As we approach the end of 2021, the European League of Football’s offseason is still well underway. Teams continue to sign players for the 2022 season, with the new expansion franchises securing additional front office personnel.
On top of that, the league’s commissioner, Patrick Esume, has found himself in the spirit of giving this holiday season. Esume has met with officials from the German Red Cross to discuss how the league can help those in need around the holidays in the future and started out by donating some of the leagues merchandise to those in need of new clothes.
Head Coach/Front Office Signings
- Swarco Raiders Tirol – GM – Claudia Nuener
Claudia Nuener had worked with the Swarco Raiders Tirol since 2018, when the team was still playing in the Austrian Football League. At 36 years old, she will take over as GM for the team’s first season in the European League of Football. With Nuener assuming the role of Raiders GM, this means that three out of the twelve General Managers in the European League of Football are currently female.
Players Signed/Re-Signed
- Düsseldorf Rhein Fire – LB – Timo Jüngst
- Vienna Vikings – QB – Jackson Erdmann
- Vienna Vikings – DB – Christoph Kellner
- Vienna Vikings – OL – Michael Haider
- Vienna Vikings – TE – Adrià Botella Moreno
- Vienna Vikings – DL – Leon Balogh
- Wroclaw Panthers – OL – Keanu Ebanks
- Cologne Centurions – LB – Flamur Simon
- Barcelona Dragons – WR – Kyle Sweet
Team’s of the European League of Football have made a few splash signings this week.
Those familiar with Fan Controlled Football should recognize former Wild Aces Quarterback, Jackson Erdmann, aka JerdyDude. Erdmann helped lead the Wild Aces to win the championship game of the league’s inaugural season.
Before his time in the FCF, Erdmann played college ball at Saint John’s University in Minnesota. While attending the D-III school, he’d put up outstanding numbers in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), having back-to-back seasons with 47 touchdown passes in 2018 and 2019, also throwing for over 5,000 yards in 2019. Erdmann would be awarded the Gagliardi Trophy as a junior in 2018 and was the runner-up in 2019. The Gagliardi Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding Division III college football player of the year and has become one of the most prestigious awards in Division III football, honoring excellence in athletics, academics and community service.
Another splash signing made by Vienna this week was the signing of star Tight End Adrià Botella Moreno. Moreno showed us what he was capable of last season while playing for the Hamburg Sea Devils, ending the year with 750 yards and 6 touchdowns, averaging 68.2 yards per game, and hauling in 138 yards in the league’s 2021 championship game.
The Barcelona Dragons have decided to bring in former Washington State Cougar’s wide receiver, Kyle Sweet. In 40 games with the Cougars, Sweet hauled in 135 receptions for 1454 yards and 5 touchdowns. Sweet played alongside NFL backup quarterback Gardener Minshew in 2018 and also trained with him regularly in the time leading up to Washington State’s Pro Day before the 2019 NFL Draft. After graduating from Washington State in 2018, Sweet earned a shot in the NFL by attending the Los Angeles Rams training camp, but his stay with the team was short-lived as he did not make the final roster.
ELF Giving Back for the Holidays
Commissioner of the European League of Football, Patrick Esume, got into the spirit of giving this holiday season and met with the German Red Cross to discuss ways the league can help provide aid in the future. Additionally, Esume would take the opportunity to donate older ELF merchandise to people in need. When addressing the media on the matter, Esume stated,
“It’s winter, it’s cold and there are people who need warm clothes right now. We at the European League of Football are trying to use our reach for good causes and are calling on people to find a charity of their choice and support it. We all have too many clothes. It’s close to Christmas, do something good,”
Additionally, each team in the ELF has called for support of various charities and organizations in each of the league’s countries.
Germany:
GERMAN RED CROSS – The National Red Cross Society in Germany according to the Geneva Conventions and as such part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement)
Deutsche Kinderkrebshilfe – German Cancerhelp for kids
Elternhaus der Kinderkrebsstation an der Uniklinik (Dat Kölsche Hätz) – Helps children in need with cancer
Kinderpalliativteam Sternenboot (SAPV) – In cases of advanced illness, but also in acute crisis situations, the “Star Boat” offers care for children, adolescents, and young adults with life-shortening illnesses.
Kinderhospiz Regenbogenland – Regenbogenland is a home for children, adolescents, and young adults who have a limited life expectancy due to a life-shortening illness or severe disability.
Austria:
Licht ins Dunkel – Vienna Vikings players are on the Meet your Star Plattform – Vikings donated all revenues of the Vikings Charity Bowl!
SOS Kinderdorf – Helps children in need – Vikings Charity with SOS Kinderdorf – Giving away one jersey together with 12termann.at
Kinder- und Jugendanwaltschaft Wien – The KJA is particularly committed to helping abused and mistreated children.
Poland:
Cancer Fighters – Founded by a man who won his fight against cancer to support all the young patients in their fights. With the help of many well-known athletes and sports teams, they bring joy and raise money for every kid in need.
Stowarzyszenie Jest Człowiek – Foundation working with mentally challenged kids in special schools and other similar facilities.
Spain:
Banc d’Aliments – provides people in need with food.
Follow the ELF
ELF Official Reporter – Christopher Hahn
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