Rhein Fire (NFL Europe)

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Rhein Fire
Rhein Fire Logo.svg
Founded1995
Closed2007
Based in Düsseldorf, Germany (1995–2002, 2005–2007)
Gelsenkirchen, Germany (2003–2004)
Home field Rheinstadion (1995–2002)
Arena AufSchalke (2003–2004)
LTU Arena (2005–2007)
League World League of American Football (NFL Europe)
ColorsMaroon, Black, Gold, White [1]
    
World Bowls  (2)

The Rhein Fire were a professional football team in the NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991–1992 WLAF seasons.

Contents

History

The team were based in Düsseldorf (and early on was occasionally referred to in the U.S. as the Düsseldorf Fire), playing its games in LTU Arena since 2005 season. Prior to this the team played in Rheinstadion until 2002 and in FC Schalke 04's Arena AufSchalke from 2003 to 2004 in nearby city Gelsenkirchen while LTU arena was being built. The team shared facilities with the football (soccer) club Fortuna Düsseldorf. The Fire hosted the World Bowl a record five times: in 1999 and 2002 in the Rheinstadion, in 2004 in Gelsenkirchen, and in 2005 and 2006 in the LTU Arena.

The Fire was one of NFL Europa's most successful teams as far as fan appeal and competitively on the field. The team itself played for five World Bowl championships throughout its history, winning in 1998 (over the Frankfurt Galaxy) and 2000 (over the Scottish Claymores).

Season-by-season

SeasonLeagueRegular seasonPostseason
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
1995 WLAF 460.4005th (League)
1996 WLAF 370.3006th (League)
1997 WLAF 730.7001st (League)01.000Lost to Barcelona Dragons in World Bowl '97
1998 NFLE 730.7002nd (League)101.000 World Bowl '98 champions
1999 NFLE 640.6003rd (League)
2000 NFLE 730.7001st (League)101.000 World Bowl 2000 champions
2001 NFLE 550.5003rd (League)
2002 NFLE 730.7001st (League)01.000Lost to Berlin Thunder in World Bowl X
2003 NFLE 640.6002nd (League)01.000Lost to Frankfurt Galaxy in World Bowl XI
2004 NFLE 370.3005th (League)
2005 NFLE 370.3006th (League)
2006 NFLE 640.6003rd (League)
2007 NFLE 460.4004th (League)
Total68620.52323.400

Coaching history

Head coaches

#NameTermRegular seasonPostseasonAchievements
GCWonLostTiesWin %GCWonLostWin %
1 Galen Hall 19952000 6034260.567321.6672 World Bowl championships (1998, 2000)
World League Coach of the Year (1997)
NFL Europe Coach of the Year (2000)
2 Pete Kuharchek 20012005 5024260.480202.000
3 Jim Tomsula 2006 10640.600
4 Rick Lantz 2007 10460.400

Assistant coaches

Notable players

Other notable personnel

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References

  1. "Team Colors – NFLE". SSUR.org. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  2. Schlüter (2019-05-23). "In memoriam: Manfred Burgsmüller". Football-Aktuell (in German). Retrieved 2022-10-24.