The Paris Musketeers are an American football team in Paris, France, that plays in the European League of Football (ELF) in the Western Conference.
History
The Paris franchise was announced on 23 September 2022 via a press statement, together with the Prague Lions for the 2023 European League of Football expansion.[1] The team is owned and operated by the capital group named Les Mousquetaires de Paris and is based in Rosny-sous-Bois, east of Paris. The team name Saints, logo and colors of the franchise were unveiled on 23 January 2023.[2] At that point they were temporarily known as the Paris Football Team. On 27 February 2023, the organization announced, that the official name would be the Musketeers.[3]
Former National Football League player, Marc-Angelo Soumah was selected to serve as the inaugural president of the organization in 2023.[4][5]
The first head coach of the franchise was former Vanderbilt Commodores' defensive secondary coach Marc Mattioli.[6][7]
On 20 November 2022, a recruitment camp was held with around 240 French and international players in attendance. French nationals Mamadou Sy and Mamadou Doumbouya,[8] were selected for the team, with both having their origins from the national league champion La Courneuve Flash.[9] Further building blocks of the roster consists of the first ever franchise quarterback Zach Edwards,[10] coming from the Barcelona Dragons.
On 7 September 2024, the team made its first post-season appearance which resulted in a loss against the Vienna Vikings. Mattoli left the team to become the defensive coordinator for Kennesaw State, an American college football team following the 2024 season.[11] Former NFL head coach, Jack Del Rio, was hired on 17 January 2025, as the next head coach of the team.[12]
Season-by-season
| Season | Head coach | Regular season | Postseason | Result | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | GP | Won | Lost | Win % | |||
| 2023 | Marc Mattioli | 12 | 6 | 6 | .500 | 3rd (Western) | DNQ | ||||
| 2024 | 12 | 10 | 2 | .833 | 2nd (Western) | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | L Semifinals vs. Vienna | |
Stadium
The Musketeers held their tryout at the Paris La Défense Arena with a capacity of 30,680 seats. On 13 March 2023, the franchise announced the Stade Jean Bouin in the 16th arrondissement of Paris as their home field for the 2023 season.[13][14]
Roster
| Quarterbacks
Tight ends
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
|
Rookies in italics | ||||||
Staff
- Head coach/defensive coordinator – Jack Del Rio
- Offensive Coordinator - Luke Del Rio [15]
- Co-offensive coordinator/offensive line – John Booker
- Pass game coordinator/quarterbacks/wide receivers – Maximilian Koessler
- Special teams coordinator/running backs – Jimmie Johnson III
- Linebackers – Frank Blateri
- Defensive line – Matthew Beeler
- Tight ends – Artchill Monney
- Defensive backs – Arnaud Vidaller
- Assistant offensive line – Quentin Danès
- Assistant linebackers – Corentin Mingam-Piguillem
References
- ^ "Europas Football-Liga wächst: Neue Teams in Paris und Prag" (in German). Sportschau. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "Paris announces franchise name and logo | European League of Football News".
- ^ "Musketeers statt Saints: Pariser Franchise ändert Namen". Touchdown24.de. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "Identité de l'entreprise – LES MOUSQUETAIRES DE PARIS". Societe.com (in French). Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "Marc-Angelo Soumah : le football américain avec les Musketeers" (in French). Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ "Marc Mattioli – Vanderbuild Commodores". Vanderbuild Commodores Athletics. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "REPORTAGE. Comment le football américain est-il en train de s'implanter à Paris ?". ouest-france.fr (in French). Ouest-France. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "Paris Football Team presents Mamadou Sy as first ever signing | European League of Football News".
- ^ "Zwei Türme für Paris". football-aktuell.de (in German). Foot Bowl. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "Paris Football Team signs MVP-finalist Zach Edwards | European League of Football News".
- ^ "Marc Mattioli - Defensive Coordinator - Staff Directory". Kennesaw State University Athletics. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ "NFL to Europe: Ex-coach Del Rio hired in France". ESPN.com. 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Carter Anderson. "Paris Musketeers announce Stade Jean-Bouin as their home stadium". AmericanFootballInternational.com. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "La nouvelle équipe parisienne de foot américain jouera à Jean-Bouin". lefigaro.fr. Le Figaro. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ https://rennes.maville.com/sport/detail_-football-americain.-du-superbowl-a-paris-qui-est-jack-del-rio-le-nouveau-coach-des-mousquetaires-_54135-6671594_actu.Htm