Helvetic Mercenaries

Lore & Background

The Helvetic Mercenaries were announced on 11 April 2024, just days after the Helvetic Guards ceased operations. Managing Director Chris Rummel, who had previously worked as Head of Finance at the Swiss American Football Association, led the new franchise. Sports director Matt Hammer, who held the same role with the Guards, re-signed most Guards players and coaches. In June 2024, Sonja and Sandro Moor became the new owners, and Jeremy Bryson was appointed Director of Sports.

Val Gunn served as head coach for the 2024 season, with former Guards head coach Norm Chow as advisor. After the team's first win in six games, Gunn parted ways on 6 July 2024. Defensive coordinator Bryan Billy took over but lost all remaining six games, leaving the Mercenaries in last place in the Central Conference. For the 2025 season, Marcus Herford became head coach, and American Isaiah Weed was signed as quarterback.

Reader's Guide

The Helvetic Mercenaries represent a brief but notable chapter in European American football, emerging as a direct replacement for the Helvetic Guards in the ELF. Their significance lies in the continuity they provided for Swiss players and staff after the Guards' sudden closure, re-signing most of the previous roster and coaching staff. The team's ownership transition from Chris Rummel to Sonja and Sandro Moor in June 2024, and the mid-season coaching change from Val Gunn to Bryan Billy, illustrate the instability common in fledgling leagues. Their withdrawal from the 2026 ELF season, amid broader league turmoil, and their pivot to a partnership with Basel Gladiators for talent development, highlight the challenges of sustaining professional American football in Europe. The Mercenaries' legacy is tied to their role as a transitional franchise that ultimately chose local development over continental competition.

Did You Know?

• The team's first win in six games in 2024 led to head coach Val Gunn parting ways with the franchise.
• In January 2026, the Mercenaries partnered with Nationalliga A team Basel Gladiators to develop young Swiss talent.

From Guards to Mercenaries: A Rapid Rebirth

The Helvetic Mercenaries emerged from the ashes of their predecessor in a remarkably compressed timeline. On April 4, 2024, the owners of the Helvetic Guards — Switzerland's prior entry in the European League of Football — announced the team would cease operations and that a replacement would field a squad for the 2024 ELF season. Just seven days later, on April 11, the new identity was unveiled: the name Helvetic Mercenaries and its accompanying logo. The transition was designed to preserve continuity. Managing Director Chris Rummel, who had previously served as Head of Finance at the Swiss American Football Association and overseen the Swiss national team, stepped into the leadership role. Sports director Matt Hammer retained his position from the Guards era, and the majority of the former Guards roster and coaching staff were re-signed. By June 2024, ownership shifted again when Sonja and Sandro Moor acquired the franchise, and Jeremy Bryson was appointed Director of Sports, signaling a fresh chapter for Swiss professional football.

A Turbulent 2024 Campaign

The Mercenaries' inaugural season proved to be a rollercoaster of leadership changes and on-field struggles. Val Gunn was installed as head coach for 2024, with former Guards head coach Norm Chow serving in an advisory capacity. However, after the team managed its first victory in six games, Gunn parted ways with the organization on July 11, 2024. Defensive coordinator Bryan Billy was elevated to the head coach role, but the results did not improve — he lost all six of his games. The Mercenaries ultimately finished sixth and last in the Central Conference, a disappointing conclusion to their debut year. The season also saw significant behind-the-scenes movement: in June 2024, Sonja and Sandro Moor took over the franchise as new owners, and Jeremy Bryson assumed the role of Director of Sports. The combination of a coaching carousel, a last-place finish, and a mid-season ownership change painted a picture of a young organization still finding its footing in the competitive ELF landscape.

Rebuilding for 2025

Looking ahead to the 2025 season, the Helvetic Mercenaries made deliberate moves to stabilize their program. Marcus Herford was named head coach, bringing a new voice to the sideline after the turbulent 2024 campaign. On the offensive side, the organization signed American Isaiah Weed to the quarterback position, a key investment in the skill position that anchors any football attack. These appointments reflected a clear intent to build on the foundation laid during their inaugural year while addressing the shortcomings that had led to a last-place finish in the Central Conference. The continuity of the broader organizational structure — with the re-signed coaching and player base from the Guards era still providing depth — offered a platform from which the Mercenaries could attempt to climb the standings. The 2025 roster decisions signaled a team in transition, seeking to translate its Swiss identity into competitive results on the European stage.

Leaving the ELF and Charting a New Course

Amid widespread controversy within the European League of Football — a period marked by multiple teams departing the league — the Helvetic Mercenaries announced they would not participate in the 2026 ELF season. The organization cited a lack of responsible implementation of the framework conditions as the reason for their withdrawal. According to German sports channel ran, the Mercenaries were in active contact with both the European Football Alliance and the American Football League Europe regarding a possible future entry into one of those competitions. In January 2026, the franchise announced a partnership with Nationalliga A team Basel Gladiators, with the primary focus on developing young talent within Switzerland. The Mercenaries confirmed they had withdrawn from European competitions for the time being, pivoting their energy toward domestic youth development and exploring alternative competitive pathways on the continent.

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