Berlin Thunder (ELF)

This article is about the new American football team playing in the European League of Football. For the old NFL Europe team, see Berlin Thunder (NFL Europe).
Berlin Thunder
Team logo
Established2021 (2021)
Based inGermany Berlin, Germany
Home stadiumFriedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark
Head coachJohnny Schmuck
General managerDiana Hoge
LeagueEuropean League of Football (ELF)
DivisionEastern Conference
ColorsRed, gold, white
     
Websiteberlinthunder.de
Current uniform
Current sports event 2024 Berlin Thunder season

The Berlin Thunder are an American football team in Berlin, Germany. They play in the European League of Football (ELF) Eastern Conference.

History

[edit]

On 22 March 2021, the Berlin Thunder were announced as one of the eight teams to play in the inaugural season of the European League of Football.[1][2] Their first game was against the Leipzig Kings on 20 June 2021, which they lost 27 to 37 at home.[3][4][5] The rest of the 2021 season was not going to be successful either, with the only wins coming from games against the Stuttgart Surge, last of the league, and against Barcelona Dragons at home, which also struggled. Nevertheless, the team faced adversity regarding practice facilities, equipment, injuries and more. Several domestic players emerged as fan favorites, like tight end Nicolai Schumann and defensive back Moritz Thiele.[6] The NFL IPP Program also awarded Thunder defensive linemen Adedayo Odeleye an international spot with the Houston Texans.[7] After the 2021 season the contract of head coach Jag Bal wasn't extended.[8]

The first team and staff members of the 2021 season

On September 12, 2021 it was announced that former NFL 1st-round draft pick Björn Werner became co-owner and director of football operations of the franchise.[9] Shortly after, then general manager Heiko von Glahn left the franchise and was succeeded by the first female general manager of the league, Diana Hoge.[10] With the announcement of the new head coach Johnny Schmuck, all important positions in the Berlin front office have been changed.[11] The main goal of the restructures was, to build an domestic staff and to be able to coach all year around. The result in the 2022 season was a positive record with 7 wins and 5 losses, finishing second of the Northern Conference behind rival Hamburg Sea Devils. The offensive production increased in total passing and rushing yard, giving them a chance to reach the 4-team play-offs till the end of the regular season. With the loss against the Tirol Raiders at home, they came short of this milestone. On the bright side, individual performances of Kyle Kitchens with a record 16 sacks and winning the Defensive Player Of The Year award, as well as Joc Crawford rushing for 1.088 yards total, stood out.

For the 2023 ELF season, only few changes occurred in the staff. With Henry Schlegel being promoted from Head of Scouting and Analytics to offensive coordinator, he became the youngest coordinator in the league.[12] With a new quarterback in Donovan Isom, a new WR1 in Aaron Jackson and no US-imported running back, the offense had a different scheme.[13] As a result, the franchise reached the play-offs for the first time in their history as the 5th seed and 2nd of their conference.[14] In the wildcard round of the 2023 ELF play-offs, the Thunder lost against the Frankfurt Galaxy on the road after a physically tough game due to the summer heat. The game was also cut short, when a player collapsed and a member of the Berlin sideline got hit by a Frankfurt player.[15]

Season-by-season

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Season Head coach Regular season Postseason Result Ø Attendance
GP Won Lost Win % Finish GP Won Lost Win %
2021 Jag Bal 10 3 7 .300 4th (North) DNQ 914
2022 Johnny Schmuck 12 7 5 .583 2nd (North) DNQ 3,583
2023 12 8 4 .666 2nd (Eastern) 1 0 1 .000 — 4,566

Stadium

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In their first season, the Thunder played the first two home games at Amateurstadion Olympiapark, and the other three at Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark. From the 2022 season on, the Jahn-Sportpark-Stadium is their venue for home games.[16] The Sportpark, with its several fields, also functions as their practise ground during the year. At the end of 2023, the stadium is going to be substantially renovated, which shouldn't disturb the day-to-day operations.

Roster

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Berlin Thunder (ELF) roster
Quarterbacks 
🇺🇸

Running backs

  •   Ali Khalife
🇩🇪

Wide receivers

  •  4 Aaron Jackson
🇺🇸
  •  7 Robin Wilzeck
🇩🇪

Tight ends

  • 85 Nicolai Schumann
🇩🇪
Offensive linemen
  • 75 Felix Lepper
🇩🇪
  •   Lucas Lavin
🇸🇪
  •   Harry Sayer
🇬🇧

Defensive linemen

  •  1 Emil Hovde
🇸🇪 
🇺🇸
  • 90 Ben Baierl DT
🇩🇪
  • 99 Aaron Große Kleimann
🇩🇪
  •   Serif Djibrilla
🇩🇪
Linebackers
  •  8 Paul Seifert OLB
🇩🇪
  • 11 Ludvig Myrén OLB
🇸🇪

Defensive backs

  • 15 Moritz Thiele CB
🇩🇪 
🇺🇸
  • 32 Viljo Lempinen
🇫🇮
  •   Simon Otto
🇩🇪



Rookies in italics
 Roster updated January 16, 2024
4 A-import, 5 E-import, 10 homegrown
19 active, 0 practice squad

Staff

[edit]
Berlin Thunder (ELF) staff

Front office

  • Owner – FBG Football Berlin GmbH
  • CEO – Levon Melikian
  • General Manager – Diana Hoge
  • Director of football – Björn Werner
  • Head of operations – Marcus Döbler

Head coach

  • Head coach – Johnny Schmuck

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive coordinator – Henry Schlegel
  • Quarterbacks – N/A
  • Running backs – N/A
  • Wide receivers/tight ends/fullbacks – N/A
  • Offensive line – Ron Bauerfeind
  

Defensive coaches

  • Defensive coordinator – Christopher Kuhfeldt
  • Assis. DC and defensive backs – José Schmitt
  • Defensive line – Mario Baierl
  • Linebackers – Simon Bohlmann

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams coordinator – Jörg Bauerfeind

Assistant coaches

  • Offensive assistant – N/A
  • Mental coach – N/A

Strength and conditioning

  • Head athletic coach – Christopher Kuhfeldt


Staff updated 16 January 2024

References

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  1. ^ "Shake-up to inaugural ELF line-up announced; 3 new franchises enter, 2 exit". American Football International. 2021-03-22. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  2. ^ "ELF European League of Football". www.europeanleague.football. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  3. ^ "European League of Football: Auftaktspiel mit Berlin Thunder". berlin.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  4. ^ "ELF European League of Football". www.europeanleague.football. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  5. ^ "Thunder-Coach arbeitet am Feinschliff: Kings-Trainer "stolz"". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 21 June 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  6. ^ Bühler, Karin (27 January 2022). "Berlin-Thunder-Spieler Schumann: Ich bin der Typ, den man nicht tackeln möchte". Berliner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Adedayo Odeleye: British NFL rookie on joining the Houston Texans, watching Aaron Donald, facing Laremy Tunsil and his love of Xs and Os". Sky Sports. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Football: Berlin Thunder trennt sich von Chefcoach Bal". Die Zeit (in German). September 9, 2021.
  9. ^ "EX-NFL-Profi Werner wird Mit-Eigentümer bei Berlin Thunder". Sportschau.de (in German). September 12, 2021.
  10. ^ "Erste Frau wird Geschäftsführerin in der ELF". Sport1.de (in German). September 24, 2021.
  11. ^ "ELF: Berlin Thunder announce Johnny Schmuck as new HC". AmericanFootballInternational.com. October 1, 2021.
  12. ^ Krauss, Dominik (14 December 2022). "Berlin Thunder sign youngest offensive coordinator in history!". europeanleague.football. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Playoffs und Titel: Berlin Thunder wollen Spielfeld „rocken"". Berliner Morgenpost (in German). 2 June 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  14. ^ Bürgener, Jonas. ""Auch eine gut organisierte Auswärtsfahrt kann ein Highlight sein"" (in German). rbb24. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Berlin Thunder scheidet gegen Frankfurt aus den Playoffs aus" (in German). rbb24. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Eine neue Heimat für Viktoria 89 und Berlin Thunder". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). July 17, 2021.
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