Surge season: Defined by one mission

To understand the beginning of the Stuttgart Surge’s 2025 Championship season, you have to look back to the year before. When it was announced that the ELF Championship Game would take place in the MHP Arena in Stuttgart, the mission became clear: build a team strong enough to reach that final on home turf.

In 2024, Surge had already made it to the semifinals but fell short against Rhein Fire. From that point, every move was about preparing for this one game in Stuttgart.

Veterans staying on

A key part of Surge’s strategy was keeping the core of the team together. Players like quarterback Reilly Hennessey, who had already thought about retirement, and offensive lineman Alessandro Vergani, the heart of the line, stayed on board. With leaders like them, the message was simple: let’s get to the Championship Game in our city and win it in front of our fans, friends, and families.

The majority of the roster remained intact, while management added a few missing pieces to make the team even stronger.

Watch the highlights of the Championship Game here!

Making a statement early

Facing tough opponents like the Frankfurt Galaxy, Paris Musketeers, and Munich Ravens, the Surge needed to prove themselves early. They did just that in Week 1 with a 33–20 win over Frankfurt, showing they were ready to compete.

A loss to Paris in Week 2 was a setback, but it didn’t derail the mission. The Surge continued to march through the season, suffering only one more defeat against Munich in Week 7. By winning all their other games, including close battles against the league’s top contenders, Surge secured the West Division title and a place in the playoffs.

Defense steps up in the playoffs

While Surge had the best scoring offense in the league, it was their defense that shined brightest in the playoffs. Across the Wild Card Round, Semifinal, and Championship Game, they recorded 21 sacks and two interceptions. The defense dominated, showing that this team was complete on both sides of the ball.

With playoff victories over Madrid and Munich, Surge reached the final and, in front of their home crowd, defeated the Vienna Vikings to lift the trophy.

A perfect completion

For Stuttgart Surge, the 2025 Championship is the perfect ending to their rebuild. After losing the final in 2023 and falling in the semifinals in 2024, they finally completed their journey. From a franchise that won only two games in its first two seasons, Surge rose to become the champions of Europe.

Watch the Post Game Press Conference here!