NFL Europe League(simply calledNFL Europeand known in its final season asNFL Europa) was a professionalAmerican footballleague that functioned as thedevelopmental minor leagueof theNational Football League(NFL). Originally founded in 1989 as theWorld League of American Football(orWLAF), the league was envisioned as atransatlanticleague encompassing teams from bothNorth AmericaandEurope.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 inEngland,Germany,theNetherlands,Scotland,andSpain.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.
 | |
| Formerly | World League of American Football (1991) World League (1992, 1995–97) NFL Europa (2007) |
|---|---|
| Sport | American football |
| Founded | July 19, 1989[1] |
| First season | 1991 |
| Ceased | July 29, 2007[2] |
| Divisions | 3 (1991–1992) |
| No. of teams | 10 (1991–1992) 6 (1995–2007) |
| Countries | Canada(1991–92) Germany(1991–92, 1995–2007) Netherlands(1995–2007) Spain(1991–92, 1995–2003) United Kingdom(1991–92, 1995–2004) United States(1991–92) |
| Last champion(s) | Hamburg Sea Devils(1) |
| Most titles | Frankfurt Galaxy(4) |
| Related competitions | National Football League |
The league operated under rules nearly identical to the NFL, but featured some differences and experimental rules changes designed to appeal to fans ofassociation football(soccer) andrugby football.NFL teams were incentivized to allocate players through the granting of additionaltraining camppositions for each allocated player, and each team in NFL Europe was required to employ a number of "local" players. Most of the league's players were American, with "local" players tending to be converted rugby or soccer players playing at thepunterorplacekickerpositions. Several NFL Europe alumni – including quarterbacksBrad Johnson,Kurt Warner,andJake Delhomme– went on to have successful careers in the NFL, and three NFL Europe alumni (Adam Vinatieri,Dante Hall,andBrian Moorman) made theNational Football League 2000s All-Decade Team.
The league's schedule went through several formats throughout its existence, but each season always culminated in the championshipWorld Bowlgame. In its initial run, each team played a ten-game schedule, and the winners of each of the three divisions (Europe, North America East, and North America West), along with the team with the best record that didn't win a division, would play in a four-teamplayoff.Following its revival as a six-team European league, the ten-game schedule was retained asdouble round-robinregular season. From 1995 to 1997, the World Bowl was played between the team with the best record in the first half of the season and the team with the best record in the second half of the season; from 1998 on, the two teams with the best records across the entire season played in the World Bowl. TheFrankfurt Galaxy– the only team to play all 15 seasons of the league's existence – won the most World Bowl titles (four) and recorded the most World Bowl appearances (eight), while the final league title was won by theHamburg Sea Devils.
History
editFounding and origins
editIn 1974, theNational Football League(NFL) announced plans to launch a professionalAmerican footballleague inEurope,theIntercontinental Football League(IFL). Aiming for a launch in the spring of 1975, the IFL would feature six teams (located inIstanbul,Rome,Munich,West Berlin,Vienna,andBarcelona,respectively) and would be a satellite league of the NFL, with initial funds made by the NFL owners and the rosters consisting of "second-line athletes and rookies from established NFL teams".[3]The brainchild ofBob Kap,the proposed league had already sold six franchises and had secured the rights to loan players from the NFL.[4]The league had also pre-selected four more cities for expansion teams, andAl DavisandTex Schrammwere assigned to head the committee that would put the league together. The IFL did not materialize – thePro Football Researchers Associationattributed this failure to Europe not being ready for American football, potential competition with theWorld Football League(WFL), aplayers' strikeduring the summer of 1974, and therecession.[3]Another factor was the turmoil in Europe in 1974:TurkeyhadinvadedCyprus,theAmerican ambassador to Cyprushad been assassinated,Basqueseparatists had assassinated theprime minister of Spain,and terrorist groups like theRed Brigadeshad engaged in kidnapping.[4]TheState Departmentdiscouraged NFL CommissionerPete Rozellefrom pursuing the league, and the IFL also suffered a potentially fatal blow whenPan American World Airways,who Kap had brought on as a sponsor, pulled out of the project. Ultimately, Rozelle deemed the creation of the league "impractical".[4]
By 1980, the popularity of American football was increasing in Europe without any push by the NFL. The NFL capitalized on this newfound interest by holdingAmerican Bowlgames (pre-season exhibitioncontests held overseas), and the popularity of these games, particularly inLondon,led to a renewed interest from Rozelle in creating an American football league in Europe.[3]In 1989, the NFL announced plans to create an international spring football league. The NFL initially wanted the new league to be known as the International Football League, but it had to change the name after discovering that the name was already owned byDonald TrumpandCharley Finley,who were allegedly in the process of forming their own league (which would never come to fruition). The name World League of American Football (WLAF) was eventually settled on; this name was chosen to avoid associating it with the dissolved World Football League, and the term "American football" was included in the league's name because "football" in Europe typically refers toassociation football,known in the United States as soccer. The NFL and WLAF attempted to downplay its status as a minor league and refused to acknowledge the WLAF as a farm league of the NFL.[3]The NFL approved the creation of the WLAF in July 1989, with Schramm to head up the project and the league expected to begin play in 1990 or 1991.[1]The league was expected to have 12 teams (six in the United States, four in Europe, one inCanadaand one inMexico),[5]and it secured a two-year television deal withABCand a four-year television deal withUSA Networkto air regular and post-season games.[6]Schramm was fired as league president in October 1990 due to differences between him and the NFL as to the direction the WLAF would take; Schramm had wanted the WLAF to be an "independent, major international league which would be strong enough to stand on its own feet", while the NFL had wanted the WLAF to be a small league with close ties to the NFL.[7]
On November 14, 1990, the WLAF announced it would begin play in 1991 with ten teams (six of them in the United States, three of them in Europe, and one in Canada) split into three divisions (North America West, North America East, and Europe). A 50-game schedule stretching from March 23, 1991, to May 27, 1991, was agreed upon, and a draft was held from February 14, 1991, to February 24, 1991.[6]Unlike the NFL draft, the World League draft was a position-by-position draft – potential draftees were divided into ten position groups, meaning each of the ten teams would have the number-one pick at a position group. All players were to receive a base salary of $20,000, but players could receive more money by meeting performance-based incentives with a maximum total salary of $100,000.[8]Each NFL team could allocate up to four players to the WLAF, although only two, theNew Orleans SaintsandKansas City Chiefsopted to do so.[9]
WLAF/World League (1991–92)
edit
The World League of American Football, described byThe New York Timesas the "first trans-Atlantic major sports league", began play on March 23, 1991, with three games held inFrankfurt, Germany,Birmingham, Alabama,andSacramento, California,respectively.[11]After the conclusion of the regular season, the WLAF playoffs were held, featuring the three division champions (London Monarchs,New York/New Jersey Knights,andBirmingham Fire) and one wild-card team (Barcelona Dragons).[12]London and Barcelona won their playoff games to meet inWorld Bowl '91atWembley Stadium,which London won 21–0.[10]
Following its first season, the World League of American Football was at risk of folding. It suffered a loss of nearly $7 million, and none of its teams made a profit. In addition to the monetary loss for the league, television ratings on ABC and USA network were poor. According toDan Rooney,the NFL chairman of the World League, cost estimates were accurate, but the league overestimated the amount of revenue the WLAF would make. The league's television contracts were also at risk due to poor ratings, with USA Network having lost money.[13]The WLAF averaged around 26,000 fans a game in its first season; the European teams had a higher attendance than the North American teams, bolstering the average.[14]Ultimately, the NFL decided to bring the league back for a second season in 1992. The league name was shortened to World League by league officials, who felt the surprising success of the league in Europe made the "American football" part unnecessary, and theRaleigh-Durham Skyhawksfolded, replaced by theOhio Glory.[14]
NFL Europe/Europa (1995–2007)
edit
Although the league was "wildly popular" in Europe, with attendance averaging 45,000 for the London Monarchs, it was "ignored" in the United States. The World League suspended play for the 1993 and 1994 season before returning in1995as a six-team, exclusively European league. All three of the original European teams returned, along with the Birmingham Fire, who were rebooted as theDüsseldorf-basedRhein Fire,and two additional new teams (theAmsterdam AdmiralsandScottish Claymores). Each team was required to have seven "local" players on their 40-man roster.[15]Foxbecame a co-owner of the WLAF and a major financial contributor in return for broadcasting rights.[16]The league was renamed the NFL Europe League (NFLEL) in 1998, and the London Monarchs were renamed the England Monarchs in an attempt to spur attendance, which had fallen below 10,000 per game.[17]The Monarchs would fold the following season and were replaced by theBerlin Thunder.[18]
NFL Europe commemorated its 10th season in2002,but still remained far from being profitable. The league announced a three-year with the soccer clubFC Barcelonato jointly promote American football in Europe and soccer in the United States; the Barcelona Dragons franchise was renamed FC Barcelona Dragons.[19]The collaboration with FC Barcelona would prove to be unsuccessful, however, and the Barcelona Dragons would fold after the 2003 season due to declining attendance.[20]The team's attendance had fallen to under 7,000 per game, a 50% decline since the1997 season,when the team had won theWorld Bowl.[21]The Dragons were replaced by theCologne Centurionsin 2004, and the following year the Scottish Claymores folded; although the team boasted the largest following of any Scottish sports team outside theOld Firm,averaging 10,799 per game, the league had determined an additional German team could bring in 30,000 per game.[22]
The Claymores were replaced the following year by theHamburg Sea Devils,which left the Amsterdam Admirals as the only team in the league not to be based in Germany. This was part of a strategic pivot to Germany, which had been the most receptive country to the league and the sport in general.[23]Accordingly, the league changed its name to NFL Europa in 2006, ahead of the league's15th season,to reflect the league's focus on Germany and the Netherlands.[24]
Closure and legacy
edit
On July 29, 2007, less than a week afterWorld Bowl XV,the NFL announced the closure of NFL Europa. The league had been losing a reported US$30 million a year, and the NFL had decided to shift their strategy in marketing football abroad towards holding NFL regular-season gamesoutside the United States.[2]The NFL owners who funded the league were reportedly dissatisfied with NFL Europa's lack of revenue as well as its decreasing success in player development.[26]The league had nearly folded in 2003, when eight of the 32 NFL owners voted against funding it, one short of the nine votes needed to end the league, and its gradual progression into a German-dominated league had run counter to the NFL's goals of selling merchandise throughout the European continent.[27]The league's inability to garner a live television contract with local media markets also played a role in its demise, as the potential revenue from a deal could have helped the league financially.[28]
Andrei S. Markovits and Lars Rensmann described the league as an "abysmal failure", noting its poor quality of play, frequent name changes, and franchise relocations as well as the accessibility of regular NFL games in Europe as reasons for its collapse.[29]Len Pasquarelli ofESPN.comnoted that the league had strayed from its original goal, with the allocation system of players gradually being abused to amass training camp exemptions rather than to develop players.[26]John Mara,the co-owner of theNew York Giants,said that the league "had some useful purpose in developing players" and that it helped the NFL determine that there was an interest in American football in Europe.[28]
Looking back on NFL Europe in 2017, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com noted its strong record in developingquarterbacks:Kurt Warner(aSuper Bowlchampion and two-timeMVP),Brad Johnson(who won a Super Bowl in 2002 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers),Jake Delhomme(who led theCarolina Panthersto an NFC championship in2003), and journeyman quarterbackJon Kitnaall spent time in NFL Europe.[25]Two NFL Europe alumni (kickerAdam Vinatieriand return specialistDante Hall) were included on the NFL's2000s All-Decade Team.[30]The league also provided an opportunity for the NFL to experiment with rules and to developofficialsand coaches. Some NFL coaches and executives have suggested reviving the concept of a developmental league,[31]and several independent leagues have been created to fill the need, but with little success.[25]At a press conference beforeSuper Bowl LI,league commissionerRoger Goodellsaid the NFL had been "actively considering" creating a new developmental league.[32]
Since the closure of NFL Europa, the NFL has held regular-season games annually in London[33]and has also hosted regular-season games inMexico CityandToronto.[34]The league is pursuing the goal of afranchise in London,as well as potential regular-season games inChina.[35]In 2021, the NFL announced it was looking for partners to host a regular-season game in Germany.[36]In 2022, the league announced four regular-season games would be held in Germany, the first set for November 13, 2022 between theTampa Bay BuccaneersandSeattle Seahawksto be played atMunich'sAllianz Arena.NFL.com writer Judy Battista noted Germany was the "fastest-growing international community" for the league, and attributed this in part to the popularity of the former NFL Europe's German teams, but argued the large number of expats as well as the American military presence were greater factors.[37]
In 2007, fans and former members of the Frankfurt Galaxy – the most successful of NFL Europe's teams on the field and in crowd attendance – created theFrankfurt Universe.[38]The new team was promoted to theGerman Football League 2in 2011, and won promotion to theGerman Football League(GFL) in 2015.[39]TheEuropean League of Football(ELF), a pan-European league that began play in 2021,[40]signed an agreement with the NFL allowing them to utilize the branding of the former teams of NFL Europe.[41]The ELF'sBarcelona Dragons,Berlin Thunder,Cologne Centurions,Hamburg Sea Devils,Frankfurt Galaxy,andRhein Fireall share the names and imagery of their NFL Europe predecessors.[42]
Season structure and development
edit| Team | W | L | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamburg Sea Devils | 7 | 3 | .700 |
| Frankfurt Galaxy | 7 | 3 | .700 |
| Cologne Centurions | 6 | 4 | .600 |
| Rhein Fire | 4 | 6 | .400 |
| Amsterdam Admirals | 4 | 6 | .400 |
| Berlin Thunder | 2 | 8 | .200 |
From 1991 to 1992, the ten-team WLAF was split into three divisions: North America East, North America West, and Europe with a ten-game regular season schedule. All three division champions, in addition to theteam with the best record who didn't win its division,made the playoffs. The winners of the two playoff games played for the league championship in theWorld Bowl.[45]The ten game schedule was retained upon the league's return in 1995, but was modified with the new six-team format. Each team played every other team twice in adouble round-robin regular season.Following the regular season, two teams would be selected for the World Bowl; the team that led the league's standings after week five would host the game, and the team with the best overall record at the end of the season would be their opponent.[46]This format was criticized for making the second half of the league's season less competitive, and beginning with the 1998 season it was changed to have the two teams with the best overall records play in the World Bowl instead.[43]
The league played under standard NFL rules, with several exceptions.[47]In an effort to appeal to fans of rugby and soccer, the league instituted rules to speed up the pace of the game and awarded four points forfield goalsmade from beyond 50 yards as opposed to the typical three points.[48]Rule changes instituted upon the league's revival in 1995 included the creation of thedefensive two-point conversion,referred to by the league as the "deuce", as well as only requiring receivers to have one foot in bounds on a completed pass.[14]The regular-seasonovertimeperiod consisted of a single 10-minute quarter where both teams were required to have control of the ball at least once, and theplay clockwas set to 35 seconds.[47]Starting with the 1997 season, the league required the receiver to have two feet in bounds for a completed pass.[46]Ties were possible in the league, with two (a 1992 game between the London Monarchs and Birmingham Fire and a 2006 game between the Berlin Thunder and Hamburg Sea Devils) occurring in league history.[49]
NFL teams were allowed to allocate players to NFL Europe. In exchange for doing this, they were awarded with exemptions for training camp, allowing them to bring more players than would otherwise be allowed.[26]A certain number of players on each team of NFL Europe were required to be "local players", and at least two local players were required to be on the field at all times during games. Despite this, most of the league's most prominent players were Americans; "local players" were often converted rugby or soccer players playing aspuntersorplacekickers.[50]
Teams
editWorld League of American Football/World League (1991–92)
edit
| Location[51] | Teams[51] | City[51] | Seasons[51] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe |  Barcelona Dragons
|
Barcelona, Spain | 1991–92 |
 Frankfurt Galaxy
|
Frankfurt, Germany | 1991–92 | |
 London Monarchs
|
London, United Kingdom | 1991–92 | |
| North America East |  Montreal Machine
|
Montreal, Quebec | 1991–92 |
 New York/New Jersey Knights
|
East Rutherford, New Jersey[52] | 1991–92 | |
| Ohio Glory
|
Columbus, Ohio[53] | 1992 | |
| Orlando Thunder
|
Orlando, Florida | 1991–92 | |
| Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks
|
Raleigh, North Carolina[54] | 1991 | |
| North America West | Birmingham Fire
|
Birmingham, Alabama | 1991–92 |
| San Antonio Riders
|
San Antonio, Texas | 1991–92 | |
| Sacramento Surge
|
Sacramento, California | 1991–92 |
World League/NFL Europe League/NFL Europa (1995–2007)
edit
| Teams[51] | City[55] | Seasons[51] |
|---|---|---|
 Amsterdam Admirals
|
Amsterdam, Netherlands | 1995–2007 |
| Barcelona / FC Barcelona Dragons
|
Barcelona, Spain | 1995–2003 |
| Berlin Thunder
|
Berlin, Germany | 1999–2007 |
| Cologne Centurions
|
Cologne, Germany | 2004–07 |
| Frankfurt Galaxy
|
Frankfurt, Germany | 1995–2007 |
| Hamburg Sea Devils
|
Hamburg, Germany | 2005–07 |
| London / England Monarchs
|
London, United Kingdom | 1995–98 |
| Rhein Fire
|
Düsseldorf, Germany[56] | 1995–2007 |
 Scottish Claymores
|
Edinburgh, United Kingdom(1995–2000)[22] Glasgow, United Kingdom(2000–04)[22] |
1995–2004 |
Timeline
edit
Trophy and awards
editNFL Europe presented several awards and honors. The World Bowl trophy, awarded to the winners of the annual World Bowl game, was a 40-pound glass globe.[57]The winning team also received championship rings[58]Other awards included regular seasonmost valuable playerawards on offense and defense, acoach of the yearaward, and an award for the World Bowl MVP. The league also awarded offensive, defensive, special teams, and national players of the week,[59]and named an all-league team at the end of the season.[60]
Award winners
editTelevision coverage
edit1991–92
editIn the United States, television coverage was provided by the ABC and USA Network. The reported cost of thecontractsvaried. According to theLos Angeles Times,ABC committed to $28 million over two years, and USA Network committed to $25 million for the same length of time with an additional two-year option. Ratings were characterized as "poor" in the inaugural season, with ABC averaging a 2.1ratingand USA Network averaging a 1.2 rating.[79]Television ratings in the United States were "dismal" during the league's second season, with ABC averaging a 1.7 rating and USA Network averaging a 1.1 rating.[79]As a result, ABC's payment was reduced to $3 million while USA saw theirs lowered to $10 million. According toThe New York Times,USA Network was "not happy" with this arrangement and did not heavily promote the league as a result.[80]
International teams aired on different domestic networks. Montreal Machine games were aired in English onTSNand in French onRDS.[81]Coverage inEuropewas mostly onsatellite television.Eurosportshowed gameson delayandSuper Channelaired the 1991 World Bowl.[82]In the United Kingdom, Channel 4 showed half-hour highlights of Monarchs games on Saturday mornings.[82]Larry Eichel ofthe Philadelphia Inquirerwrote that "The only way a Monarchs fan could watch the team's first-round playoff game from theMeadowlandswas to go to Wembley to see it onclosed circuit."[82]
1995–2007
editThe revived league's United Kingdom television coverage was mainly onSky Sports,with additional coverage also on Channel 4,[83][84]STV,[83][84]andCarlton.[83][84]EightEuropean continentalbroadcasters also showed games,[83][84]includingGermany'sVoxandDSF.[83][84]
Although the league no longer had any U.S. teams, it was covered on American television until its closure. Fox became a co-owner of the league in exchange for broadcasting rights,[16]and following the relaunch all regular season games were broadcast on theFXnetwork.[85]Fox ended its joint ownership with the league in 2000, but continued to air some games as a television partner.[86]In 2004,NFL Networkbegan airing select NFL Europe games.[87]This was expanded to cover all NFL Europe games – including the World Bowl – in 2006.[88]
Records
editChampions and runners-up
edit| Season | Champion | Wins | Losses | Runner-up | Wins | Losses | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | London Monarchs
|
9 | 1 | Barcelona Dragons
|
8 | 2 | [89] |
| 1992 | Sacramento Surge
|
8 | 2 | Orlando Thunder
|
8 | 2 | [90] |
| 1995 | Frankfurt Galaxy
|
6 | 4 | Amsterdam Admirals
|
9 | 1 | [91] |
| 1996 | Scottish Claymores
|
7 | 3 | Frankfurt Galaxy
|
6 | 4 | [92] |
| 1997 | Barcelona Dragons
|
5 | 5 | Rhein Fire
|
7 | 3 | [93] |
| 1998 | Rhein Fire
|
7 | 3 | Frankfurt Galaxy
|
7 | 3 | [94] |
| 1999 | Frankfurt Galaxy(2)
|
6 | 4 | Barcelona Dragons
|
7 | 3 | [95] |
| 2000 | Rhein Fire(2)
|
7 | 3 | Scottish Claymores
|
6 | 4 | [96] |
| 2001 | Berlin Thunder
|
6 | 4 | Barcelona Dragons
|
8 | 2 | [97] |
| 2002 | Berlin Thunder(2)
|
6 | 4 | Rhein Fire
|
7 | 3 | [98] |
| 2003 | Frankfurt Galaxy(3)
|
6 | 4 | Rhein Fire
|
6 | 4 | [99] |
| 2004 | Berlin Thunder(3)
|
9 | 1 | Frankfurt Galaxy
|
7 | 3 | [100] |
| 2005 | Amsterdam Admirals
|
6 | 4 | Berlin Thunder
|
7 | 3 | [101] |
| 2006 | Frankfurt Galaxy(4)
|
7 | 3 | Amsterdam Admirals
|
7 | 3 | [102] |
| 2007 | Hamburg Sea Devils
|
7 | 3 | Frankfurt Galaxy
|
7 | 3 | [103] |
Win–loss records
edit| Team | GP | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct. | Championships | Seasons | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam Admirals
|
130 | 68 | 62 | 0 | .523 | 1 | 1995–2007 | [51] |
| Barcelona / FC Barcelona Dragons
|
110 | 59 | 51 | 0 | .536 | 1 | 1991–92; 1995–2003 | [51] |
| Berlin Thunder
|
90 | 42 | 47 | 1 | .472 | 3 | 1999–2007 | [51] |
| Birmingham Fire
|
20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | .625 | 0 | 1991–92 | [51] |
| Cologne Centurions
|
40 | 20 | 20 | 0 | .500 | 0 | 2004–07 | [51] |
| Frankfurt Galaxy
|
150 | 82 | 68 | 0 | .547 | 4 | 1991–92; 1995–2007 | [51] |
| London / England Monarchs
|
60 | 26 | 33 | 1 | .442 | 1 | 1991–92; 1995–98 | [51] |
| Hamburg Sea Devils
|
30 | 15 | 14 | 1 | .517 | 1 | 2005–07 | [51] |
| Montreal Machine
|
20 | 6 | 14 | 0 | .300 | 0 | 1991–92 | [51] |
| New York/New Jersey Knights
|
20 | 11 | 9 | 0 | .550 | 0 | 1991–92 | [51] |
| Ohio Glory
|
10 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | 0 | 1992 | [51] |
| Orlando Thunder
|
20 | 13 | 7 | 0 | .650 | 0 | 1991–92 | [51] |
| Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks
|
10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 1991 | [51] |
| Rhein Fire
|
130 | 68 | 62 | 0 | .523 | 2 | 1995–2007 | [51] |
| Sacramento Surge
|
20 | 11 | 9 | 0 | .550 | 1 | 1991–92 | [51] |
| San Antonio Riders
|
20 | 11 | 9 | 0 | .550 | 0 | 1991–92 | [51] |
| Scottish Claymores
|
100 | 43 | 57 | 0 | .430 | 1 | 1995–2004 | [51] |
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