Andrew Weidinger takes over as the head coach of the Madrid Bravos for the 2025 season. The Bravos are bulding off of an excellent season for the expansion franchise, going 8-5 and qualifiing for the post-season. For the former ELF coach of the year, moving to the Spanish capital and the potential of Bravos organization ticked all of his boxes.

"Choosing Madrid was an easy choice. They've got an ownership group that is clearly committed to doing what it takes to be successful. They're committed to taking care of their players and spending and providing the environment that is needed to win a championship.

"That is critical to me, that the ownership group takes care of their people, because that's not the case everywhere. So it was that's a that's a critical component, and Madrid has that."

NFL & ELF Experience

Weidinger originally came to Europe in 2021 after 11 seasons coaching in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After one season as the offensive coordinator with the Potsdam Royals in Germany, Weidinger made the move to ELF and Spain becoming the head coach of the Barcelona Dragons.

Weidinger won coach of the year in 2022 leading the Barcelona Dragons to the European League of Football semi-finals. 

Back-to-back titles with the Rhein Fire

Since that season, Weidinger has been the offensive coordinator with the Rhein Fire winning back to back titles and earning back to back MVP trophies for his star players quarterback Jadrian Clark and running back Glen Toonga. Leaving the success in Düsseldorf was not a easy decision for two time ELF champion. 

"Leaving the Rhein Fire was not an easy decision. Obviously, we've been a great team over the course of last two seasons, had a lot of success. This last season was a whole lot more fun for me. It was a lot more competitive. That Stuttgart playoff game, that's one of the best games that I've been a part of at any level of football. That was a ton of fun. That gets your blood pumping and competing for championships is fun."

A New Challenge in Madrid

Weidinger has made a name for himself in the ELF for his creative and perfectly timed playcalls as a offensive coordinator. He is known for exploiting the weaknesses of a defense using a complex pro-style offense with several motions and various formations. However, he is able to zoom out of the X's and O's of the playbook and see the bigger picture of the ELF landscape and is looking forward to the next challenge.

"The competitive imbalances in this league like it's not every week that you get a Stuttgart game, right? And so part of me is seeking a different challenge, something new, something exciting. And so that's why I ultimately decide to leave Düsseldorf."

The new head coach for the Bravos ackknodledges what football can be in Madrid next season, and is looking forward to building off of an exciting year one for the Madrid squad. 

"We're going to go out there every single week. We don't care who we play. We don't care where we play them. Just tell us what time to be there, put the ball down, and we'll see what happens. So that's that's our goal is to show up for the game and play it to the best of our abilities."

Get your ELF Gamepass