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 Scottish Claymores, known in shorthand as Scotland, were an American football team based in Scotland. The franchise played in the World League of American Football between 1995 and 2004, initially playing all home games at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh and latterly sharing home games with Hampden Park, Glasgow. In ten seasons of NFL Europe play, the Claymores reached the World Bowl on two occasions, with victory in World Bowl '96 but defeat in World Bowl 2000. Their name derives from that of the Claymore, a double-edged sword historically used in Scottish clan warfare. One notable player was Gavin Hastings, a Scottish rugby international who was used as a place kicker in 1996.
Michael Edward Shanahan is an American football coach serving as an offensive consultant to the New York Jets, best known as the head coach of the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) from 1995 to 2008. During his fourteen seasons with the Broncos, he led the team to two consecutive Super Bowl victories in XXXII and XXXIII; along with being the first Super Bowl championships in team history, they were the seventh team to win consecutive Super Bowls in NFL history. His head coaching career spanned a total of twenty seasons and also included stints with the Los Angeles Raiders and Washington Redskins. He is the father of San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Thomas Lovell Herrion was an American football offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. He also was a member of the Hamburg Sea Devils in NFL Europe. He played college football at the University of Utah.
Gary Wayne Kubiak is an American former professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). He played as a quarterback for the Denver Broncos before coaching, serving as head coach for the Houston Texans from 2006 to 2013 and the Broncos from 2015 to 2016 before stepping down from the position on January 1, 2017, citing health reasons.
Jack Bicknell is a retired American football coach, most recently known for his long involvement in NFL Europa and its predecessor, the World League of American Football (WLAF). He served as the head football coach at the University of Maine from 1976 to 1980 and at Boston College from 1981 to 1988, compiling a career college football record of 77–90–2. In 1984, Bicknell coached his Boston College Eagles team to a 10–2 mark including a victory in the Cotton Bowl Classic. His quarterback that season, Doug Flutie, was awarded the Heisman Trophy.
Vince Martino is an American football coach. Most recently, he served as offensive line coach for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Previously, Martino spent fifteen seasons in NFL Europe, including a stint as head coach of the Hamburg Sea Devils.
The 2007 Amsterdam Admirals season was the 13th and final season for the franchise in the NFL Europa League (NFLEL). The team was led by head coach Bart Andrus in his seventh year, and played its home games at Amsterdam ArenA and Olympisch Stadion in Amsterdam, Netherlands. They finished the regular season in fifth place with a record of four wins and six losses. The National Football League (NFL) announced the closure of its European branch on June 29, ending the Admirals' 13-year existence.
Richard Lantz was an American football coach. He served as the interim head football coach at the United States Naval Academy for three games in 2001, following the firing of Charlie Weatherbie. He was formerly a widely recognized defensive coordinator in the college football ranks and held high-profile jobs at the University of Virginia and the University of Louisville. He also served as an assistant coach at the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Miami, the University at Buffalo, and Boston University.
Aden Durde is a British American football coach and former linebacker who is the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys from 2021 to 2023.
The 2007 Rhein Fire season was the 13th and final season for the franchise in the NFL Europa League (NFLEL). The team was led by head coach Rick Lantz in his first year, and played its home games at LTU arena in Düsseldorf, Germany. They finished the season in fourth place with a record of four wins and six losses. The National Football League (NFL) announced the closure of its European branch on June 29, ending the team's 13-year existence.
The 2007 Frankfurt Galaxy season was the 15th and final season for the franchise in the NFL Europa League (NFLEL). The team was led by head coach Mike Jones in his fourth year, and played its home games at Commerzbank-Arena in Frankfurt, Germany. They finished the regular season in second place with a record of seven wins and three losses. In World Bowl XV, Frankfurt lost to the Hamburg Sea Devils 37–28. The National Football League (NFL) announced the closure of its European branch on June 29.
The 2007 Berlin Thunder season was the ninth and final season for the franchise in the NFL Europa League (NFLEL). The team was led by head coach John Allen in his first year, and played its home games at Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany. They finished the regular season in sixth place with a record of two wins and eight losses. The National Football League (NFL) announced the closure of its European branch on June 29.
The 2007 Hamburg Sea Devils season was the third and final season for the franchise in the NFL Europa League (NFLEL). The team was led by head coach Vince Martino in his first year, and played its home games at AOL Arena in Hamburg, Germany. They finished the regular season in first place with a record of seven wins and three losses. Hamburg won the first championship in team history by defeating the Frankfurt Galaxy 37–28. The National Football League (NFL) announced the closure of its European branch on June 29.
The 2007 Cologne Centurions season was the fourth and final season for the franchise in the NFL Europa League (NFLEL). The team were led by head coach David Duggan in his second year and played its home games at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, Germany. When Duggan gave up coaching after week nine due to health issues, defensive coordinator John Lyons was elevated to the position of interim head coach for the final game. They finished the season in third place with a record of six wins and four losses. The National Football League (NFL) announced the closure of its European branch on June 29.
The 2006 Hamburg Sea Devils season was the second season for the franchise in the NFL Europe League (NFLEL). The team was led by head coach Jack Bicknell in his second year, and played its home games at AOL Arena in Hamburg, Germany. They finished the regular season in fifth place with a record of three wins, six losses and one tie.
The 2005 Hamburg Sea Devils season was the inaugural season for the franchise in the NFL Europe League (NFLEL). The team was led by head coach Jack Bicknell, and played its home games at AOL Arena in Hamburg, Germany. They finished the regular season in fourth place with a record of five wins and five losses.
Bob Bicknell is an American football coach and former player who is the tight ends coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the senior offensive assistant for the New Orleans Saints from 2022 to 2023 and as the wide receivers coach for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2018 to 2020. Bicknell is the son of former Boston College head coach Jack Bicknell and the younger brother of Jack Bicknell, Jr., the current assistant offensive line coach for Wisconsin.
The 2004 Scottish Claymores season was the tenth and final season for the franchise in the NFL Europe League (NFLEL). The team was led by head coach Jack Bicknell in his first year, and played its home games at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland. They finished the regular season in sixth place with a record of two wins and eight losses.
The European League of Football (ELF) is a professional American football league based in Europe, continuing some team names and logos of the former NFL Europe. The ELF played its first season in 2021, and has 17 teams in the 2023 season. Teams are located in Germany, Poland, Spain, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and France, with plans to expand.
