Jakob Johnson: "ELF has changed our sport in Europe"

NFL star and Surge partner Jakob Johnson: "ELF offers really good football and has changed our sport in Europe"

For six years, Jakob Johnson has been a figurehead for German football in the world's strongest league. After stints with the New England Patriots, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the New York Giants, the fullback is now under contract with the Houston Texans and preparing for the 2025 season in the National Football League (NFL). The 30-year-old also closely follows events in Europe – and has strong words about the ELF in the "Surge Insights" podcast.

"It's the biggest stage you can present yourself on in Europe. The European League of Football is changing the mindset of the guys. I think if the Surge had existed back then, I would definitely have played for the Surge", said Jakob Johnson, who moved to the US from the Stuttgart Scorpions in the German Football League (GFL) in 2019.

"ELF has improved opportunities for talented players"

After previously serving as an ambassador for the ELF team from his hometown, the NFL star joined Stuttgart Surge as a partner in early February 2022. Managing Director Suni Musa spoke at the time of a "real coup", saying that Johnson embodies the values of the franchise and is a great role model for many young players.

"The ELF has definitely changed our sport in Europe and Germany, improving opportunities for talented players. At the time, I just wanted to prove that it was possible for a young player to make the leap across the pond. For me, it was a logical conclusion that we simply needed a professional league in Europe. And when the Surge from my hometown joined the ELF, there was no question in my mind that I had to be involved in some way", said Jakob Johnson about his support as co-owner.

"The percentage of good football in the league has increased dramatically"

The NFL pro watches a lot of ELF games - and is very impressed by the sporting development: "I see better football in most of the teams. Especially when the teams from the upper half of the league compete against each other, you see really good football now. And also football that is simply fun to watch. You have matchups where you really say: Okay, this is going to be an awesome game. And the guys deliver on the field. So that's definitely a huge difference from year one to now. The percentage of good football in the league has increased dramatically", Jakob Johnson noted.

The 30-year-old considers it normal that things sometimes get turbulent and that the interaction between the league and the franchises does not always run smoothly: "When it comes to the whole business, how the league is structured, what goes on there, these are things that will simply evolve over time. The NFL we see today is not the same NFL we saw 50 years ago, 60 years ago, or even ten years ago. These are things that the people in charge have to take care of. The players can't change anything about that. That's a matter for the corporate people; they have to sort it all out."

Get your tickets for the Championship Game!