The Stuttgart Surge are an American football team based in Stuttgart, Germany. They play in the European League of Football (ELF) as part of the league's South division. The team plays its home games at the Waldau-Stadion (full name with sponsor Gazi-Stadion auf der Waldau) which is currently the oldest sports stadium in Germany still in use.[1]

Franchise history

The Stuttgart franchise is one of the eight founding members of the European League of Football (ELF), established in 2020.[2] Initially, the franchise was supposed to start as the Stuttgart Scorpions, adopting the name of Stuttgart's German Football League (GFL) team.[3] Since the member's assembly of the Stuttgart Scorpions decided to disallow the use of the name, the team formed as Stuttgart Surge reviving the World League of American Football (WLAF) "Surge" franchise of the 1992 World Bowl champion Sacramento Surge.[4][5] The World League of American Football was later renamed the NFL Europe. The label Surge was picked over the name Stallions in compliance of the former 1980s and 1990s American football team Stuttgart Stallions and determines the design of the new club logo and ensign.[6] The franchise is operated by the American Football Club Stuttgart GmbH, whose general manager Timo Franke previously worked as gameday manager for the Stuttgart Scorpions.[7][8] Martin Hanselmann, the former coach of Germany's national American football team was signed as head coach in 2021.[9][10]

The team played their first game in the new league against the Barcelona Dragons (ELF) on June 19, 2021, with a 17–21 victory.[11] In their week 2 loss to Frankfurt Galaxy starting Quarterback Jacob Wright was ejected for using a racially charged insult against an opponent for which he was ultimately cut from Stuttgart Surge and banned from playing for any ELF team for the ongoing 2021 season.[12][13] The new Quarterback Aaron Ellis was presented ahead of the week 3 matchup against Berlin Thunder (ELF).[14] After two consecutive losses during the end of the season, the team finished last in the South division and did not qualify for the playoffs.[15]

The front office and owner structure changed significantly in preparation for the 2022 European League of Football season. Former general manager Timo Franke handed the office over to Suni Musa, but staying in the organisation as head of sales and sponsoring.[16] On February 4, 2022, it was revealed that New England Patriots fullback and Stuttgart native Jakob Johnson will become co-owner of the franchise.[17]

After seven consecutive defeats, Martin Hanselmann resigned from his post as head coach. His interim successor was George Streeter. However, the team could not increase noticeably and ended the season without a win. After the season, Streeter became Director of Player Personnel and Development.

On October 18, 2022, Surge signed Jordan Neuman as new Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator. Neuman previously was head coach of the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, and won the German Bowl 2022. Along with him, defensive coordinator Johannes Brenner and assistant Cody Pastorino joined from the Unicorns. The new coaches led the team to a 10-2 record. Surge won the Wild Card game vs Panthers Wrocław with 37-14, and the semi final at the Vienna Vikings with 40-33. In the ELF championship game, Surge faced Rhein Fire, but lost the game with 34-53.

Season-by-season

Season Head coach Regular season Postseason Result Ø Attendance
GP Won Lost Win % Finish GP Won Lost Win %
2021 Martin Hanselmann 10 2 8 .200 4th (South) DNQ 1,429
2022 12 0 12 .000 4th (Central) DNQ 2,084
2023 Jordan Neuman 12 10 2 .833 1st (Central) 3 2 1 .667 2nd 3,901
2024 12 11 1 .917 1st (Central) 1 0 1 .000 —

Logos

TV tower and Stadion auf der Waldau

With the presentation of the new team name in 2021, the franchise unveiled two logos for their first season.[18] The design of the major logo uses the form of the Stuttgart TV tower which is located near the stadium. It is both a landmark for the town as well as for the region. The logo features the team colors yellow and blue with the tower shaft and the antenna depicting a stylized lightning bolt. The tower basket features the team name in white on a dark ground.[19] The minor logo just shows a stylized lightning bolt in yellow pointing to the right and features optionally the team name or a multiangled line, both in a dark color.[20][21]

Roster

Reference[22]

Stuttgart Surge roster
Quarterbacks
  •  4 United States Reilly Hennessey
  • 12 Germany Janis Kaiser
  • 16 Germany Jan Weinreich

Running backs

  • 20 Germany Janis Hackenberg
  •  2 Germany Kai Hunter
  •  6 Germany Levin Liebenow
  • 37 Germany Maximilan Merwarth FB
  • 35 France Philead Pasqualini
  • 17 Germany Nelson Stegmaier
  • 41 Germany Bryan Yankson

Wide receivers

  • 81 Germany Paul Böhringer
  • 79  Switzerland  Luca Faschian
  •  7 Germany Louis Geyer
  • 13 Germany Joshua Haas
  • 10 Germany Florian Lengauer
  • 14 Austria Yannick Mayr
  •  3 Germany Aurieus Minton
  • 19 United States Bryce Nunnelly
  • 85 Germany Emil Rabin
  • 18 Germany Paul Steigerwald
  •  8 United States Darrel Stewart

Tight ends

  • 80 Germany Philip Eichhorn
  • 88 Germany Emmanuel Häfele
 Offensive linemen
  • 78 Germany Benhur Arya
  • 62 Germany Elias Becher
  • 66 Germany Sascha Beck
  • 67 Germany Markos Dubravkic
  • 74 Germany Robert Hager
  • 73 Germany Paul Jakob
  • 61 Germany Luca Jokiel
  • 73 Germany Lukas Maier
  • 79 Germany Lenny Sadzik
  • 77 Germany Marlon Werthmann
  • 55 Italy Alessandro Vergani

Defensive linemen

  • 92 Germany Simon Butsch
  • 59 Germany Lorenzo Deiana
  • 70 Germany Maximilian Dommermuth
  • 94 France Ali Hayak
  • 54 Germany Alexander Kress
  • 75 Ghana Brice Tchouadje DT
  • 99 Germany Sercan Vardar DE
  • 91 Germany Raphael Zistler
 Linebackers
  • 44 Germany Maleka Japhet Mbala ILB
  • 47 Germany Nikolas Knoblauch ILB
  • 32 Germany Luis Bach
  • 23 Italy Guiseppe Della Vecchia
  • 25 Germany Thomas Frach
  • 11 Germany Majan Jelvani
  •  1 Germany Sasan Jelvani
  • 27 United States Khaylan Kearse-Thomas
  • 28 Germany Luca Siebert
  • 43 Germany Benjamin Spiess
  • 52 Germany Lukas Storz

Defensive backs

  • 29 Mexico Diego Cardenas CB
  • 30 Germany Kai Singer S
  • 21 Germany Julian Jakob CB
  • 31 Germany Nick Wenzelburger S
  • 33 Germany Ben Wenzler CB
  •  9 Germany Lasse Engel
  • 24 United States Mitch Fettig
  • 15 Germany Konstantin Katz
  • 22 Germany Martin Körber
  • 36 Germany Mark Scherenberg S
  • 26 Germany Thiago Siebert
  •  5 Serbia Goran Zec

Special teams

  • 34 Germany Lenny Krieg


Rookies in italics
 Roster updated 5 March 2023
4 A-import, 6 E-import, 52 homegrown
62 active

Transactions

From Frankfurt Galaxy: Konstantin Katz, Kai Hunter
From Cologne Centurions: Louis Geyer
From Leipzig Kings: Philip Eichhorn

Staff

Stuttgart Surge staff

Front office

  • Owner – Steffen Korinth, Erwin &
    Martin Schmidt, Jakob Johnson
  • General Manager – Suni Musa
  • Director of Player Personnel and Development – George Streeter
  • Director of football operations/personnel – Jeremy Bryson

Head coach

  • Head coach – Jordan Neuman

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive coordinator – Jordan Neuman
  • Quarterbacks – n/a
  • Running backs – Joshua Tapscott
  • Wide receivers – Joseph Joyner
  • Tight ends/fullbacks – Jochen Holzinger
  • Offensive line – Hunter Sims
  

Defensive coaches

  • Defensive coordinator – Johannes Brenner
  • Assistant defensive coordinator – Cody Pastorino
  • Linebacker – Daniel McCray
  • Inside linebacker – David Zeller
  • Defensive line – Justin Bernthaler
  • Defensive backs – n/a

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams coordinator – n/a

Assistant coaches

  • Analytics coach – Friedemann Hees

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Natalia Wisniewska
  • Head of Strength and conditioning – Corey Chapman


Staff updated 23 March 2023

References

  1. ^ "Die Adolf-Jäger-Kampfbahn: Ein Denkmal stirbt". Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). 4 April 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  2. ^ "Pro football returns to Europe: European League of Football kicks off in 2021". AmericanFootballInternational.com. November 4, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  3. ^ "Die Stuttgart Scorpions zwischen zwei Fronten". Stuttgarter Nachrichten (in German). March 10, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "Stuttgart Surge startet in der ELF" (in German). Stuttgarter Zeitung. April 16, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  5. ^ "General Manager Timo Franke: Infos zu Name, Logo und Import RB" (in German). football-aktuell.de. April 25, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  6. ^ "General Manager Timo Franke: Infos zu Name, Logo und Import RB" (in German). football-aktuell.de. April 25, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "stuttgartsurge.com". Stuttgart Surge website. 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "General Manager Timo Franke: Infos zu Name, Logo und Import RB" (in German). football-aktuell.de. April 25, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  9. ^ "Stuttgart Surge: Name ist da, Hanselmann wird Head Coach" (in German). Touchdown24. American Football Magazine. April 16, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  10. ^ "Football: Stuttgart Surge legt los" (in German). Sport1. April 16, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  11. ^ "Start der European League of Football: Stuttgart Surge gewinnt" (in German). swr.de. June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  12. ^ "Jacob Wright gesperrt".
  13. ^ "Surge feuert starting QB Jacob Wright".
  14. ^ "Nach Entlassung von Jacob Wright: Stuttgart Surge verpflichtet Quarterback Aaron Ellis" (in German). July 2, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  15. ^ "Surge verpassen die Playoffs" (in German). August 29, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  16. ^ "Umstrukturierung bei Stuttgart Surge". SportRegion-Stuttgart.de (in German). January 26, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  17. ^ "Das sagt Jakob Johnson zu seinem Einstieg bei den Stuttgart Surge". Stuttgarter Nachrichten (in German). February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  18. ^ "Stuttgart Surge startet in der ELF" (in German). Stuttgarter Zeitung. April 16, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  19. ^ "stuttgartsurge.com". Stuttgart Surge website. 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  20. ^ "stuttgartsurge.com". Stuttgart Surge website. 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  21. ^ "Stuttgart Surge: Name ist da, Hanselmann wird Head Coach" (in German). Touchdown24. American Football Magazine. April 16, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  22. ^ "ELF: 2023 Stuttgart Surge – A Complete Roster Breakdown". American Football International.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuttgart_Surge
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