Munich Ravens fall short despite strong season
Cara Iden
© Roland JohannesThe Munich Ravens finished the 2025 European League of Football season with a strong 11-1 record, securing the South Division title and clinching their playoff spot already in Week 11. During the regular season they were unbeatable at home, establishing themselves as one of the league's most reliable teams.
Dynamic play and steady coaching
Much of their success was built on a dynamic offense. Averaging 36.3 points per game, fifth-best in the ELF, the Ravens combined an efficient passing game with one of the most productive rushing attacks in Europe.
Quarterback Russell Tabor, in his first full season after signing a three-year contract late in 2024, quickly became the centerpiece of the franchise. Though his passing yardage of 203.5 per game ranked only tenth among quarterbacks, he threw for 2315 yards and 27 touchdowns across 12 games, placing him inside the top tier of quarterbacks. His dual-threat ability made the difference: Tabor added 663 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground, ranking second league-wide in rushing scores.
Led by Tabor, the Ravens possessed a dangerous and unpredictable offense that consistently kept defenses off balance.
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Head coach Kendral Ellison, named Coach of the Year 2025, proved equally important to the team's progress. Under his leadership the Ravens not only established a winning culture but also showed calm under pressure in close contests, often turning games around in the final minutes. Several narrow victories were secured in crunch time, a testament to both Ellison's coaching and the squad's mentality. His two-year contract extension underlines the franchise's commitment to stability and long-term success.
Strong season ends with Semi Final defeat
However, the season exposed weaknesses. Defensively, the Ravens struggled to match their offensive output. While their run defense was among the strongest in the ELF, allowing only 101.7 yards per game, the defensive backfield struggled noticeably. Allowing 254.5 passing yards per game, they ranked just 14th in pass defense.
On average they gave up 22.4 points per game, placing them seventh in the league and leaving too much pressure on the offense to deliver.
After earning a direct spot in the Semi Finals, Munich suffered their first home defeat of the year against the Stuttgart Surge, who went on to win the championship. The loss not only ended their season but also extended their wait for a first playoff victory, underlining that regular-season dominance alone is not enough to secure silverware.
Culture, continuity, and the next step
Ellison has already turned his attention to the future. "We're heading in the right direction," he told First Down Magazine. "As long as we continue to build on what we're doing, then I just got one more checkbox – and that’s a championship."
He stressed the importance of culture and continuity: "We still haven't won a playoff game – our goals are going to be set bigger, set higher. We know what it's going to take to get there, but you have to build the culture first."
Looking back on the season, he added: "Though we took some losses, as I always say, there are just going to be lessons. That's going to help propel us forward in the next few years."
Expectations for 2026 are high. With one of the league's brightest young quarterbacks secured long-term, a proven head coach under contract, and a strong offensive identity, the Ravens have the foundation of a consistent challenger. The next step will be to strengthen their pass defense and prove they can deliver in the playoffs. Only then can Munich turn potential into postseason success.
