Stuttgart Surge

Lore & Background

The Stuttgart Surge originated as one of the eight founding members of the European League of Football, established in 2020. Initially intended to be named the Stuttgart Scorpions, the franchise adopted the name Surge after the Stuttgart Scorpions' members' assembly disallowed the use of that name, reviving the World League of American Football's Sacramento Surge franchise. The team is operated by American Football Club Stuttgart GmbH, with general manager Timo Franke, who previously worked for the Stuttgart Scorpions. Martin Hanselmann, former coach of Germany's national team, was signed as head coach in 2021.

The Surge played their first game on June 19, 2021, defeating the Barcelona Dragons 21–17. In week 2, starting quarterback Jacob Wright was ejected for a racially charged insult and subsequently cut from the team and banned from the ELF for the 2021 season. The team finished last in the South division that year. In 2022, after seven consecutive losses, Hanselmann resigned; interim coach George Streeter could not secure a win. Following the season, Jordan Neuman was hired as head coach, leading the team to a 10-2 record in 2023, a wild card win over Panthers Wrocław, a semifinal victory at the Vienna Vikings, and a championship game loss to Rhein Fire.

Reader's Guide

The Stuttgart Surge represent a notable chapter in European professional American football, as one of the eight founding franchises of the European League of Football. Their significance lies in their evolution from a winless 2022 season to a division-winning team that reached the ELF championship game in 2023 and ultimately won the title in 2025. The franchise's name revival of the Sacramento Surge from the World League of American Football connects modern European football to the earlier NFL Europe lineage. The team's home at the Gazi Stadion, the oldest still-used sports stadium in Germany, adds historical context. The Surge's front-office changes, including co-ownership by New England Patriots fullback Jakob Johnson, and the dismissal of a quarterback for racial abuse, highlight both the league's growth and its challenges. Their legacy includes three division titles and a championship victory, cementing their place in ELF history.

Did You Know?

• The Surge revived the name of the Sacramento Surge, the 1992 World Bowl champion of the World League of American Football.
• Quarterback Jacob Wright was ejected and cut in 2021 for using a racially charged insult against an opponent.
• New England Patriots fullback Jakob Johnson became a co-owner of the franchise in 2022.
• The team played at the Gazi Stadion (Gazi-Stadion auf der Waldau), a historic venue in Stuttgart.