Nordic Storm

Welcome to the second edition of our weekly series spotlighting the most exciting matchups in the European League of Football. As the 2025 season continues this Saturday, fans across Europe and around the world are eager to see how their teams will perform. This week, we take a closer look at three standout games that promise the perfect mix of excitement and storylines. Frankfurt Galaxy vs. Madrid Bravos – Playoff hopes on the line early Both teams had a rough start in Week 1, but Madrid Bravos managed to secure a win — while Frankfurt Galaxy did not. The Galaxy struggled against a powerful Stuttgart Surge team, revealing several issues despite major offseason changes meant to bring them back to their former strength. The Bravos, on the other hand, showed solid defense, holding Hamburg to just 12 points. But offensively, they still need to find their rhythm. This game could already be an early turning point in the season. Both teams have playoff ambitions, and in their tight divisions, every win will matter. Don't miss a single game - Get your Game Pass now! Nordic Storm vs. Wroclaw Panthers – A real test of strength This game is the first real challenge for both teams. In Week 1, Nordic Storm and Wroclaw Panthers each had dominant wins. But now, they meet head-to-head — and we’ll find out which team truly belongs among the ELF elite. The big story for the Storm is the injury to star running back and 2024 MVP Glen Toonga, who is out for the season. All eyes will be on how the Storm adjust without him, especially against the strong Panthers defense, which made life very difficult for the Enthroners in Week 1. Stuttgart Surge vs. Paris Musketeers – Clash of championship contenders Both the Surge and the Musketeers looked like top-tier teams in Week 1. Stuttgart showed their full strength in all three phases of the game and beat the Galaxy with confidence, reminding everyone why they are seen as Championship contenders. The Musketeers played in a defensive battle against defending champs Rhein Fire, losing narrowly by just two points (15–17). Their defense was excellent, but their offense struggled against one of the toughest units in the league. This Week 2 matchup could be one of the best games of the weekend — two powerful teams, both with high goals for the season, meeting early for a statement win. More matchups will follow, but these three are must-watch games for any ELF fan. Let’s get ready for another thrilling football weekend across Europe! Get your tickets for the Championship Game here!  

The first weekend of action in the ELF season is over and we as fans…and fantasy managers finally got our first look at the teams and star players in action across the league.  Football is a game of matchups so let's see what players you might want to add or drop to your lineup this week.  This year Fantasy Manager features weekly prizes, yearly prizes, and a lot of rewards for the best and even the luckiest managers out there.  Read more about the ELF Fantasy manager prizes here! Start’Em QB Ben Holmes - Vienna Vikings (3,900 GC) The Vikings got a road victory last week in Prague, but it wasn’t the most beautiful win. Penalties, dropped passes, and more held back the Vikings' typically explosive offense. This week as they prepare to take on the Rhein FIre in Week 3, look for Holmes and the Vikings offense to click against a weak Enthroners team.  WR - Keelan Cole - Helvetic Mercenaries (2,500 GC) The Mercenaires and Cole travel to Tirol this week to take on the Raiders. The ex-NFL pass catcher should be in line for a breakout game as the Swiss squad will be airing it out in what should be a competitive game between these two squads. Expect Weed to target Cole even more this week as they try and get the NFL talent going.  RB Anton Witmuer - Nordic Storm (900 GC) Witmuer is a value play at only 900 GC. With MVP running back Glen Toonga out for the season, look for Witmuer to take the Lion's share of the carries behind a stacked offensive line. Witmuer is no inexperienced rookie, having put several successful seasons together running the ball with a nice blend of speed and power in the Danish league.    Sit’Em Tomiwa Oyewo - RB - Stuttgart Surge (3,000 GC)  I know what you’re thinking.. Oyewo is a stud and looked great last week. Well, watching Paris’s defense I am hesitant to take any of their offensive  opponents at this time. The Musketeers have star players at all three levels of the defense and maybe the best team speed in the secondary in the league.  QB Jakeb Sullivan - Berlin Thunder (3,100 GC) What goes up, must come down. Even after an absurd seven touchdown performance last week, I don’t see Sullivan having the same success against the Munich Ravens. Munich is a different team then Cologne and have a lot of experience and talent in the secondary that should make things tough on the veteran QB.  QB Reid Sinnett - Madrid Bravos (3,800 GC) The former NFL passer entered the ELF with a lot of hype. After one week and mustering only 13 points on offense, the jury is still out. This week things get tougher for Sinnett facing off against a Frankfurt defense that should be eager to play better following a tough loss to the Surge.  Watch all the games on DAZN!

Week 1 of the 2025 European League of Football season is done — and what a start it was! We saw dominant wins, close battles, and some surprising performances. It’s still early in the season, and every team has many games left to play, but here’s where I rank each team going into Week 2, and why: 1. Stuttgart Surge The Surge looked strong on both sides of the ball in their win over Frankfurt Galaxy. Over 400 total offensive yards and only 240 yards allowed on defense — a complete performance. They won the battle at the line of scrimmage and showed they’re ready for another big season. Penalties remain their biggest issue. An overall strong performance showcases their talent, which is why they are also the top team in my power rankings. 2. Rhein Fire Rhein Fire came out on top in a hard-fought defensive battle against the Paris Musketeers. Their defensive line was impressive — maybe even stronger than last season’s. Offensively, not everything clicked, but new dual-threat QB Chad Jeffries adds another dimension to their game. 3. Vienna Vikings The Vikings earned a clear 28–6 win over the Prague Lions. WR Yannick Mayr adds even more depth to an already dangerous receiver group and shined on special teams, too. A solid performance overall, with room to grow. The talent on the roster is definitely worthy of a top-three ranking. Don't miss a single game - Get your Game Pass now! 4. Nordic Storm A strong debut from the new team! QB Jadrian Clark threw five touchdown passes, and the team rushed for 276 yards. The defense added four sacks and even a pick-six. Now the big question: Can they compete with the top teams? 5. Paris Musketeers Their narrow loss to Rhein Fire showed the team’s potential, especially on defense. But issues in the offensive line, including six sacks and multiple bad snaps, need to be fixed fast. The talent is clearly there. 6. Wroclaw Panthers Wroclaw impressed in all three phases of the game against the Enthroners. QB DJ Irons Jr. threw for three TDs and ran for two more. RB Dawid Brzozowski added 113 rushing yards. The defense had five sacks and a pick-six, and the return game was dangerous all day. The Munich Ravens present a true tough test for the Panthers in week 2. 7. Madrid Bravos Madrid started their ELF journey with a win over Hamburg, but the offense still needs time to find its rhythm. QB Reid Sinnett and his receivers are not yet in sync — but they still managed to get the W. If they can establish the running game, they could become a tough challenge for the top teams. 8. Munich Ravens Munich won a tough defensive game against the Raiders. Their run game worked well, but the passing game is a concern. Young QB Russell Tabor completed under 50% of his passes and threw two interceptions. Still, the defense showed they can compete with anyone. If Tabor shows an improved performance in Week 2, a jump into the Top 5 is definitely possible. 9. Frankfurt Galaxy Frankfurt had a tough first matchup against the Surge. They struggled to pressure the QB and couldn’t match the Surge offensively. WR Terry Wright didn’t make much impact in the passing game but showed his speed on special teams. In the game against the Madrid Bravos, they need to prove themselves and show that they can compete with the top teams. Get your tickets for the 2025 Championship Game in Stuttgart! 10. Raiders Tirol The Raiders were limited to just 58 rushing yards — surprising for one of the best RB groups in the league. QB Conor Miller had an average game with only 21 completions on 38 attempts. Their defense was solid, but the offense must improve. In the game against the Mercenaries, the Raiders need to make a strong statement and show that they are a playoff team. 11. Hamburg Sea Devils Hamburg gave Madrid a good fight and surprised many with their strong defense. RBs Chrisman Kyei and Lucas Candido looked solid. However, penalties and special teams mistakes — including just 2 of 5 field goals made — hurt their chances. 12. Berlin Thunder A huge win for Berlin with seven passing touchdowns from QB Jakeb Sullivan and over 570 total yards. But it’s important to stay grounded — their Week 2 matchup against the strong Ravens defense will be the real test. 13. Prague Lions Prague kept things close with Vienna in the first half and showed improvement from last season. Their passing game struggled, and they only converted 2 of 13 third downs. Still, there’s potential in this team what they can prove against the Sea Devils in Week 2. 14. Helvetic Mercenaries The Mercenaries lost 12–56 to Nordic Storm but had some good moments, especially from QB Isaiah Weed, who had a 69-yard rushing touchdown. More consistency is needed, and their Week 2 matchup against the Raiders won’t be easy. 15. Fehérvár Enthroners A tough loss against Wroclaw. The special teams gave up too many big returns, and the offensive line allowed five sacks. Things need to change fast, with the Vienna Vikings up next. 16. Cologne Centurions Cologne had a rough start against Berlin, allowing nine touchdowns. The young team showed flashes, especially with a 92-yard TD pass from QB Jan Leuker to Austin Osborne. Their upcoming bye week comes at a perfect time to regroup. The season is just beginning, and things can change quickly. Let’s see who rises and who falls in next week’s power ranking! Watch all highlights of week 1 on Youtube

The Nordic Storm had the perfect start to their first ELF season. Their 56–12 win over the Helvetic Mercenaries showed their strength and strong team chemistry. But now, just days later, the team faces a huge challenge. Serious injury for star running back The team has announced that Glen Toonga suffered an Achilles tendon rupture during the game against the Mercenaries. The injury means that the 2024 ELF MVP will miss the entire season. Toonga was one of the most dominant players in the league last year. He led the ELF in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, helping his former team and winning the Most Valuable Player award. Team reaction to the loss Michael Planeta, owner and interim GM of the Nordic Storm, shared what the loss of Toonga means: “Losing Glen for the season is not just sad for the Nordic Storm, it's sad for the entire league. Glen is a great football player and everyone in the league respects him — and in part fears him — for what he brings on game day. For us as a team the loss is not just on the field, it is also in the locker room, because as fierce a player as he is on the field, he is an even more fierce teammate. Losing the 2024 league MVP will, no matter how you look at it, be a big blow to any team.” Next game without their MVP The Nordic Storm will face the Wroclaw Panthers in Week 2 - their first game without Glen Toonga. Fans and experts will be watching closely to see how the team reacts on the field. Can they stay strong without one of their biggest stars? One thing is clear: replacing a player like Glen Toonga won’t be easy. Don't miss a single game - Get your Game Pass now!

The first game week of the 2025 ELF season is complete, and it already gave us exciting action, close finishes, and strong performances from many players across Europe. Among them were several homegrown talents who stepped up in key moments and helped their teams succeed. Defensive players become Quarterback nightmares In Wroclaw, the Panthers dominated the Fehérvár Enthroners with a 55-point performance, but it wasn’t just the offense that impressed. The defense played a major role, especially the defensive line, which became a nightmare for Enthroners quarterback Brock Domann. He was sacked five times, with Karlis Brauns and Hubert Ogrodowczyk each collecting two sacks. The Panthers’ front was aggressive, physical, and simply too much for the Enthroners' offensive line. At Rhein Fire, two more defenders made headlines. Hugo Klages constantly pressured Paris Musketeers QB Jaylon Henderson and recorded two sacks. His teammate Flamur Simon, one of the league’s top linebackers, led the team with several important tackles and sealed the win with a game-winning interception. Simon’s leadership and football IQ were once again on full display. Hugo Klages made two sacks against the Musketeers. ©Maxime Le Pihif Speedster Mayr runs past the Lions Offensively, Yannick Mayr proved why he’s one of the fastest players in the league. Back with his former team, the Vienna Vikings, Mayr quickly became a favorite target for quarterback Ben Holmes. He finished the game with 7 catches for 139 yards and also added value in the return game, bringing back two kickoffs for a total of 69 yards. His deep threat ability gave the Vikings a strong vertical option from the very start. Yannick Mayr is known for making big plays. ©Hannes Jirgal Running back trio shines bright The running back position also saw great homegrown talent. In Wroclaw, Dawid Brzozowski picked up right where he left off last season. He ran for 113 yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries, showing great vision and balance. In Wil, Anton Witmeur took the spotlight for the Nordic Storm after starting RB Glen Toonga left the game due to injury. Witmeur stepped in and impressed with 106 rushing yards and a touchdown, averaging an outstanding 9.64 yards per carry — a breakout performance under pressure. Meanwhile in Munich, Justin Rodney continued to prove his value as a dynamic all-around weapon. The Ravens running back rushed for 103 yards on 15 carries and added a crucial 39-yard touchdown reception in a key moment of the game, helping Munich beat the Raiders Tirol. Justin Rodney continued his strong performance from last season. ©Roland Johannes Week 1 reminded us how deep the talent pool in the ELF has become — especially among local players. And with Week 2 just ahead, more stories will be written, and new homegrowns will rise. Don't miss a single game - Get your Game Pass now!

What a amazing week one of the 2025 ELF football season. Whether it was nail-bitting finishes, highlight plays, or of course the league's passionate fans that make the gameday so specail. It was great to see ELF football back in full swing.On the Fantasy side of things we were able to record the top scorers from a fantasy perfective for week one. Due to the transition to StatsPerform, team points will only be awarded starting from Week 2. That said, team stats for Week 1 will be added by today, and once they’re in, we’ll announce the winner of the first weekly prize. Some features that were originally planned for Week 1 — like adding friends and live player stats — had to be postponed due to the StatsPerform integration. We’re now aiming to launch both features with Week 3. Thanks for your understanding and support — we’re working hard to make your fantasy experience even better! Sign up for ELF Fantasy manager here! With week one in the books let's take a look at what woul've been the perfect line up for our opening weekend slate. Quarterback: Jakeb Sullivan, Berlin Thunder (47.02 Points) The veteran threw only two incomplete passes on the day as he led the Thunder to a easy victory. Sullivan finished the game with a league best 413 passing yards and a impressive seven touchdowns. RB1: Glen Toonga, Nordic Storm (24.50 Points) The reigning MVP picked up where he left off last season with 114 yards on only 12 carries. Toonga also scored the first touchdown in the history of the Nordic Storm before leaving the game with an injury. In the passing game, he addd three catches for 41 yards. RB2: Gennadiy Adams, Berlin Thunder (23.90 Points) Adam's ran for 66 yards on only 11 carries reaching the endzone once. He also added a receiving touchdown on two catches for 33 yards. WR1: Bryce Goggin, Berlin Thunder (41.60 Points) Goggin introduced himself to the ELF with a monster performance catching 7 passes for 166 yards and two scores. Goggin created several huge plays and seems to be the go-to guy for Sullivna moving forward in Berlin.  WR2: Brendan Beaulieu, Nordic Storm (32.90 Points) In Beaulieu's first ELF game he caught 9 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns as he helped the Nordic Storm roll to a big road victory in thier team's first ever game. TE: Adria Botello Moreno, Nordic Storm (18.50 Points) Another member of the Storm on this list is veteran Botello Moreno. The Spanish veteran scored two touchdowns on only 4 catches finishing the game with only 25 yards, but two touchdowns.  Flex: Auston Osborne, Cologne Centurions (30.90 Points) The former Bowling Green standout was maybe the only silver lining for Cologne in this game. The ex-D1 pass catcher hauled in 8 passes for 169 yards and a score of 92 yards in his first ELF game.  Kicker: Mathy's Dupoint, Paris Musketeers & Timo Bronn, Stuttgart Surge (9 Points) Both kickers looked great in week one hitting field goals in key spots for thier team. Dupont hit three short field goals vs the Rhein Fire while Bronn hit two field goals and 3 extra points in his return to the Surge.  Defense/Special teams: Wroclaw Panthers (30 Points) The Panthers held the Enthroners too only 12 points in a resounding week one win. Panthers defensive back Devan Burrell scored twice once on a kick return and again on a interception return for maybe the play off the week. Wroclaw finished the game with 5 sacks, dominating the Enthroners up front. Watch all the games on DAZN!  

Week 1 is in the book! There were many highlights and some players who presented themselves in excellent shape in the season opener. They are the ELF Stats Leaders Week 1. Passing Leader #1 Jakeb Sullivan (BTH) (413 YDS) #2 Russell Tabor (MUC) (260 YDS) #3 Jadrian Clark (NDS) (258 YDS) Jakeb Sullivan ©Eric Muehle. Passing Touchdown Leader #1 Jakeb Sullivan (BTH) (7 TDs) #2 Jadrian Clark (NDS) (5 TDs) #3 Demarcus Irons Jr. (WPA) (3 TDs) Rushing Leader #1 Tomiwa Oyewo (SRG) (122 YDS) #2 Glen Toonga (NDS) (114 YDS) #3 David Brzozowski (WPA) (113 YDS)  Tomiwa Oyewo ©Svenja Sabatini. Rushing Touchdown Leader #1 Demarcus Irons Jr. (WPA) (2 TDs) #1 Karri Pajarinen (VIK) (2 TDs) #1 Reilly Hennessey (SRG) (2 TDs) Demarcus "DJ" Irons Jr. ©Lukasz Skwiot. Tackling Leader #1 Jan Mayerhofer (RAI) (11 total Tackles) #1 Marius Kensy (RHF) (11 total Tackles) #2 Aleksandar Borkovic (ENT) (10 total Tackles) Sack Leader #1 Max Parkinson (NDS) (3 Sacks, 38 Sack YDS) #2 Lucky Ogbevoen (VIK) (2 Sacks, 15 Sack YDS) #3 H. Ogrodowczyk (WPA) (2 Sacks, 12 Sack YDS)     Interception Leader #1 Devan Burrell (WPA) (1 Int., 82 INT YDS) #2 Luke Glenna (NDS) (1 Int., 70 INT YDS) #3 Emmanuel Delgado (BTH (1 Int., 44 INT YDS) Devan Burrell ©Lukasz Skwiot. Kicking Leader #1 Mathys Dupont (PAR) (3, FG ATT, 3 FG made, 100% accuracy)  #2 Alvaro Peñas (MAD) (2, FG ATT, 2 FG made, 100% accuracy)  #2 Timo Bronn (SRG) (2, FG ATT, 2 FG made, 100% accuracy)  Get all the stats after Week 1 Don't miss a play - watch the ELF live on DAZN

The Wroclaw Panthers start a European Football season with a win for the fifth time. This makes them one of the few ELF teams to win all of their opening games. In addition to quarterback Demarcus “DJ” Irons Jr., Devan Burrell also played a major role in the Panthers' 55:12 victory over the Ferhévár Enthroners. The ELF 2024 Special teams Player of the Year once again proved why he rightly holds this title. In addition to 126 kickoff return yards, Burrell ran for 87 punt return yards and a return touchdown. Panthers star Burrell: "I see this game like a game we had to have faith to finish" “I see this game like a game we had to have faith to finish,” said Burrell after the game. In addition to his return qualities, the US-American was also required as a cornerback. Here he repeatedly had to deal with Enthroner's A-import receiver Rashad Still. "A talented boy, he's tall. But it wasn't too much for me," said Burell. He still couldn't prevent Still from scoring a touchdown, but he held him under 60 receiving yards. Panthers Head Coach Craig Kuligowski: was happy with his team's performance after the game: "I'm happy with the way we played. I knew that we were capable of winning this large margin. You know, our goal is to play as well as we can play every game." Craig Kuligowski ©Lukasz Skwiot. "We really did a good job": Panthers Head Coach Kuligowski happy  In addition to Burrell, new Panthers quarterback Irons Jr. also put in a great performance, scoring five total touchdowns for his team. “DJ Irons did not disappoint,” says Kuligowski and warns the upcoming opponents: “In my opinion can play even better.” Overall, the Panthers showed a very positive development in the first game of the season. "We really did a good job running the football and passing the ball, playing complimentary, doing a good job, getting the clock down at the end of the game when we needed to secure the victory. And I really was happy with the improvement on our offense", says the Panthers Head Coach. Watch Enthroners at Panthers highlights here! Kuligowski and Burrell warn ahead of Nordic Storm However, the task ahead is a tough one for the Polish team. A hungry Nordic Storm team, who won their first game in franchise history, is waiting in Week 2. “This is a really good team coming in,” says coach Kuligowski. "We're going to have to improve in all three phases and really reduce the amount of penalties and mistakes that we had. That's, that's our, that's the big thing for us to improve on." Special teams star Devan Burrell has a similar view. "Next week, they're gonna watch and see what we did, and they're gonna see our weaknesses and where it plays and the other team that they hit us at. So, coming next week, be more disciplined, be able to read the quarterback and make a new play." And perhaps the 29-year-old can help his team with another return touchdown. Don't miss a play - watch the ELF live on DAZN

The season has started, the first matchday is over. Some teams have started with a defeat, others with a win. How do the results affect the winning in season opening games? Note: Since not all teams have been part of the European League of Football since 2021, not every team has played the same number of opening games. Therefore, the sorting is based on the percentage of success.  Some fans must be very strong now. Four franchises have not been able to win any of their season-opening games yet. Frankfurt Galaxy (2021: L, 2022: L, 2023: L, 2024: L. 2025 L) Fehérvár Enthroners (2023: L, 2024: L, 2025: L) Prague Lions (2023: L, 2024: L, 2025: L) Helvetic Mercenaries (2023: L, 2024: L, 2025: L) After the clear defeat against Berlin Thunder, the success rate of the Cologne Centurions has changed. Cologne Centurions (2021: L, 2022: W, 2023: L, 2024: L, 2025: L)   Good news for the Munich Ravens. In this year, they were able to win their first season opening game.  Munich Ravens (2023: L, 2024: L, 2025: W) The Berlin Thunder improved their position with a clear 63:14 victory against the Cologne Centurions in Week 1. Berlin Thunder (2021: L, 2022: L, 2023: W, 2024: L, 2025: W) The narrow and tough 12-13 defeat against the Madrid Bravos caused the Hamburg Sea Devils to slip from 75 to 60 percent. Hamburg Sea Devils (2021: W, 2022: W, 2023: L, 2024: W, 2025: L) Not the start to the season the Raiders had hoped for. After the loss to the Munich Ravens, they were only able to win half of their season opening games. Raiders Tirol  (2022: L, 2023: W, 2024: W, 2025: L) We have made it past the halfway mark. For the first time, the Musketeers were unable to win their first game of the season. They were only two points away from a win against champions Rhein Fire. Paris Musketeers (2023: W, 2024: W, 2025: L) We are getting closer to perfection. Nevertheless, there have been defeats. But in this year, Stuttgart Surge won their Opening Game against Frankfurt Galaxy. Stuttgart Surge (2021: W, 2022: L, 2023: W, 2024: W, 2025 W)   Let's move on to the elite. Fans of these five teams were also able to see an opening game victory in this year. Wroclaw Panthers (2021: W, 2022: W, 2023: W, 2024: W, 2025: W) Vienna Vikings (2022: W, 2023: W, 2024: W, 2025: W) Rhein Fire (2022: W, 2023: W, 2024: W, 2025: W) Madrid Bravos (2024: W, 2025: W) Nordic Storm (2025: W) Don't miss a single ELF Game - get your Game Pass!

Nordic Storm Football is here! The newest member of the ELF played their first game in franchise history. The team from Scandinavia started with a win against the Helvetic Mercenaries. Nordic Storm @ Helvetic Mercenaries: 56:12 After a disappointing 1:11 season in 2024, the Swiss showed significant improvement at the start of the game, but failed to score due to lack of concentration and a strong Nordic Storm defense. Quarterback Isaiah Weed often had too little time and rarely managed to break through with the run. One exception was his strong 69-yard rushing touchdown after a quarterback option. Overall, the US-Imported delivered 200 passing yards and 104 rushing yards, including one rushing touchdowns. However, was also sacked four times, fumbled once and one interception. The defense tried to bring the Mercenaries back with a fumble recovery touchdown shortly after the start of the third quarter, but the problems on offense were too much.  ©Simon Bernardini Watch the Storm at Mercenaries Highlights Worries about Toonga after first-class performance Nordic Storm on the other side needed some time to get into the game. Their first drive ended in a field goal that was blocked. Shortly before the end of the first quarter, Glen Toonga scored the first touchdown in franchise history after a good run. The current MVP presented himself in a new look (new jersey, new hairstyle), but in his usual form. Toonga rushed twelve times for 114 yards and one touchdowns and added 41 yards through the air, but did not return to the game before the third quarter due to a leg injury. Fortunately, he was able to leave the pitch on his own two feet. He was replaced by homegrown Anton Witmeur, who collected 106 rushing yards and one touchdowns. Storm quarterback delivered an amazing game with 258 passing yards and five touchdowns in his first game with the new team.  Nordic Storm had no issue winning their first game in franchise history. In week 2, the Wroclaw Panthers, who put in a strong performance against the Fervévár Enthroners, await the Storm. Can Clark and Co. also win their second game of the season? Watch all plays live with the ELF Game Pass on DAZN!

The European League of Football is entering its fifth season, and Week 1 already brings us some top-level matchups. After a long off-season, all teams have worked hard to build their rosters. To make it easier for ELF fans, we’ve created an overview of all players and their status for Game Week 1. With just one click on the name of a franchise, you can see their full Week 1 Roster Report and find out which players will be on the field this weekend. Game Week 1 Matchups: May 17, Saturday 18:00 CET – Fehérvár Enthroners at Wroclaw Panthers 18:00 CET – Rhein Fire at Paris Musketeers 20:00 CET – Hamburg Sea Devils at Madrid Bravos May 18, Sunday 13:00 CET – Nordic Storm at Helvetic Mercenaries 13:00 CET – Cologne Centurions at Berlin Thunder 13:00 CET – Raiders Tirol at Munich Ravens 16:25 CET – Vienna Vikings at Prague Lions 16:25 CET – Frankfurt Galaxy at Stuttgart Surge Get ready for an exciting start to the season! Get your tickets for the 2025 season

The time has finally come! The fifth season of the European League of Football is about to start. The time has finally come! Players, managers, and fans of Nordic Storm are certainly thinking the same thing. For the young franchise from Copenhagen, Denmark, May 18th, 2025 will be a very special day.  That's when Storm will not only play their first game in the European League of Football, but also their first game in franchise history. The team managers built an entire organization from scratch this offseason. The first success could be celebrated against the Helvetic Mercenaries.  However, a new ELF team was not always immediately successful in its first game in the European League of Football. We take a look at the first ELF games in the history of the current teams.  The Ferhévár Enthroners did not get off to a particularly good start. They opened the season with a clear 3:36 defeat at home against Berlin Thunder in 2023. The Wroclaw Panthers are the champions in season opening games. They haven't lost one yet, and accordingly won the first ELF game in franchise history. At home, the Panthers beat the Cologne Centurions 2021 in a spectacular game with 55:39.  The Prague Lions, on the other hand, suffered a defeat. They played their first ELF game at home in 2023. They lost 15:18 against the Leipzig Kings, who are no longer part of the ELF.  The last team in the East Division, however, was successful again. In 2022, the Vienna Vikings played away against the Raiders Tirol and won 29:23.     Berlin Thunder have been part of the ELF since 2021. They lost their first game at home 27:37 against the Leipzig Kings.  The Hamburg Sea Devils also started 2021, but they did a better job. In Hamburg, the Sea Devils beat Frankfurt Galaxy 17:15.  The current ELF champions Rhein Fire also won. In 2022, they also played their first game against Frankfurt Galaxy. Fire won 29:26 on the road.  The Helvetic Mercenaries lost their first game under their new name in 2024. The Barcelona Dragons won 23:19 in Switzerland. Madrid Bravos also competed in the ELF for the first time in 2024. The team from Spain won the Classico against the Barcelona Dragons by a clear 42:12.      The Munich Ravens, meanwhile, suffered a defeat at the start. They lost 38:59 at home against the Raiders Tirol in 2023. The Austrians were also unable to win their first game in 2022. The Raiders Tirol lost against the Vienna Vikings with 23:29. It was the only season opening game so far that was not won.  The Cologne Centurions have been part of the European League of Football since 2021. They lost their first game against the Wroclaw Panthers by a clear 39:55. Just like Frankfurt Galaxy. Only they didn't lose to the Panthers, but to the Sea Devils, and by a much narrower margin of 15:17. The Paris Musketeers have delighted their fans in two years in the ELF. This was also the case in the first franchise game in 2023, which they won 24:17 against the Cologne Centurions.  Stuttgart Surge were also successful in their first game, but in 2021. They won 21:17 away against Barcelona Dragons on the road. Don't miss a single ELF Game - get your Game Pass!

The ELF season is here and the team rosters are set. With this article, you have the chance to take a look at your team’s roster. Here is the roster of Nordic Storm: Active Players Offense Quarterback #18 Jadrian Clark (Quarterback) #12 Alexander Bjerre (Quarterback) Running Back #17 Glen Toonga (Running Back) #34 Michel Konate (Running Back) #8 Alexander Kennedy (Running Back) #21 Anton Witmeur (Running Back) Tight End #8 Adria Botella Moreno (Tight End) #88 Oliver Tribler (Tight End) #4 Jonathan Nielsen (Tight End) Wide Receiver #14 Theodor Landström (Wide Receiver) #1 Simon Føns (Wide Receiver) #5 Edvin Taborda (Wide Receiver) #19 Brendan Beaulieu (Wide Receiver) #85 Jakob Green (Wide Receiver) Offensive Tackle #74 Mathias Hummelmose (Offensive Tackle) #78 Stefán Stefánsson (Offensive Tackle) #51 Ludvig Burell (Offensive Tackle) #77 Troels Hammer (Offensive Tackle) #79 Frederik Fabricius (Offensive Tackle) Offensive Guard #52 David Strobel (Offensive Guard) #65 Benjamin Qvist (Offensive Guard) #68 Love Larsson (Offensive Guard) #76 Nicholas Møller-Hansen (Offensive Guard) Center #75 Joachim Christensen (Center) #57 Mikkel Hansen (Center) Defense Defensive Tackle #56 Benjamin Egbudiwe (Defensive Tackle) #90 Mark-Eric Rosenquist (Defensive Tackle) #93 Kristoffer Hansen (Defensive Tackle) #95 Mads Nielsen (Defensive Tackle) #96 Elliot Heijmer (Defensive Tackle) Defensive End #13 Emil Hovde (Defensive End) #98 Max Parkinson (Defensive End) #99 Marcus Boesen (Defensive End) #91 Joachim Heidelbach (Defensive End) Middle Linebacker #11 Ludvig Myrén (Linebacker) #44 Emmanuelle Falola (Middle Linebacker) #43 Hugo Dyrendahl (Linebacker) #6 David Tawake (Linebacker) #38 Lucas Mortensen (Linebacker) #48 Kristoffer Jensen (Linebacker) #23 Armir Rexhepi (Linebacker) #0 Edin Mahmutovic (Linebacker) Cornerback #7 Exavier Edwards (Cornerback) #20 Khalid Khalid (Cornerback) #33 Elliot Krogius (Cornerback) #26 Jakob Bækgaard (Cornerback) Free Safety #6 Luke Glenna (Free Safety) #20 Kenneth Larsen-Ledet (Free Safety) Strong Safety #3 Chad Walrond (Strong Safety) #24 William James (Strong Safety) #38 Hjalmar Nielsen (Strong Safety) #11 Phillip Boye (Strong Safety) Special Teams Kicker #16 Julius Eriksen (Kicker) Punter  Inactive Players Injured or PUP Players Practice Squad Offense Wide Receiver #80 Olof Nilsson (Wide Receiver) #82 Elliot Reer (Wide Receiver) #86 Oscar Andersen (Wide Receiver) Defense Cornerback #34 Oscar Latrache (Cornerback) Free Safety #27 Christopher Jørgensen (Free Safety)   If you want to take a closer look at each player, check out the player profiles on our website. Take a closer look at the roster of Nordic Storm

The ELF Fantasy Manager is back – better, faster, and fully updated! And here’s the best part: every week you can win prizes by being one of the top Fantasy Managers. To help you get started in this year’s Fantasy League, here’s a quick overview of players you should consider starting in Week 1 – and a few you might want to avoid. Build your team and join the action! Start’em – Week 1 Picks RB Tobias Bonatti – Raiders Tirol – 1,900,000 GC Tobias Bonatti was a key part of the Raiders Tirol offense last season before getting injured. Even though he missed games, he still finished among the top in rushing touchdowns. Now fully healthy, he’s ready to pick up where he left off. The only concern is the strong running back group in Tirol, which might limit his touches – but also keeps him fresh throughout the game. At this price, Bonatti offers great value. WR Daniel Pedro – Stuttgart Surge – 1,200,000 GC Daniel Pedro joined the Stuttgart Surge this offseason and brings even more strength to their wide receiver room. With top targets like Louis Geyer and Jeff Cotton Jr. drawing attention from defenders, Pedro could become QB Reilly Hennessey’s go-to man. He already proved himself in the GFL with the Potsdam Royals – now it’s his chance to shine in the ELF. TE Adrià Botella Moreno – Nordic Storm – 1,300,000 GC Moreno is known across the ELF as one of the best tight ends to ever play in the league. He’s an excellent blocker and receiver. He also has great chemistry with quarterback Jadrian Clark, since the two have played together before. Getting a top-tier tight end for this low price is a smart move for any fantasy team. Sit’em – Week 1 picks QB Russel Tabor – Munich Ravens – 3,600,000 GC Tabor joined the Munich Ravens with a 3-year contract after playing college football at North Carolina. He has potential, but this week he faces the strong Raiders Tirol defense – a tough challenge for any young QB. His high price and uncertain performance make him a risky pick for Week 1. QB Javarian Smith – Prague Lions – 1,900,000 GC Smith is back in the ELF after starting last season with the Hamburg Sea Devils. While he has good dual-threat skills and a great price, he’s playing against the Vienna Vikings, who had one of the best defenses in the league last season. It’s better to wait for a more favorable matchup. WR Austin Mitchell – Paris Musketeers – 3,200,000 GC Mitchell is one of the biggest playmakers in the ELF, but in Week 1, he faces the Rhein Fire defense – which was the best in points allowed and second-best against the pass last season. He’ll get a lot of defensive attention, and big plays might be hard to come by. Build your team and join the action! If you want to become a Fantasy Manager in the ELF, it’s easy! Build your dream team each week and compete with others across the league. Don’t forget: set your lineup before Saturday at 12:00 CET – after that, no changes can be made. Good luck – and may your team dominate in Week 1! Build your Fantasy team here!

One of the more interesting divisions in the ELF this upcoming season is the North Division, consisting of the Rhein Fire, Nordic Storm, Hamburg Sea Devils, and Berlin Thunder.  Let’s take a look at some of the top storylines from these four franchises. Could we see a Rhein Fire three-peat? A three-peat is no easy feat. Just ask the 2025 Kansas City Chiefs. The Rhein Fire have an opportunity to make history and claim a third straight title under head coach Jim Tomsula. However, the team has undergone major changes as star quarterback and running back Jadrian Clark and GLen Toonga have left the squad.  New quarterback Chad Jeffries hopes to help the Rhein Fire keep the championship standard burning this season. A fierce Nordic Storm brewing? The Nordic Storm enter the 2025 ELF season as the league’s only brand new franchise. The team consists of several ELF veterans and a talented list of hometowns from both Sweden and Denmark. The Storm made the biggest splash of the off-season, signing former MVPs and Rhein Fire stars in QB Jadrian Clark and RB Glen Toonga. The two will face off against their former team twice in divisional play.  The experience and star power of the team will have to carry the rest of the squad which will be new to the higher level of ELF football. Head coach John Schoop leads the league’s most intriguing team into 2025 with high expectations.    Berlin’s new look The Thunder entered the 2025 with new head coach Jag Bal, new uniforms, and several new players added to the roster. The Capital city team will be led by ELF veteran QB Jakeb Sullivan and running back Gennadiy Adams. They also recently signed All-Star defensive tackle William Lydle. Let’s see how much noise the Thunder can make in 2025. Hamburg Sea Devils - A new Era Recently Lee Rowland takes over as the head coach in Hamburg. Fatah was able to show off his recruiting talents and convince DPOY Kyle Kitchens to come to Hamburg this off-season, along with ELF veteran WR Terryon Robinson.  One question that remains is at the quarterback position where “rookie” Micah Leon will take over for the Sea Devils after spending his final college years at the University of Florida.  Get Your Tickets to the 2025 ELF Championship Game!

We are only FOUR days away from the start of the 2025 ELF season. Thousands of ELF fans enjoyed last year’s fantasy manager, giving the ELF action on the field even more intrigue. This year we are proud to have an improved Fantasy manager product that should lead to an improved user experience.  That being said, let's take a look at part of my lineup (Alex Malchow) for week 1. Predicting week 1 can sometimes be tough but with many stars coming back from last year there are a few things fans can still count on.  QB Ben Holmes Vienna Vikings Holmes and Vikings are a team on a mission this year. They don’t like how last season ended for them falling short of a perfect season in the title game. The quarterback Ben Holmes was one of the league's best statistical passers last season. Now he goes into week one of 2025 with several new weapons including Yannick Mayr, a healthy Florian Bierbaumer, and several others. Holmes also has Noah Toure, Reece Horn, and Karri Pajarinnen returning in Purple. They face off against a Prague Lions team that they averaged 52 points against last season.  Play ELF Fantasy Manager Here!RB Glen Toonga - Nordic Storm Well if you had Glen Toonga on your fantasy manager last year, you probably did pretty well. 30 rushing touchdowns and an MVP trophy later Toonga may have cemented himself as the league best player of all teams last season. This year he is once again behind a talented offensive line except in a different uniform.  This week he also faces off against a Mercenaires defense that has yet to build a fierce reputation in two seasons of ELF football.  WR Malik Stanley - Munich Ravens From an ELF rookie in Keelan Cole to a proven veteran. Munich Ravens fans were thrilled at the announcement that Stanlet would return to Bavaria. Stanley is a big body receiver who can break tackles, win contested catches, and straight up moss defensive backs. His 31 touchdowns and 2,750 yards in only 32 career games give him one of the league's best resumes.  WR Keelan Cole - Helvetic Mercenaires The former NFL pass catcher will be making his ELF debut against the Nordic Storm. Cole hopes to put up some big numbers for the Mercenaries as they take on the Nordic Storm in their first ever game. Expect quarterback Isaiah Weed to target Cole early and often as they will need to put up a lot of points to keep up with the explosive playmakers on the Nordic Storm.  Play ELF Fantasy Manager Here! Get Your ELF Gamepass on Dazn!  

As season five of the ELF rapidly approaches let’s take a look at a shortlist of new players entering the league that have the potential to become future stars of the upcoming season: WR Keelan Cole - Helvetic Mercenaries Cole’s resume speaks for itself, putting up 2,832 yards and 14 touchdowns in 93 NFL games over the course of a long and fruitful NFL career. Cole will no doubt be the face of the franchise for the Helvetic Mercenaries as he hopes to take the Swiss squad to new heights. QB Reid Sinnett - Madrid Bravos Sinnet is a veteran professional quarterback having spent 4 seasons in the NFL with several teams. He also was a starter in the XFL and USFL. Now he brings all his pro experience to the up and coming Madrid Bravos team led by new head coach Andrew Weidinger.  QB Jaylon Henderson - Paris Musketeers Henderson has been on ELF teams watchlists for several years now as the former Boise State Bronco has been tearing it up in the German Football League the past two seasons. After winning back to back titles and putting up video game like numbers in the GFL.  The Musketeers were finally able to convince Henderson to Join the ELF. He now takes over for ELF veteran Zach Edwards on a Musketeers team that made the semi-finals and is now led by former NFL head coach Jack Del Rio.    WR Jeff Cotton - Stuttgart Surge Cotton comes to Europe for the first time in his career this season. The former Idaho Vandals star spent time with the Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Arizona Cardinals bouncing around different NFL teams for three seasons. Now he teams up with the veteran QB Reilly Hennessey as the Surge hope to make a push at the championship game.    WR Brendan Beaulieu - Nordic Storm The Nordic Storm are already stacked with talent as they have MVP QB Jadrian Clark and MVP running back Glen Toonga on thier offense. One new face to the league that might suprise fans on the Storm in American Brendan Beaulieu. What he lacks in NFL experience Beaulieu makes up for in production in Europe as he put up a eye popping 1,647 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns in just 15 games in the German Football League last season. Get Your Ticket to the 2025 ELF Championship game!

After an impressive offseason, Nordic Storm is about to play their first game in franchise history. But even before that, there are reasons to celebrate. To drive the development of the franchise forward, the team from Denmark/Sweden has announced a new co-owner and board member. Stephen Schueler's main task in future will be to advance American relations for the team. The current Chief Executive Officer of Enerjen Capital, a leading renewable clean energy company specializing in the maritime sector, is also President of The American Club in Denmark. The organization specializes in strengthening cultural and business ties between the United States and Denmark. "Excited to help build something truly special with the Nordic Storm" "I'm honored to join Nordic Storm and contribute to the growth of American football in Denmark," said Schueler. "This opportunity combines my passion for sports, leadership, and my strong personal connection to Denmark. I’m excited to help build something truly special with the Nordic Storm." He has a very special relationship with Denmark. His great-grandfather served as the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark from 1870 to 1881 and to Switzerland from 1881 to 1885. Co-Funder of Nordic Storm: "A game-changer for our organization" "We are thrilled to welcome Stephen to the Nordic Storm family," said Lars Green, Co-Founder of Nordic Storm. "His leadership, global network, and personal dedication to Denmark are exactly what we need as we take our first steps into the European League of Football. Having someone of Stephen’s caliber onboard is a game-changer for our organization and our fans." Nordic Storm is set to play its first game on May 18th in Switzerland, with its highly anticipated first home game in Copenhagen on June 1st at Gladsaxe Stadium. Don't miss a single ELF Game - get your Game Pass!

In April, we are revealing the Top 100 graded players of the 2024 European League of Football season, based on SportsMetrics’ advanced evaluation system. These rankings are based only on on-field performance — including consistency, impact, and position-specific stats. Today, we highlight the player ranked #1. Who is on top of the league? #1 Glen Toonga What a season for running back Glen Toonga. The 30-year-old had an outstanding 2024 season with 1,576 rushing yards and 30 rushing touchdowns. He was by far the best in both categories and set a new record for rushing touchdowns in a single season and earned the #1 spot in this year’s Top 100. It was therefore no huge surprise that the Brit was named ELF MVP 2024. New chapter with Nordic Storm With his strong performances, Toonga also played a major part in Rhein Fire winning their second ELF Championship Game in a row. In the offseason, Toonga then caused a stir with a shocking transfer. He will play for the newly founded Nordic Storm team next season. Can the experienced running back also be extremely productive here? Don't miss a single ELF Game - get your Game Pass

Things will kick off at the beginning of May. Three German coaches will then experience a very special week with the NFL team Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Two of them already coached in the European League of Football.  The team from the NFC South invites to the one-week “National Coaching Academy”. For several years now, the program has attempted to offer talented football coaches intensive further training opportunities at NFL level. Provided that they have been coaching for at least three years and work in a team at high school, college or semi-professional level.  1500 applications were received worldwide for the 25 free places. The applicants came from the USA, Japan, England, Denmark and Germany. With Nadine Nurasyid, Henry Schlegel and Simon Bramberger, three German coaches made it through. German participant made history Nurasyid is a well-known football face in Germany. Last season, the 38-year-old worked as a defensive assistant coach for Stuttgart Surge. Born in Munich, she started out as a player with the Munich Cowboys Ladies in 2013 and later played for the German national team for a long time. After her active career as a play, she remained with the Cowboys as a coach, where Nurasyid made international history in 2022.  To date, she is the first and only woman in Europe to lead a men's football team in a first division as head coach. Since 2023, she has also been working as an NFL expert for the streaming service DAZN and on television for RTL. Simon Bramberger, a former teammate of Nurasyid, has also joined the NFL program. The former offensive tackle has been the Cowboys' run game coordinator and offensive line coach for several years. ELF Coach as one of the greatest coaching talents in Europe  Henry Schlegel will be the third German coach in the “National Coaching Academy”. At the same time, the 25-year-old is probably one of the youngest participants. Schlegel is regarded as one of the biggest coaching talents in European football. He took on his first coaching job in 2019 as wide receiver coach of the Hildesheim Young Invaders. In the same year, he was promoted to offensive coordinator.  In 2022, he gained his first experience in US football when he accepted a volunteer position at Division I FCS Bethune-Cookman University. In 2023, Schlegel was promoted to Offensive Coordinator of the Berlin Thunder. At only 23 years old at the time, he became the youngest OC in the history of the European League of Football. During this offseason, Schlegel signed as quarterback coach at the newly founded team Nordic Storm. Henry Schlegel ©Eric Muehle. The big dream of the NFL is on the line Part of the program includes group training courses and team meetings. The team's rookie camps take place at the same time. This allows the aspiring coaches to observe the knowledge they have learned directly in practice. The participants will be mentored by a prominent team of experts. Among them are Super Bowl Champion Jon Gruden, Bruce Arians and Tony Dungy. Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles and General Manager Jason Licht will also be involved. After the coaching program, a special opportunity awaits the participants. Five of them will be selected to join the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. They will be allowed to stay with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and gain practical experience during training camps, offseason workout programs and minicamps of the NFL teams and thus qualify for a career as an NFL coach. Don't miss a single ELF Game - get your Game Pass!

In April, we are revealing the Top 100 graded players of the 2024 European League of Football season, based on SportsMetrics’ advanced evaluation system. These rankings are based only on on-field performance — including consistency, impact, and position-specific stats. Today, we highlight the player ranked #7. #7 Ludvig Myren The 2024 season didn’t go as planned for the Berlin Thunder. They only won 5 out of 12 regular season games and finished third in the Eastern Conference. Still, their defense showed many strong moments—especially thanks to linebacker Ludvig Myren. A defensive leader in Berlin Myren was one of the top performers on the team, showing consistent and high-level play all season. In 11 games, he recorded 130 tackles, 2 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble. His efforts earned him a spot on the ELF Second All-Star Team. After three years with Berlin Thunder, Myren made a big decision in the offseason—he joined the new franchise, Nordic Storm. With his talent and experience, he will be a key part of their defense. Ludvig Myren leaves Berlin as one of the top linebackers in the league and is ready to make a big impact with his new team. Get your tickets for the Championship Game in Stuttgart!

In April, we are revealing the Top 100 graded players of the 2024 European League of Football season, based on SportsMetrics' advanced evaluation system. These rankings focus only on performance on the field — including consistency, impact, and position-specific stats. Today, we take a look at the players ranked from #30 to #21. #30 Tobias Bonatti Austrian running back Tobias Bonatti had another great season for the Raiders Tirol, even though an injury stopped him from playing the full year. In limited games, he still rushed for 750 yards and scored 13 touchdowns — earning his spot in the Top 100. Sven Breidenbach is one of the best offensive tackles in the league. ©Frederick Loewer  #29 Sven Breidenbach Sven Breidenbach is one of the key players behind Rhein Fire’s success. His strong performance on the offensive line helped the team win back-to-back ELF Championships. Breidenbach is respected across the European football scene. #28 Adrià Botella Moreno Tight end Adrià Botella Moreno is considered one of the best to ever play in the ELF. In 2024, he once again showed his talent with the Wroclaw Panthers. Even though the team had a mixed season, Moreno’s personal performance stood out. #27 Aleksandar Borkovic Serbian defensive back Aleksandar Borkovic impressed with his strong play for the Prague Lions in 2024. Now, with new homegrown rules in place, the Fehérvár Enthroners have added him to their roster as a valuable local talent. Rookie of the Year Milan Spiller is ready to go all out again in 2025. ©Just Shots #26 Milan Spiller Milan Spiller made history in his rookie ELF season by becoming the first European wide receiver to reach over 1,000 receiving yards. The Offensive Rookie of the Year will return to the Helvetic Mercenaries in 2025 as a top target for QB Isaiah Weed. #25 Jadrian Clark Championship Game MVP Jadrian Clark had a quieter season statistically compared to his 2023 MVP year — but he stepped up when it mattered most. His leadership and clutch play helped his team once again. Now, he joins the Nordic Storm as one of the ELF’s top quarterbacks. #24 Dauson Dales Linebacker Dauson Dales finished his career on a high note with the Paris Musketeers. He helped the team reach the semifinals and had a very strong final season before officially retiring from football. #23 Omari Williams Omari Williams has been in the ELF since day one — and now he's a three-time champion. Known for his consistency and ability to make big plays, Williams is tied as the all-time interception leader in the ELF. In 2025, he’ll aim to take the record for himself. Linebacker Zachary Blair played for the Milano Seamen in 2024. ©Marc Junge #22 Zachary Blair A true veteran of the league, Zach Blair played for several teams — including the Surge, Rams, and Centurions. In 2024, he suited up for the Milano Seamen and delivered strong performances, even though injuries shortened his season. #21 Karri Pajarinen Finnish running back Karri Pajarinen had a fantastic 2024 season for the Vienna Vikings. He totaled over 1,300 all-purpose yards and proved to be a dangerous weapon both on the ground and in the passing game — making him one of the top European imports in the league. Stay tuned as we continue to count down the Top 100 players of the 2024 ELF season — with more stars, stats, and stories to come! Don't miss a single game - Get your Game Pass now!

The European League of Football will soon be entering the new season. Will Rhein Fire make the three-peat? Who are the new stars of the teams? Questions upon questions. The teams have to answer many of them on the pitch, while we answer others in our “ELF Wire” format. Preparations for fith season of league history are in full swing. The teams have been practicing for a few days now and the final deals are being finalized. Over the past weeks and months, the front offices have worked hard to present the best possible roster for the upcoming season.    These are now almost completely finalized. Most of the spots are taken. Only a few announcements are still missing, so stay tuned and follow our channels and those of the teams closely.  The Opening Weekend will then begin on May 17th with the games Wroclaw Panthers vs. Ferhervar Enthroners, Paris Musketeers vs. Rhein Fire and Madrid Bravos vs. Hamburg Sea Devils. You can find a complete overview of all games here. Be ready. Don't miss a single ELF Game - get your Game Pass!

In April, we are revealing the Top 100 graded players of the 2024 European League of Football season, based on the advanced evaluation system by SportsMetrics. These rankings reflect pure on-field performance, with position-specific stats, consistency, and impact across the season. Today, we take a look at players ranked #80 to #71. #80 Hugo Dyrendahl What a rookie year for the 26-year-old. The linebacker was able to establish himself right away with Frankfurt Galaxy, starting all twelve games and recording 135 tackles. He even made it to the All-Star team. Despite his big role, Dyrendahl had to answer the call of home. The Swedish native will play for Nordic Storm next season. #79 Juan Flores-Calderon In a rather disappointing Milano Seamen team, Flores-Calderon was a real bright spot. The 21-year-old wide receiver collected 732 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. The 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year will also be seen in the ELF next season. But then with the Madrid Bravos. ©Sergio Bisi. #78 Ken Hike Jr. The free safety joined the Vienna Vikings late after spending some time in Switzerland, but still had a direct impact. Especially in terms of turnovers. In five games, he made two interceptions, forced a fumble and recovered three more. He also had eleven pass deflections. Next season, Hike Jr. will prove this talent with the Prague Lions. ©Alexandre Bertrand. #77 Krzystof Wis The middle linebacker is one of the cornerstones of the Wroclaw Panthers' defense. Together with superstar A.J. Wentland, Wis makes life difficult for opposing running backs. The 37-year-old veteran recorded 78 tackles, including ten for loss and 6.5 sacks last season.  #76 Jakub Smutný Defensive tackle Jakub Smutný also likes to bring running backs to the ground. The 28-year-old Czech had his breakthrough last season and more than doubled his number of tackles. The Prague Lions rewarded this with a contract extension. ©Jakub Platenik #75 Nicolas Khandar After a rookie season with only four games as a backup, the running back celebrated his breakthrough last season. The 31-year-old recorded 686 rushing yards and four touchdowns. After two years with Stuttgart Surge, the Frenchman returns to his home country and joins the Paris Musketeers. 74 Flamur Simon What a year for Flamur Simon. The linebacker established himself at Rhein Fire, became a starter, put in outstanding performances and played a big part in Rhein Fire celebrating their second ELF Championship title in a row. So it's no wonder that the German extended his contract this offseason. ©Lina Bollig #73 Raul Cernuda Pastor Raul Cernuda Pastor showed potential with the Barcelona Dragons in 2023 and performed well with the Madrid Bravos in 2024. The homegrown tight end established himself as a starter and contributed five touchdowns. The 28-years-old even made it to our Homegrown Team of the Year. 72 Luke Glenna The US import was an important cornerstone of a strong Madrid Bravos defense. As a result, the safety was selected to the All-Star team — just like the year before for the Barcelona Dragons. Now the 25-year-old is ready for a new adventure and joins Nordic Storm. ©Maxime Le Pihif #71 Nicolai Schumann The Berlin Thunder homegrown is one of the best tight ends in the league. The 33-year-old veteran has already been voted onto the ELF All-Star Team twice. Don't miss a single ELF Game — get your Game Pass!

In the coming month of April, we will be releasing the top 100 graded players of the 2024 season according to sportsmetrics. The grades reflect the individual's performance on the field. Grading System for Players and Teams SportsMetrics Grades evaluate both individual players and teams based on their performance in a single game as well as the entire season. The grades are designed to provide an accurate and comprehensive assessment of a player’s performance in different categories such as passing, rushing, receiving, defense, and kicking. Each category is further divided into player positions, such that each player’s performance is evaluated against other players in the same position. The grades are designed to be scalable for different player positions, meaning that a linebacker’s performance is compared to other linebackers in each category. Weighted Metrics Each category in the SportsMetrics grading system sets different weights on statistical in-game metrics. These metrics are then weighted based on their importance to the category to provide an accurate evaluation of a player’s performance. This ensures that the grading system is fair and objective, and the players’ performance is evaluated based on the metrics that matter the most in each category. Comparison and Scaling To compare and scale the teams’ and players’ performance, SportsMetrics Grades use a specially fitted sigmoid function. This function ensures that the grades are scaled appropriately, and the players’ performance is evaluated accurately based on the metrics in each category. The stats are compared with the overall distribution of league performance in each category and then weighted by the category weights. Limitations While SportsMetrics Grades provides an accurate and unbiased evaluation of the players and teams, it has some limitations. Currently, it is technically not possible to rate offensive line players accurately. Thus, those players were rated by expert opinions. Additionally, the ratings for defensive backs should be read cautiously, as the best defensive backs may not have the best numbers since quarterbacks try to avoid throwing in their direction. Don't miss a single ELF Game - Get your Game Pass Players Overview ELF x Sports Metrics Top 100 Graded Players - #100-#91 ELF x Sports Metrics Top 100 Graded Players - #90-#81 ELF x Sports Metrics Top 100 Graded Players - #80-#71 ELF x Sports Metrics Top 100 Graded Players - #70-#61 ELF x Sports Metrics Top 100 Graded Players - #60-#51  

Nordic Storm are facing an exciting first season in the European League of Football. Storm quickly developed into a new force. Although the squad has already been strengthened with well-known players such as MVP Glen Toonga and Championship Game MVP Jadrian Clark, some questions remain. How will Storm perform, how will the home games go, how many fans will come? After all, around six months after the club was founded, there are many premieres to come. Many processes are new and need to find their way.   This also applies to the first workouts - this milestone has now been taken. For the first time in the history of the young franchise, the players came together on the training pitch. “We're all new, and it's been really fun and a lot of hard work as we chart a path forward,” says John Shoop, first head coach of Nordic Storm history. The experienced coach knows what it's like to join a new team. Nevertheless, the new situation has surprises in store: “The most impressive thing about this team has been the player's work ethic. We've set a strong tempo and all members of our team are working incredibly hard.” However, the first session was exclusively for the Homegrowns. From April 7, the E- and A-imports will also be allowed to join practice. This also applies to all other ELF teams. But there are still a few weeks and training sessions left. Storm will play their first ELF game on May 18th, 1pm CET in the LIDL-Arena, Will Switzerland against the Helvetic Mercenaries. Their first home game will follow on June 01, 1pm CET against Berlin Thunder. Don't miss a single ELF Game! Get your Game Pass

The new European League of Football season is getting closer, with the first games kicking off on May 17. Over the past month, many teams have made big signings to strengthen their rosters. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest moves from March.   New weapons for Clark   Nordic Storm has added more firepower to its offense, giving quarterback Jadrian Clark new targets. Wide receiver Brendan Beaulieu joins from the Potsdam Royals after winning the German Bowl last season. He will take the team’s receiving corps to a top level.   Another big signing is Adrià Botella Moreno, considered the best tight end in the ELF and a multiple-time All-Star. For him, this is a reunion with Clark, as both played together for the Hamburg Sea Devils in 2021.   Playmakers for the Raiders   The Raiders Tirol made four key signings in March, strengthening both offense and defense. Wide receiver Jacorey Sullivan will be a top target for quarterback Connor Miller, bringing big-play ability to the team. Alongside him, homegrown star Tobias Bonatti has re-signed after an impressive season. Bonatti is one of the best running backs in the ELF and will add versatility to the offense.   Defensively, the Raiders added two athletic playmakers. Aaron Maddox and Dijion Walls are known for their ability to create turnovers. This American duo in the Raiders’ defensive backfield will be a nightmare for opposing offenses.   NFL experience for the Galaxy   Frankfurt Galaxy made strong additions on both offense and defense. Running back Sandro Platzgummer returns to the team after spending time in the NFL with the New York Giants. He will be a key piece in helping the Galaxy bounce back from a disappointing 2024 season.   On defense, Frankfurt signed Channing Stribling, a proven leader. Stribling played college football at Michigan and has been part of five different NFL teams. He also showed his skills in the UFL and CFL. His experience will be crucial in strengthening the Galaxy’s secondary.     College power for the Vikings   The Vienna Vikings used their last A-spot to sign defensive back Dennis Amani. Amani played college football and gained experience in the CFL and USFL. In 2019, he even attended the Cleveland Browns’ mini-camp. He will team up with Divine Buckrham to challenge opposing quarterbacks.   On offense, the Vikings added Victor Stoffel to their offensive line. The Swedish lineman played for Temple University and the University of California, Berkeley. Now, he returns to Europe to help the Vikings in their quest for the ELF Championship.   Offensive support for the Surge   Stuttgart Surge has been very active in the off-season, re-signing many key players while also adding new talent to their defensive line, secondary, and linebacker group. Wide receiver Daniel Pedro, a 2024 German Bowl champion with the Potsdam Royals, will be a key target for quarterback Reilly Hennessey. He brings strong stats and championship experience.   In the backfield, Stuttgart added another playmaker in running back Tomiwa Oyewo. Oyewo impressed last season with the Munich Ravens and will now look to make an impact for the Surge in 2025.   A strong March for the ELF   With these signings, many ELF teams have taken big steps toward their goals for the 2025 season. With just a few weeks left until kickoff, fans can look forward to an exciting and competitive year of football.Don't miss a single game - Get your Game Pass now!