Rhein Fire Sign Jim Tomsula As Head Coach
The Düsseldorf Rhein Fire have hired former NFL coach Jim Tomsula as the team’s head coach for the 2022 season.
Tomsula brings over 30 years of coaching experience to Düsseldorf, some of which he gained in his time with various NFL Europe franchises, the San Francisco 49ers, the Washington Redskins (now Commanders), and the Dallas Cowboys.
In 1998, Tomsula began his journey with NFL Europe and took over as defensive line coach of the London Monarchs. The following season he’d take the same position with the Scottish Claymores, where he remained through the 2003 season.
He’d join the Berlin Thunder in 2004 as the team’s defensive coordinator, and that season they’d go on to win NFL Europes World Bowl. Tomsula remained with the Thunder for the 2005 season before landing his first head coaching position with the original Düsseldorf Rhein Fire franchise in 2006. After 1 season as head coach of the Rhein Fire, Tomsula left Europe for a job in the NFL.
From 2007 to 2014, Tomsula served as the defensive line coach for the San Francisco 49ers, also serving as the team’s interim head coach in 2010. He’d become the team’s official head coach in 2015 but was fired after the team’s final game of the year.
Tomsula took a position with the Washington Redskins (now Commanders) in 2017 and served as the team’s defensive line coach until the end of the 2019 season. He spent 2020 as defensive line coach of the Dallas Cowboys but was fired alongside defensive coordinator Mike Nolan at the end of the season.
Jim Tomsula now finds himself back at the helm of the Rhein Fire and is ready once again to help develop the game of American football in Europe.
Players Signed/ Re-Signed
- Swarco Raiders Tirol – OL – Tony Koskinen
- Swarco Raiders Tirol – WR – Adrian Platzgummer
- Frankfurt Galaxy – DB – Joshua Poznanski
- Frankfurt Galaxy – LB – Silva Gomez
- Frankfurt Galaxy – RB – Justin Rodney
- Frankfurt Galaxy – OL – Basil Weber
- Stuttgart Surge – WR – Enrico Pascual
- Istanbul Rams – RB – Tyrese Johnson-Fisher
- Barcelona Dragons – DB – Andy Vera
- Cologne Centurions – OL – Leander Wiegand
- Vienna Vikings – DB – Leo Gerner
- Vienna Vikings – DB – Nikolaus Huszar
- Vienna Vikings – DB – Florian Jobst
- Hamburg Sea Devils – DB – Louis Müller
- Hamburg Sea Devils – WR – Jean-Claude Madin Cerezo
- Düsseldorf Rhein Fire – LB – Lukas Ruoss
- Düsseldorf Rhein Fire – RB – Leander Carstensen
- Düsseldorf Rhein Fire – TE – Florian Eichhorn
- Leipzig Kings – OL – Pollys Junio Sacramento
- Leipzig Kings – RB/DB – Javier Carrasco Sanz
The Frankfurt Galaxy have extended their All-Star linebacker and team captain, Sebastian Silva Gomez, for the 2022 season.
Silva Gomez had a great first season in the European League of Football, ending the 2021 season with 58 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 6 pass deflections.
Head Coach of the Galaxy, Thomas Kösling, commented on retaining their playmaking linebacker, stating,
“Sebastian plays a huge role in our successful defense and shines with absolute determination and special athletic skills. Together with Sebastian Gauthier, they could be the best outside linebacker duo in Europe”
The Hamburg Sea Devils have re-signed defensive back Louis Müller for the 2022 season.
“Lockdown Loius” Müller ended 2021 with 40 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and led the league in pass deflections with 12. He was also selected as an All-Star in the ELF’s inaugural season but had to sit out due to an injury.
Müller commented on the upcoming season with the Sea Devils, stating,
“I want to give everything every day to get better and help the Sea Devils bring the title to Hamburg. After last season, we still have something to make up for,”
ELF Now Selling Authentic Game Jerseys
The European League of Football now has authentic game jerseys available for sale on the league’s website for €99,99 (roughly $114). Jerseys for each of the 12 teams are available in all sizes from XS to 5XL.
There is currently no way to ship directly to the United States, so American fans interested in a Jersey will have to use a trusted forwarding service like Forward2Me or Mailboxde for the time being. These forwarding services will come with additional shipping costs.
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ELF Official Reporter – Christopher Hahn
