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 Frankfurt Galaxy were a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called Waldstadion. The Galaxy was the only team in the league to have remained in operation and in the same city throughout the league's existence.
The Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks were an American football team headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina that played for one season in 1991 in the World League of American Football (WLAF). The name was inspired by the Wright brothers' flights on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The three jet-trails and three planes in flight, as well as the triangle design in the logo, represented the three points of the Research Triangle area. The team's cheerleaders were known as the "Kittyhawks."
Vantonio Bernard Bowick is a former American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons and a former Arena Football League player with a 13-season career. He was drafted in the 12th round of the 1989 NFL Draft by Atlanta.
Fred McNair is an American gridiron football coach and former player. He is the tight ends coach for Southern University, a position he has held since 2024. He was the head football coach at Alcorn State University from 2016 to 2023. McNair played professionally as quarterback with the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League (CFL), the London Monarchs in the World League of American Football (WLAF), and the Florida Bobcats, Carolina Cobras, and Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at Alcorn State. He is the brother of Steve McNair, a Pro Bowl quarterback in the National Football League (NFL).
Donald G. Silvestri is a former American football placekicker for various professional football teams and leagues including the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks, of the NFL, as an undrafted free agent in 1993. He played college football at University of Pittsburgh. He is the president of Debt.com and a founding member of the charity organization Parkland Cares.
Ronald Wayne Walker is a former American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL), World League of American Football (WLAF), Canadian Football League (CFL) and Arena Football League (AFL). He played for the San Diego Chargers of the NFL, the San Antonio Riders of the WLAF, the Ottawa Rough Riders and Shreveport Pirates of the CFL, and the Tampa Bay Storm of the AFL. Walker played collegiately at Texas Tech University.
Willie Don Wright is a former American professional football player who was a linebacker and tight end in the National Football League (NFL) and the World League of American Football (WLAF). He played for the Phoenix Cardinals of the NFL, and the Frankfurt Galaxy of the WLAF. Wright played collegiately at the University of Wyoming.
Stevie Thomas is a former Arena football wide receiver/linebacker in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at Bethune-Cookman University. He was an undrafted free agent of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and earned NFL contract for the 1990 season. In 1991, he was 3rd round draft pick of the inaugural season of the World League of American Football (WLAF). Upon returning from the WLAF, he joined the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League.
Hesham Ismail is a former American football offensive lineman who played one season with the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League (AFL). He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the eighth round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Florida and attended Auburndale High School in Auburndale, Florida. He has also been a member of the Scottish Claymores of the World League of American Football (WLAF).
Webbie Burnett is a former American football defensive tackle who played ten seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Orlando Predators and Toronto Phantoms. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the eleventh round of the 1990 NFL Draft. Burnett first enrolled at the University of Florida before transferring to Western Kentucky University. He attended Pensacola High School in Pensacola, Florida. He was also a member of the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks of the World League of American Football (WLAF). He was named to the Arena Football League 15th Anniversary Team in 2001. Burnett has also been head coach of the Fayetteville Guard of the American Indoor Football Association (AIF).
Christopher Edgar Barber is a former American and Canadian football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), World League of American Football (WLAF) and Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at North Carolina A&T.
Daron Alcorn is a former American football placekicker who played eight seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Portland Forest Dragons/Oklahoma Wranglers, San Jose SaberCats and Las Vegas Gladiators. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the last selection in the 1993 NFL Draft, making him Mr. Irrelevant. He played college football at the University of Akron and attended Mountain View High School in Vancouver, Washington. Alcorn was also a member of the Frankfurt Galaxy of the World League of American Football (WLAF).
Patrick McGuirk is a former American football defensive back who played eight professional seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL), World League of American Football (WLAF) and the National Football League (NFL). McGuirk played 5 season in the AFL with the Fort Worth Cavalry and San Jose SaberCats. He first enrolled at the College of San Mateo before transferring to California Polytechnic State University. He was also a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks, Frankfurt Galaxy and San Francisco 49ers.
Sean P. Doctor is a former American football running back who played two seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Charlotte Rage and Buffalo Destroyers. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 1989 NFL Draft. He played college football at Marshall University. Sean Doctor was also a member of the Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks of the World League of American Football (WLAF).
Carl Wayne Parker is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), World League of American Football (WLAF) and Arena Football League (AFL) for the Cincinnati Bengals, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Sacramento Surge, Sacramento Gold Miners and the Albany Firebirds. Parker now coaches at Appling County High School in Baxley, Georgia.
Willie Lee Williams Jr. is a former American football offensive tackle who played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Phoenix Cardinals and New Orleans Saints. He was drafted by the Phoenix Cardinals in the ninth round of the 1990 NFL supplemental draft. He played college football at Louisiana State University and attended Phillis Wheatley High School in Houston, Texas. Williams was also a member of the Amsterdam Admirals and Toronto Argonauts.
Corey Antonio Barlow is a former American football defensive back who played for three seasons in the National Football League (NFL), one season in the World League of American Football (WLAF), and one season in the Arena Football League (AFL). He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 1992 NFL Draft after playing college football for Auburn.
Tommie D. Stowers, Jr. is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs.
James Ray Fuller is an American football coach and former defensive back who is currently the offensive coordinator for the San Antonio Gunslingers of the National Arena League (NAL). He played college football at Walla Walla CC and Portland State before being selected in the 8th round of the 1992 NFL Draft; he went on to play three seasons with the San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles while also spending time in the World League of American Football (WLAF) for the Scottish Claymores and Arena Football League (AFL) for the Portland Forest Dragons. He later served as a coach for the Forest Dragons, Bakersfield Blitz, Philadelphia Soul, Dallas Desperados, Dallas Vigilantes, Richmond Raiders, Maine Mammoths, and Jacksonville Sharks.
