Panthers’ season falls short of expectations

The Wroclaw Panthers finished the 2025 season with a 5-7 record. While they managed to collect several wins, only one of them came against a team with a winning record. That shows the year did not bring the clear progress the franchise had hoped for compared to 2024.

Building a foundation

The Panthers reacted well to their expanded homegrown territories. With signings like Karlis Brauns and Ott Eric Ottender, they added both experience and young talent to the roster. The coaching staff also looked well prepared, creating a strong foundation for success. But the season went in a different direction. Facing tough opponents such as Nordic Storm, Munich Ravens, and Vienna Vikings - all division winners - as well as an improved Prague Lions team, made life difficult for Wroclaw.

Still, there were bright moments: the Panthers had one of the best red zone offenses in the league and built a strong two-man rushing attack. They even produced the first quarterback in ELF history to reach over 1,000 rushing yards in a single season.

Watch the best touchdowns of the 2025 season here!

Too average in key areas

Outside of the rushing game, many of the Panthers’ statistics ended up in the middle or lower half of the league. Passing offense (9th), rushing defense (8th), and pass defense (10th) were average, while the offensive line allowed the second-most sacks in the ELF. Special teams also failed to stand out after the departure of Devan Burrell. These issues prevented the Panthers from reaching the next level and returning to the playoffs, after qualifying in 2021 and 2023.

Defense and key players

The Panthers once again showed strength in rush defense, something that has been a trademark for them in recent years. Star linebacker AJ Wentland will stay with the team and continue to anchor the unit. However, the pass defense needs a new approach if the Panthers want to succeed again in the future. Protecting quarterback DJ Irons Jr., already confirmed for 2026, will also be a priority. Homegrown running back Dawid Brzozowski is one of the best in Europe, but his productivity dropped in 2025 as too much of the offensive load was placed on Irons’ shoulders, who in some games was responsible for 90% of the team’s offensive yards.

Looking ahead

With the departure of head coach Craig Kuligowski, the Panthers face an important offseason. While decisions on key players such as DJ Irons Jr., Lukas Majer, and AJ Wentland are already made, much work remains to shape the roster and coaching staff for 2026.

Watch all games with the ELF Game Pass!