The Munich Ravens are building a power house in the south of Germany. Or at least trying to defensively. Head coach Kendral Ellison, also defensive coordinator for the Ravens, has already wrapped in one of the better defensive talents in Europe: Johannes Zirngibl. We talked to the Bavarian, born in Landau at the beautiful river Isar, about his goals and presence on the field.

Is Johannes Zirngibl ready to take over? © Steve Bunkahle

Lighthouse in a good defense

When he entered his first season in the Bavarian capital, Zirngibl was impressed, as much with the team as with the league as a whole. “What particularly impressed me about the ELF was the professionalism [...] Every player dreams of playing football in front of such a large audience and enjoying the media presence.” the 24-year-old said, adding: “From the very beginning, I liked everything about the Munich Ravens. The organization and communication with Sean Shelton is just great. Everything was always well communicated and executed. As players, we were strong from the beginning, even though we were initially a mixed up group. But what really impressed me are our fans. Having a new franchise and an average attendance of around 5000 in the stadium is fantastic.”

Playoffs and Championship Game as a goal

Working for one of the larger car manufacturers in the country, Zirngibl knows what it means to produce. 5.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss (5th in the league), one first fumble and three fumble recoveries (1st in the league) brought him into the limelight, despite not making the postseason with his flock. “It was certainly bitter to narrowly miss the playoffs in the first season! Nevertheless, we showed with our positive record of 7-5 that there is a lot of potential in us. The goal for next year is, of course, to make it to the playoffs and then advance to the Championship Game.”

In a game that requires resilience and will, Zirngibl mainly played inside for the majority of the season, but showed in the past that he can also be productive from the edge. “My personal goal is to be the best possible teammate for my fellow players, to lead the team, and to give my best on the field. I want to get better every single day. Stats and sacks will come naturally as a result.”

Sean Shelton (rt.) is leading the flock as the sports director. © Munich Ravens / Johannes Roland

"I aim to inspire the rest of us"

Developing into a face of the franchise is certainly an option for the young athlete, even though his actions speak more to the team and fans than his words do, he says. “In our team, I am a leader, even if I'm not necessarily the loudest on the field. I aim to inspire the rest of us through actions and setting an example.”

It can also be helpful to have one of the best defensive coaches on your side. With head coach Kendral Ellison, Munich certainly presented one of the hungriest young minds in the game. “In working with Coach Kendral, I look forward to a partnership on equal terms. He knows how to handle European players and extract their maximum potential while keeping them motivated consistently. Additionally, I am excited about his defensive schemes. The Munich Ravens' defense will be feared throughout the league next year.”

Zirngibl seems just as hungry as Ellison.