The Rookie of the Year Nominees

The European League of Football will celebrate its best players and coaches of the 2025 season at the ELF Honors, taking place on September 6 at Palm Beach in Stuttgart, on the evening before the ELF Championship Game. On this special night, winners will be announced in thirteen different categories, honoring the most outstanding performances of the season.

This award goes to the best overall first-year player. The winner has made a huge impact on the field, showing great potential and becoming a key contributor to his team.

Eligibility: Any Homegrown or E-Import player in his first season in the ELF, not older than 23 at the time of the Championship Game (for 2025, born on or after September 8, 2001).

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Here are this year’s nominees:

Justus Seelig, RB - Madrid Bravos

At just 20 years old, Justus Seelig joined the Madrid Bravos shortly before the season began. Despite his age, he quickly became a big-play threat in Andrew Weidinger’s offense. Even though an injury sidelined him for part of the year, Seelig shined in only 9 games, rushing 74 times for 513 yards and scoring as a receiving option with 42 catches for over 500 yards. In total, he reached 9 touchdowns, proving his versatility and value. This earned him not only a nomination for Offensive Rookie of the Year but also for Rookie of the Year.

Watch the Bravos at Surge highlights here!

Tyler Foster, WR - Berlin Thunder

The Berlin Thunder added one of their brightest young homegrown talents in 20-year-old Tyler Foster, who made an instant impact. He became a reliable target for his quarterbacks, finishing with 64 receptions for 824 yards and 7 touchdowns.
One highlight performance came in Week 6 against the Munich Ravens, where Foster caught 15 passes for 147 yards against one of the league’s strongest defenses.

But Foster’s influence went beyond offense – in special teams he added 819 return yards and a punt return touchdown, pushing his total to 1,650 all-purpose yards and 8 touchdowns. His explosive playmaking made him one of the most impactful rookies in the ELF.

Arthur Kingdom, LB - Prague Lions

Arthur Kingdom was a breakout star in his first ELF season, becoming a key part of the Prague Lions’ defense and helping the team to its first-ever winning record. Kingdom proved his ability to make big plays, highlighted in the first matchup against the Frankfurt Galaxy where he posted 7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 interception in one game.
Like his fellow nominees, Kingdom has been recognized in more than one category - earning nominations for both Defensive Rookie of the Year and Rookie of the Year thanks to his consistent defensive impact.

Conclusion

Justus Seelig, Tyler Foster, and Arthur Kingdom have each delivered standout seasons, showing maturity and talent well beyond their years. From Seelig’s versatility in Madrid, to Foster’s all-around explosiveness in Berlin, to Kingdom’s defensive leadership in Prague, these young players represent the future of the ELF. On September 6 in Stuttgart, one of them will be crowned Rookie of the Year at the ELF Honors.

Get your tickets for the 2025 Championship Game in Stuttgart!