Surge: QB Hennessey and captain Vergani end careers

Two of Stuttgart's legends are retiring: Quarterback Reilly Hennessey and captain Alessandro Vergani will finally hang up their helmets and pads. Hennessey will retire after more than 20 years of American football, Vergani after more than 15 years.

Both have decided to end their active careers after the 2025 season - as European League of Football champions and defining Stuttgart Surge figures.

Hennessey's impressive journey with the Surge

Since arriving in Stuttgart in 2023, Hennessey has been the linchpin of the Swabians' sporting resurgence. Together with head coach Jordan Neuman - with whom he had already achieved great success at the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns - he laid the foundation for one of the most impressive success stories in recent years in European football.

In his first season with the ELF in 2023, Hennessey led the Surge from a 0-12 record the previous year to the Championship Game. Despite a hand injury, he accumulated over 2,700 passing yards and 25 touchdowns in ten games before Stuttgart suffered a narrow loss in the Championship Game. 

Hennessey continued his strong performance in the 2024 season: in 13 games, he threw 37 touchdown passes, scored 10 rushing touchdowns, and had only seven interceptions. Under his leadership, the Surge advanced to the semifinals, where they were defeated by the eventual champions, the Rhein Fire. 

"One of the key foundational pieces"

The big goal was achieved the following year: in the 2025 season, Hennessey led the Stuttgart Surge to their first ELF championship. With 27 passing touchdowns, nine rushing touchdowns, and only eight interceptions, he was once again the heart of the offense. In the Championship Game at Stuttgart's MHP Arena, he capped off his career with a dominant performance and a championship win in front of his home crowd - a moment that will be remembered in franchise history.

"Reilly has been one of the key foundational pieces we have built our program around since our coaching staff arrived here in 2022.  From both on a professional and personal level Reilly will be missed not just for what he did for the Surge on the football field but because of who he was off it as well! Reilly has set the standard of what it means to be a QB and a leader. He will go down as one of the greatest QBs to ever play in Europe and his impact on the Surge will never be forgotten!", said Head Coach Jordan Neuman.

Title collector Vergani

Surge's captain Vergani, a longtime pillar of the Italian national team and one of the most prominent figures in European football, embodies reliability, leadership, and team spirit like no other player. His personal motto, "Lead by example," has guided him throughout his career and shaped the self-image of his teammates. Whether in training, on game days, or off the field, the 35-year-old Italian has always led through his performance, attitude, and respect. 

Vergani's football journey began in 2009 with the Daemons Cernusco, where it quickly became clear that he was more than just a talented lineman. In 2011, he was called up to the Italian national team, where he has remained captain ever since. After playing with the Parma Panthers in 2014 and the Milano Rhinos from 2015 to 2017 - with whom he won his first national title in 2016 - he moved to Germany in 2018 to join the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns. 

Vergani reached the German Bowl final four times with the Unicorns and celebrated two German championships (in 2018 and 2022) and two CEFL titles (in 2021 and 2022). He was selected for the GFL All Star Team in both championship years. In 2019, he was invited to the Canadian Football League (CFL) Combine, which was recognition of his consistently high performance.

Vergani has also enjoyed international success. In 2021, he won the IFAF European Championship with Italy and placed third in the continental finals in 2023. Since 2023, the offensive lineman has worn the Stuttgart Surge jersey and has been an integral part of the team.

As an experienced leader, he helped lay the foundation for the team's rebirth. In the 2024 season, he was named to the ELF All-Stars Second Team and, in 2025, to the First Team. That same year, he led the Surge to the title win at the MHPArena Stuttgart as team captain - a moment that rounded off his career in the best possible way.