2021 European League of Football season


The 2021 ELF season was the inaugural season of the European League of Football, a newly formed professional American football league based in Europe. It started on June 19, 2021, and ended with the ELF Championship Game in Düsseldorf's Merkur Spiel-Arena, on September 26, 2021. Frankfurt Galaxy won the title, beating Hamburg Sea Devils 32-30.

Format

The league is divided into two divisions, North and South. Each team plays 10 games during the regular season: twice against their division rivals, and twice against two of the teams from the other division. The top two teams in each division qualify for the playoffs, with the North and South champions qualifying for the Championship Game.

Rules

For the inaugural season, the ELF is mostly using adapted NFL rules, as opposed to adapted NCAA rules which virtually all other European American football leagues use. There is a limit of two "Americans" per down but people who are dual citizens of the U.S. and an EU-member country are not counted towards that limit in keeping with the Bosman ruling. Unlike in most other European American football leagues there is overtime during regular season games that are still tied after regulation, but the overtime rules are based on NCAA rules.

Teams

Salaries

For its first season, the league pays a salary to American "import" players that generally ranges from €600 to €3,000 per month, and provides housing, health insurance and two meals per day to players during the season. Despite claims to the contrary by the league, most "local" players did not get paid during the 2021 season.

Championship Game

The inaugural Championship Game, between the North and South division champions, was played on September 26, at Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf. In a game in which the lead changed more than once, Frankfurt, not confident enough of the quality of their placekicker, opted for two-point conversions after every single touchdown, and not attempting a single field goal. Meanwhile, Hamburg's kicker Phillip Friis Andersen, who led the league in successful attempts during the regular season and won "Special Teams Player of the year", missed 2 FG attempts, including one from 61 yards on the last play, that could have won the game for Hamburg.
The Championship MVP trophy was won by Frankfurt QB Jakeb Sullivan, who passed for 324 yards, with 4 TD and no interceptions, and added another rushing TD.

All-Star Game

The inaugural All-Star Game was held one week after the end of the season, on October 3, at Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark in Berlin. It featured a selection of the best players from the ELF, playing against the United States Federation of American football All-Stars. Earlier, the league had advertised the game as the ELF all-stars playing against the United States national team.

Attendance

Games without fans are not counted in averages or games played. All teams started the season with capacity restrictions, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
RankTeam
1Wrocław Panthers54,5003,000'
2Frankfurt Galaxy52,8001,500'
3Leipzig Kings52,3801,727'
4Hamburg Sea Devils51,8001,600'
5Stuttgart Surge51,998750'
6Cologne Centurions42,500333'
7Barcelona Dragons51,386775'
8Berlin Thunder41,325400'
–Total3868,5044,500333

Awards

Honors for the season

On 1. October 2021 the "ELF Honors" were presented at RCADIA Hotel in Hamburg. The following players received the awards mentioned below:Most Valuable Player: Madre London, Running back, Cologne CenturionsOffensive Player of the Year: Jakeb Sullivan, Quarterback, Frankfurt GalaxyDefensive Player of the Year: Kyle Kitchens, Defensive End, Leipzig KingsSpecial Teams Player of the Year: Phillip Friis Andersen, Kicker / Punter, Hamburg Sea DevilsRookie of the Year: Louis Geyer, Wide Receiver, Stuttgart SurgeCoach of the Year: Thomas Kösling, Head coach, Frankfurt GalaxyOffensive Rookie of the Year: Gerald Ameln, Running back, Frankfurt GalaxyDefensive Rookie of the Year: Marcel Dabo, Cornerback, Stuttgart SurgeAssistant Coach of the Year: Kendral Ellison, Defensive Coordinator, Hamburg Sea DevilsMan of Honor: Jan Weinreich, Quarterback, Cologne Centurions

Signees to other professional leagues

The following players invited to the NFL's International Combine, assigned to NFL's International Player Pathway Program (IPPP), signed or drafted by [2022 2022 CFL Global Draft|CFL Global Draft|CFL] team or signed with USFL team following their involvement with The ELF in 2021:

CFL

The following players signed with a CFL team:
PlayerPositionELF teamCFL team
Anthony MahoungouWRFrankfurt GalaxyOttawa Redblacks
Keanu EbanksOLPanthers WrocławCalgary Stampeders
Seantavius JonesWRLeipzig KingsOttawa Redblacks

The following players got drafted in the CFL's Global draft:
PlayerPositionELF teamCFL teamPick
Karlis BraunsDLPanthers WrocławBC Lions3
Marcel DaboDBStuttgart SurgeBC Lions16
John-Levi KruseFBHamburg Sea DevilsBC Lions21
Otavio AmorimOLBerlin ThunderToronto Argonauts22