NFL Europe

Did You Know?

• The league was originally called the World League of American Football (WLAF) and began play in 1991 with ten teams split into three divisions: North America West, North America East, and Europe.
• The Frankfurt Galaxy was the only team to play all 15 seasons of the league's existence, winning the most World Bowl titles (four) and recording the most World Bowl appearances (eight).
• Three NFL Europe alumni—Adam Vinatieri, Dante Hall, and Brian Moorman—made the National Football League 2000s All-Decade Team.
• The league's first championship game, World Bowl '91, was held at Wembley Stadium, where the London Monarchs defeated the Barcelona Dragons 21–0.
• In its initial run, each team played a ten-game schedule, and the winners of each of the three divisions, along with the best non-division-winning record, advanced to a four-team playoff.

History

In 1974, the NFL announced plans for a European league called the Intercontinental Football League (IFL), which was to launch in spring 1975 with six teams in cities including Istanbul, Rome, Munich, West Berlin, Vienna, and Barcelona. The IFL was conceived by Bob Kap, had sold six franchises, and secured rights to loan players from the NFL, with Al Davis and Tex Schramm heading the organizing committee. The league did not materialize; the Professional Football Researchers Association attributed the failure to Europe not being ready for American football, potential competition with the World Football League, a players' strike in 1974, and a recession. Turmoil in Europe that year included Turkey's invasion of Cyprus, the assassination of the American ambassador to Cyprus, the assassination of Spain's prime minister by Basque separatists, and kidnappings by groups like the Red Brigades. The State Department discouraged NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle from pursuing the league, and sponsor Pan American World Airways withdrew. Rozelle deemed the league's creation impractical.

Trophy and awards

The World Bowl trophy, awarded to the winner of the annual championship game, was a 40-pound glass globe, and the winning team also received championship rings. NFL Europe presented regular season most valuable player awards for offense and defense, a coach of the year award, and a World Bowl MVP award. The league also named offensive, defensive, special teams, and national players of the week, and selected an all-league team at season's end.

Television coverage

In the United States, ABC and USA Network provided television coverage. The Los Angeles Times reported that ABC committed $28 million over two years and USA Network committed $25 million for the same period with an additional two-year option. Ratings were poor in the inaugural season, with ABC averaging a 2.1 rating and USA Network a 1.2 rating; in the second season ratings were dismal, with ABC at 1.7 and USA at 1.1. ABC's payment was reduced to $3 million and USA's to $10 million; The New York Times noted that USA Network was not happy with this arrangement and did not heavily promote the league. International teams aired on domestic networks: Montreal Machine games on TSN in English and RDS in French. European coverage was mostly on satellite television, with Eurosport showing delayed games and Super Channel airing the 1991 World Bowl. In the United Kingdom, Channel 4 showed half-hour highlights of Monarchs games on Saturday mornings. For the revived league, UK coverage was mainly on Sky Sports, with additional coverage on Channel 4, STV, and Carlton; eight European continental broadcasters also showed games, including Germany's Vox and DSF. Fox became a co-owner of the league in exchange for broadcasting rights, and after the relaunch all regular season games aired on FX. Fox ended its joint ownership in 2000 but continued as a television partner. In 2004, NFL Network began airing select games, and by 2006 it covered all NFL Europe games including the World Bowl.