NFL Europe League was a professional American football league that functioned as the developmental minor league of the National Football League (NFL). Originally founded in 1989 as the World League of American Football, the league was envisioned as a transatlantic league encompassing teams from both North America and Europe. Initially, the WLAF consisted of seven teams in North America and three in Europe. It began play in 1991 and lasted for two seasons before suspending operations; while the league had been "wildly popular" in Europe, it failed to achieve success in North America. After a two-year hiatus, it returned as a six-team European league, with teams based in England, Germany, the Netherlands, Scotland, and Spain. NFL Europa was dissolved in 2007 due to its continued unprofitability and the NFL's decision to shift its focus towards hosting regular-season games in Europe; at the time of its closure, the league consisted of five German teams and one team based in the Netherlands.
The Rhein Fire were a professional football team in the NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Düsseldorf, Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991–1992 WLAF seasons.
The Berlin Thunder were a professional American football team in NFL Europe.
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, playing in the NFL Europe.
The World Bowl was the annual American football championship game of the World League of American Football/NFL Europe. The World Bowl was played each year from 1991 to 2007.
Kenneth Paul Karcher is an American high school football coach and former quarterback. He is the offensive coordinator for Albertville High School, a position he has held since 2023. He was the head football coach for Liberty University from 2000 to 2005 and East Central Community College from 2013 to 2022. He played college football for Tulane and professionally for the Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, and Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He also coached for Idaho State, North Texas, the Orlando Thunder of the NFL Europe, Pittsburgh, the Rhein Fire of the NFL Europe, Fellowship Christian School, Toledo, and Eastern Michigan.
The American Bowl was a series of National Football League pre-season exhibition games that were held at sites outside the United States between 1986 and 2005.
Jonathan Ryan Quinn is an American football coach and former player. He played professionally as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears. He was selected with the 25th pick of the third round of the 1998 NFL draft out of Middle Tennessee State University by the Jaguars. Quinn served as the head football coach at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas from 2009 to 2013.
Mario Bailey is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver. He is the all-time reception leader in NFL Europe. He played for the Frankfurt Galaxy from 1995 through 2000 and was a favorite player of the local German fans.
David Michael Nugent is an American former professional football defensive lineman for the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL).
In the United States and Canada, the term professional football includes the professional forms of American and Canadian gridiron football. In common usage, it refers to former and existing major football leagues in either country. Currently, there are multiple professional football leagues in North America: the two longest-running leagues are the National Football League (NFL) in the U.S, and the Canadian Football League (CFL) in Canada. American football leagues have existed in Europe since the late 1970s, with competitive leagues all over Europe hiring American imports to strengthen rosters. The Austrian Football League and German Football League top division are known as the best leagues in Europe. The Japan X-League is also a strong league that has a long history since 1971. The NFL has existed continuously since being so named in 1922.
Yusuf Jamall Scott was an American football offensive guard who played three seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Arizona, and was recognized as an outstanding offensive lineman during his junior year.
The 1997 World League of American Football season was the fifth campaign of the WLAF professional American football league, and the third under its six-team Europe-only format. World Bowl '97 was won by the Barcelona Dragons, whose quarterback was Jon Kitna, then on the roster of the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL.
The 2007 NFL Europa season was the 15th season in 17 years of the American Football league that started out as the World League of American Football. 2007 was the first season the league was known as NFL Europa after being called NFL Europe since 1998. The NFL folded the league after the 2007 season.
The 1998 NFL Europe season was the sixth season in 8 years of the American Football league that started out as the World League of American Football. 1998 was the first season the league was known as NFL Europe. The London Monarchs changed their names to the England Monarchs for the 1998 season.
The 2001 NFL Europe season was the ninth season in 11 years of the American Football league that started out as the World League of American Football.
The 2002 NFL Europe season was the tenth season in 12 years of the American Football league that started out as the World League of American Football. The Barcelona Dragons changed their names to FC Barcelona Dragons.
The 2005 NFL Europe season was the 13th season in 15 years of the American Football league that started out as the World League of American Football. The Hamburg Sea Devils replaced the Scottish Claymores for the 2005 season.
Rome Douglas is an American football offensive lineman. Douglas is the son of Memphis Tigers basketball player James Douglas. He is married to collegiate basketball coach Maylana Martin.
