Quarterback Jadrian Clark caused a real shock this offseason. Together with League MVP Glen Toonga, the 30-year-old left Rhein Fire - even though both were crucial in helping the German team to two ELF championship titles in a row. 

Rhein Fire and their fans were hoping for the possibility of the first three-peat in ELF history in the European League of Football. Clark's and Toonga's departures temporarily crushed those hopes. Meanwhile, the team has responded by signing All-Star Chad Jeffries as Clark's successor.

During the new weekly interview format “ELF - One on One”, the US American explains the reasons behind his surprising move.

Clark: "I have nothing but great memories"

“The last three seasons I had with Rhein Fire was something really, really special,” Clark introduces. He adds: “I appreciate the coaches, my teammates, the fans, and I have nothing but great memories to look back on, especially winning two championships in a row. That was really special.”

Clark attributes a large part of this success to his quarterback coach John Shoop. He also left Rhein Fire after the season to become the first head coach in Nordic Storm history.

Coach played major role in Clark deal

“I knew that there would probably be some chances that he might become a head coach somewhere with his amazing resume,” remembers Clark. As a farewell gift, Shoop presented an opportunity: “And after the season, once he told us guys, I really appreciate my time with you, and I'm going to be heading to Copenhagen. If any of you would like to explore a possibility of coming with me, I would really be interested in entertaining that conversation.”

Although he had briefly thought about it, a departure after two championships in a row also seemed rather absurd for the US import. “But the more I looked into it and the more I sort of just evaluated the situation,” explains Clark.

Watch the full interview!

Copenhagen charmed Clark

“Coach Shoop is someone that I have a really close relationship to. Obviously with him being my quarterback coach and being such a former NFL off of the coordinator and head coach in the league already”, says the Qb.

In addition to Shoop, other old friends await Clark: “Glenn wanting to stay with me and then Joachim Christensen my former center, being from Copenhagen, his dad being the general manager of the Nordic Storm. Everything came together, and it ended up being a no-brainer for me.”

The city of Copenhagen, where Nordic Storm will play its home games, also impressed the football star. Clark says: “Copenhagen being to me the best place I've ever been to. It's a place I traveled about three, four years ago to and absolutely fell in love with and always joked if there was a team in Scandinavia, I would hop on that.”

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