the offense.
Clark is no stranger to the spotlight in the European League of Football. The 31-year-old American was named league MVP in 2023 and Championship Game MVP in 2024. With Rhein Fire, he led his former team to back-to-back titles. Now, he has the chance to end their bid for a historic third.
Jadrian Clark © Aileen Uzoma
Just a couple of days ago: Fire beat Storm in Düsseldorf
The rivalry gets even sharper when looking back at Week 14, the final week of the regular season. In Düsseldorf, Rhein Fire defeated Nordic Storm 27-19, handing the newcomers only their second loss of the year.
For the Storm, the playoffs offer an immediate shot at revenge — this time on home turf. That the fate of the game could hinge on Clark, of all people, makes this clash one of the highlights of the postseason.
Watch the highlights of Storm vs. Fire in Week 14
Fire and Storm, a new rivalry of the ELF?
Several former Fire players and coaches now wear Storm colors, but all eyes are on Clark. His performance as quarterback will likely decide the outcome. If he brings the same accuracy and explosiveness he showed in the regular season, Rhein Fire’s dream of a three-peat could quickly vanish.
For Clark, though, it’s all about the next step: “Now it’s about taking it one week at a time and staying completely focused on ourselves.” A sentence that sounds like a promise to fight – without him having to say it out loud.