Paris Musketeers
Paris-based American football team in the European League of Football.
The Paris Musketeers are an American football team based in Paris, France, that plays in the European Football Alliance (EFA). They previously competed in the European League of Football (ELF) from 2023 to 2025.
The franchise was announced on 23 September 2022 alongside the Prague Lions as part of the 2023 ELF expansion. It is owned and operated by the capital group Les Mousquetaires de Paris and is based in Rosny-sous-Bois, east of Paris. Initially called the Paris Football Team, the team name Saints, logo, and colors were unveiled on 23 January 2023. The official name, Musketeers, was announced on 27 February 2023.
The first head coach was Marc Mattioli, formerly a defensive secondary coach for the Vanderbilt Commodores. A recruitment camp on 20 November 2022 drew around 240 French and international players. French nationals Mamadou Sy and Mamadou Doumbouya, both from national league champion La Courneuve Flash, were selected. The first franchise quarterback was Zach Edwards, who came from the Barcelona Dragons.
The team made its first postseason appearance on 7 September 2024, losing to the Vienna Vikings. Mattioli left after the 2024 season to become defensive coordinator for Kennesaw State. Former NFL head coach Jack Del Rio was hired as head coach on 17 January 2025.
After the 2025 ELF season, eleven member franchises of the European Football Alliance left the ELF to start a new competition in 2026, with Paris among them. The Musketeers played in the first EFA game, defeating the Frankfurt Galaxy 21-20. They qualified for the BIG4 playoffs with a 4-6 record but lost in the semifinals to the Munich Ravens 52-33.
The team held tryouts at Paris La Défense Arena (capacity 30,680). For the 2023 season, they played at Stade Jean Bouin in the 16th arrondissement. On 29 April 2025, they announced a move to Stade Robert Bobin in Bondoufle for the 2025 season.
The current head coach and defensive coordinator is Jack Del Rio. The offensive coordinator position is vacant. Other staff include 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, and assistant linebackers Corentin Mingam-Piguillem.
See also: Paris Lights, another professional American football team competing in the American Football League Europe.
- League
- European League of Football (2023–present)
Lore & Background
The Paris Musketeers were announced on 23 September 2022 as an expansion franchise for the European League of Football, alongside the Prague Lions. The franchise unveiled its Musketeers name, logo, and colors on 27 February 2023. The team is owned by the capital group Les Mousquetaires de Paris and is based in Rosny-sous-Bois, east of Paris.
Their first head coach was Marc Mattioli, a former Vanderbilt Commodores defensive secondary coach. A recruitment camp in November 2022 drew around 240 players, leading to the selection of French nationals Mamadou Sy and Mamadou Doumbouya from La Courneuve Flash. Quarterback Zach Edwards, formerly of the Barcelona Dragons, became the franchise's first signal-caller. The Musketeers made their first postseason appearance on 7 September 2024, losing to the Vienna Vikings. Mattioli left after the 2024 season, and former NFL head coach Jack Del Rio was hired on 17 January 2025.
Reader's Guide
The Paris Musketeers represent a significant chapter in the growth of American football in Europe. As one of the expansion teams that joined the European League of Football in 2023, they helped broaden the league's reach into France, a country with a developing American football culture. Their transition to the European Football Alliance in 2026 underscores the shifting landscape of professional American football in Europe, as teams sought to create a new competitive structure. The team's ability to attract a former NFL head coach in Jack Del Rio and to draw international talent from both France and abroad highlights the increasing professionalism and ambition of European franchises. Their first postseason appearance in 2024 and participation in the inaugural EFA game mark milestones in the team's history, reflecting both the challenges and achievements of building a competitive program in a non-traditional market for the sport.
Did You Know?
- The team was announced as the Paris Musketeers from the start, with no interim name.
- Their first head coach, Marc Mattioli, was previously a defensive secondary coach for the Vanderbilt Commodores.
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