List of clubs in the German Football League

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This is a List of clubs in the German Football League, including all clubs who played in the league while its official name was American football Bundesliga.

Contents

The American football Bundesliga was formed in 1979, consisting of six clubs. It was renamed to German Football League in 1999. From its inaugural season to the end of the 2015 season, 71 different clubs have played in the league, with the Frankfurt Universe becoming the 72nd team to enter the league in 2016. Of these clubs, the Munich Cowboys have spent the most seasons in the league, 35 of a possible 38 as of 2016, followed by the Berlin Adler with 34, both clubs being founding members of the league. The record number of championships, the German Bowl, have been won by the New Yorker Lions, formerly the Braunschweig Lions, with eleven wins. The Lions are also the record holder in division championships, with twelve, while the Berlin Adler hold the record for play-off participations with 24. [1] [2] [3]

Overview

The league was formed with six club in 1979, with the top two teams after the regular season contesting the German Bowl. From 1980, onwards the league was always split into a northern and southern division. From 1986 to 1990 these two divisions were further subdivided, resulting in a four division format. Since 1991, it has been playing as a two division league again, north and south.

The German champions have been, from the inaugural season, determined in the German Bowl. From 1981, onwards play-offs were held to determine the two teams playing in the German Bowl. In 1981, the play-offs consisted of four teams, from 1982 onwards of eight. From 1986 to 1990 twelve teams qualified for the play-offs, with the four division champions receiving a bye for the first round. Since 1991, the format has returned to eight teams. The play-off contenders are evenly spread over each division, meaning, in the current two division format the best four teams in each division qualify. [1]

List of clubs

The list of clubs in the league from its inception in 1979 to the present season, sorted by the last season a club played in the league: [1]

ClubNoFirstLastPODiv Bowl Seasons (Bowl)
Munich Cowboys 391979Present22611993
Cologne Crocodiles 271981Present21312000
Allgäu Comets 2171985Present6———
Stuttgart Scorpions 291986Present202——
Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 231988Present181042011, 2012, 2017, 2018
Berlin Rebels 141992Present4———
New Yorker Lions 1271994Present2215121997–1999, 2005–2008, 2013–2016, 2019
Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 211996Present15412010
Marburg Mercenaries 182003Present135——
Dresden Monarchs 182003Present15———
Frankfurt Universe 52016Present4———
Potsdam Royals 32018Present————
Ravensburg Razorbacks 12021Present————
Saarland Hurricanes 152001Present3———
Hildesheim Invaders 6199020191———
Ingolstadt Dukes 3201720191———
Kirchdorf Wildcats 220182019————
Düsseldorf Panther 311979201918961983, 1984, 1986, 1992, 1994, 1995
Hamburg Huskies 4201520181———
Berlin Adler 351979201724961987, 1989–1991, 2004, 2009
Rhein-Neckar Bandits 5201220162———
Franken Knights 314198620155———
Cologne Falcons 6200520142———
Hamburg Blue Devils 161995201312241996, 2001–2003
Wiesbaden Phantoms 320112013————
Lübeck Cougars 120122012————
Assindia Cardinals 11198620112———
Plattling Black Hawks 3200920111———
Mönchengladbach Mavericks 1201120111———
Weinheim Longhorns 420072010————
Darmstadt Diamonds 6199020082———
Hannover Musketeers 120042004————
Rüsselsheim Razorbacks 581996200363——
Landsberg Express 4199720001———
Aschaffenburg Stallions 2199920001———
Paderborn Dolphins 219981999————
Hanau Hornets 119991999————
Hanau Hawks 1719801998132——
Nürnberg Rams 41619831998144——
Regensburg Royals 4199219952———
Erding Bulls 219811994————
Solingen Hurricanes 6719861994————
Hamburg Silver Eagles 3199119941———
Bad Homburg Falken 121981199351——
Dortmund Giants 10198119935———
Monheim Sharks 9198519934———
Badener Greifs 81986199364——
Cologne Bears 119921992————
Red Barons Cologne 9198319917111988
München Rangers 5198719911———
Ansbach Grizzlies 121979199011731981, 1982, 1985
Düsseldorf Bulldozer 7198419903———
Troisdorf Jets 77198419903———
Mainz Golden Eagles 6198519901———
Würzburg Pumas 319881990————
Bremen Buccaneers 219891990————
Rüsselsheim Crusaders 219891990————
Fürth Buffalos 119901990————
Ratingen Raiders 219881989————
Königsbrunn Ants 8119891989————
Mannheim Redskins 6198219882———
Hamburg Dolphins 519831988————
Recklinghausen Chargers 119871987————
Bremerhaven Seahawks 5197919861———
Nürnberg Vikings 119861986————
Frankfurter Löwen 6197919846321979, 1980
Starnberg Argonauts 219831984————
Stuttgart Stallions 319811983————
Essen Eagles 2198019831———
Solingen Steelers 219811982————
Herne Tigers 119821982————
Mönchengladbach Mustangs 119821982————
Straubing Bisons 219801981————
Krefeld Condors 119811981————
Neu Isenburg Adler 119801980————
Kitzingen Colts 119801980————

Key

Denotes club plays in the GFL 2019.Denotes club plays in a league below the GFL in 2019.Club defunct.
ClubName of club
NoNumber of seasons in league
FirstFirst season in league
LastLast season in league
POPlay-off qualification
DivNumber of division titles won
BowlNumber of German Bowls won
SeasonsSeasons German Bowls were won in

Season placings

The placings in the league from its inaugural season in 1979 to the present one: [1]

Bundesliga

The Bundesliga era from 1979 to 1998:

Single division

Six clubs competed in the inaugural 1979 season with the Frankfurter Löwen winning the league and the German Bowl. Runners-up in both were the Ansbach Grizzlies while the Berlin Bären, now the Berlin Adler came third and the Bremerhaven Seahawks, Munich Cowboys and Düsseldorf Panther followed behind in this order.

North

Bundesliga North80818283848586878889909192939495969798
Braunschweig Lions 45421
Hamburg Blue Devils 4212
Cologne Crocodiles 212234243322133333
Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 544
Düsseldorf Panther 21111112153321155
Paderborn Dolphins 6
Berlin Adler 56432111111121266
Berlin Rebels 5556
Solingen Hurricanes 5565666
Hamburg Silver Eagles 747
Monheim Sharks 842463447
Dortmund Giants 6723222668
Cologne Bears 7
Red Barons Cologne 356232123
Hildesheim Invaders 48
Düsseldorf Bulldozer 4566334
Assindia Cardinals 34545
Troisdorf Jets 6435345
Bremen Buccaneers 56
Ratingen Raiders 56
Hamburg Dolphins 67546
Recklinghausen Chargers 6
Bremerhaven Seahawks 3376
Essen Eagles 45
Herne Tigers 5
Solingen Steelers 47
Mönchengladbach Mustangs 8
Frankfurter Löwen 11
Krefeld Condors 7

South

Bundesliga South80818283848586878889909192939495969798
Stuttgart Scorpions 4566684361
Rüsselsheim Razorbacks 552
Hanau Hawks 2262223347221213
Munich Cowboys 342244462121113434
Landsberg Express 45
Noris Rams 3733131313432126
Regensburg Royals 4545
Franken Knights 56356
Erding Bulls 76
Allgäu Comets 6232645567
Badener Greifs 11211367
Bad Homburg Falken 565545123428
Darmstadt Diamonds 267
München Rangers 55428
Mainz Golden Eagles 853545
Ansbach Grizzlies 11111112135
Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 456
Würzburg Pumas 456
Rüsselsheim Crusaders 67
Fürth Buffalos 7
Königsbrunn Ants 7
Mannheim Redskins 737346
Nürnberg Vikings 6
Frankfurter Löwen 344
Starnberg Argonauts 58
Straubing Bisons 6

GFL

The German Football League era from 1999 to present:

North

GFL North
99000102030405060708 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Potsdam Royals 56*211
Dresden Monarchs 43336433532222322*152
New Yorker Lions 122111111254661111111*423
Berlin Rebels 655654434*664
Berlin Adler 432452312424567845
Paderborn Dolphins 66
Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 34663121113433267*577
Cologne Crocodiles 41435545*33w
Düsseldorf Panther 53356634777888
Hildesheim Invaders 5773*
Elmshorn Fighting Pirates *
Hamburg Huskies 4668
Cologne Falcons 545683w
Hamburg Blue Devils 251224224576w
Lübeck Cougars 8
Mönchengladbach Mavericks 2
Assindia Cardinals 556457
Hannover Musketeers 6

South

GFL South
9900010203040506070809 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 4432233512111111111*111
Allgäu Comets 524536*432
Saarland Hurricanes 55554566756438253
Ingolstadt Dukes 465*4
Munich Cowboys 211656365483456747*325
Straubing Spiders 46
Marburg Mercenaries 61112121232367353*667
Ravensburg Razorbacks *578
Frankfurt Universe 2222*78
Stuttgart Scorpions 442243321234346235684*8
Kirchdorf Wildcats 78
Rhein Neckar Bandits 24778
Franken Knights 363245788
Wiesbaden Phantoms 568
Plattling Black Hawks 537
Weinheim Longhorns 4446
Darmstadt Diamonds 456
Rhein Main Razorbacks 12311
Aschaffenburg Stallions 35
Landsberg Express 56
Hanau Hornets 6

Key

German Bowl winnersGerman Bowl runners upDivisional championPlay-off participation

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Football-history (in German) Historic American football tables and results from Germany, accessed: 23 October 2014
  2. ↑ Geschichte Archived 2017-10-28 at the Wayback Machine (in German) AFVD website, accessed: 23 October 2014
  3. ↑ GFL Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine (in German) AFVD website, accessed: 23 October 2014
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