2021 European League of Football season

The league is divided into two divisions, North and South. Each team plays 10 games during the regular season: twice against their division rivals, and twice against two of the teams from the other division. The top two teams in each division qualify for the playoffs, with the North and South champions qualifying for the Championship Game.

For the inaugural season, the ELF is mostly using adapted NFL rules, as opposed to adapted NCAA rules which virtually all other European American Football leagues use. There is a limit of two "Americans" (a category which also includes some other non-European nationalities) per down but people who are dual citizens of the U.S. and an EU-member country are not counted towards that limit in keeping with the Bosman ruling. Unlike in most other European American football leagues there is overtime during regular season games that are still tied after regulation, but the overtime rules are based on NCAA rules.

For its first season, the league pays a salary to American "import" players that generally ranges from €600 (around $700) to €3,000 ($3,500) per month, and provides housing, health insurance and two meals per day to players during the season.{{Cite web|url=http://unitedplayers.org/european-league-updates/|title=European League Updates|access-date=2021-07-08|archive-date=2021-07-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210706142820/http://unitedplayers.org/european-league-updates/|url-status=dead}} Despite claims to the contrary by the league, most "local" players did not get paid during the 2021 season.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{2021 ELF North Division standings}}

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{{2021 ELF South Division standings}}

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{{#invoke:sports results|main

|update = complete

|source = [https://www.europeanleague.football/schedule europeanleague.football]

|matches_style = FBR|solid_cell=grey

|legs=1

|team1 =BER

|team2 =HAM

|team3 =LEI

|team4 =WRO

|team5 =BAR

|team6 =COL

|team7 =FRA

|team8 =STU

|name_BER=Berlin Thunder

|name_HAM=Hamburg Sea Devils

|name_LEI=Leipzig Kings

|name_WRO=Wrocław Panthers

|name_BAR=Barcelona Dragons

|name_COL=Cologne Centurions

|name_FRA=Frankfurt Galaxy

|name_STU=Stuttgart Surge

|match_BER_HAM=20–28

|match_BER_LEI=27–37

|match_BER_WRO=26–45

|match_BER_BAR=19–3

|match_BER_COL=null

|match_BER_FRA=null

|match_BER_STU=40–19

|match_HAM_BER=44–6

|match_HAM_LEI=17–18

|match_HAM_WRO=24–30

|match_HAM_BAR=22–17

|match_HAM_COL=null

|match_HAM_FRA=17–15

|match_HAM_STU=null

|match_LEI_HAM=0–55

|match_LEI_BER=37–24

|match_LEI_WRO=13–21

|match_LEI_BAR=null

|match_LEI_COL=47–48

|match_LEI_FRA=null

|match_LEI_STU=49–23

|match_WRO_HAM=23–26

|match_WRO_LEI=54–28

|match_WRO_BER=35–12

|match_WRO_BAR=null

|match_WRO_COL=55–39

|match_WRO_FRA=7–36

|match_WRO_STU=null

|match_BAR_HAM=14–32

|match_BAR_LEI=null

|match_BAR_WRO=null

|match_BAR_BER=48–16

|match_BAR_COL=60–51

|match_BAR_FRA=14–22

|match_BAR_STU=17–21

|match_COL_HAM=null

|match_COL_LEI=24–42

|match_COL_WRO=33–31

|match_COL_BAR=40–12

|match_COL_BER=null

|match_COL_FRA=20–41

|match_COL_STU=19–9

|match_FRA_HAM=35–9

|match_FRA_LEI=null

|match_FRA_WRO=22–13

|match_FRA_BAR=42–22

|match_FRA_COL=45–7

|match_FRA_BER=null

|match_FRA_STU=57–3

|match_STU_HAM=null

|match_STU_LEI=27–24

|match_STU_WRO=null

|match_STU_BAR=12–30

|match_STU_COL=23–39

|match_STU_FRA=20–42

|match_STU_BER=0–38

}}

{{4TeamBracket

| RD1 = Division Finals

| RD2 = Championship Game

| team-width= 170px

| RD1-seed1 =N1

| RD1-team1 = {{flagicon|GER}} Hamburg Sea Devils

| RD1-score1=30

| RD1-seed2 =N2

| RD1-team2 = {{flagicon|POL}} Wrocław Panthers

| RD1-score2=27

| RD1-seed3 =S1

| RD1-team3 = {{flagicon|GER}} Frankfurt Galaxy

| RD1-score3=36

| RD1-seed4 =S2

| RD1-team4 = {{flagicon|GER}} Cologne Centurions

| RD1-score4=6

| RD2-team1 ={{flagicon|GER}} Hamburg Sea Devils

| RD2-score1=30

| RD2-team2 ={{flagicon|GER}} Frankfurt Galaxy

| RD2-score2=32

}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle=text-align:center; background-color:#cd2028; color:#ffffff

|title=Cologne Centurions vs. Frankfurt Galaxy

|date=11 September 2021

|time=14:45 CEST

|road=Centurions

|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=6

|home=Galaxy

|H1=14|H2=13|H3=6|H4=3

|stadium=PSD Bank Arena, Frankfurt, Germany

|attendance=2,000

|referee=K. Walentynow

|reference=[https://assets-global.website-files.com/5fb916e4beed7f5a8f3276f7/613f3f6d6a53a26b02c4257a_STATS_FGCC21PO.pdf Game Book]

}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle=text-align:center; background-color:#1f3f77; color:#ffffff

|title=Wrocław Panthers vs. Hamburg Sea Devils

|date=12 September 2021

|time=14:45 CEST

|road=Panthers

|R1=7|R2=7|R3=0|R4=13

|home=Sea Devils

|H1=14|H2=0|H3=3|H4=13

|stadium=Stadion Hoheluft, Hamburg, Germany

|attendance=2,200

|referee=Thomas Denker

|reference=[https://assets-global.website-files.com/5fb916e4beed7f5a8f3276f7/613f3f84ded8f40e0a95bafb_STATS_HDPW21PO.pdf Game Book]

}}

The inaugural Championship Game, between the North and South division champions, was played on September 26, at Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf.{{cite web |title=Ladies and gentlemen, the champion of the first season will be determined in Sportstadt Düsseldorf on the 26 September! |url=https://www.facebook.com/europeanleagueoffootball/posts/209283841000575 |accessdate=23 April 2021 |language=German|date=23 April 2021}} In a game in which the lead changed more than once, Frankfurt, not confident enough of the quality of their placekicker, opted for two-point conversions after every single touchdown (only one out of five being successful), and not attempting a single field goal. Meanwhile, Hamburg's kicker Phillip Friis Andersen, who led the league in successful attempts during the regular season and won "Special Teams Player of the year", missed 2 FG attempts, including one from 61 yards on the last play, that could have won the game for Hamburg.

The Championship MVP trophy was won by Frankfurt QB Jakeb Sullivan, who passed for 324 yards, with 4 TD and no interceptions, and added another rushing TD.

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle=text-align:center; background-color:#cd2028; color:#ffffff

|title=Hamburg Sea Devils vs. Frankfurt Galaxy

|date=26 September 2021

|time=14:45 CEST

|road=Sea Devils

|R1=7|R2=10|R3=10|R4=3

|home=Galaxy

|H1=0|H2=20|H3=0|H4=12

|stadium=Merkur Spiel-Arena, Düsseldorf, Germany

|attendance=22,000

|referee=M. Scholz

|reference=[https://assets-global.website-files.com/5fb916e4beed7f5a8f3276f7/6151e57a90b7f5728d37a866_STATS_FGHD21FI.pdf Game Book]

}}

The inaugural All-Star Game was held one week after the end of the season, on October 3 (the Day of German Unity), at Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark in Berlin. It featured a selection of the best players from the ELF, playing against the United States Federation of American Football All-Stars.{{cite web |title=European League of Football All-Star Game |url=https://europeanleague.football/elf-news/european-league-of-football-all-star-game |date=13 July 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://europeanleague.football/elf-news/roster-of-the-us-federation-national-team-revealed|title=Roster of the US Federation National Team Revealed}}{{cite web |url=https://cflnewshub.com/global/european-league-of-football-all-star-game-rosters/|title=European League Of Football All-Star Game Rosters}} Earlier, the league had advertised the game as the ELF all-stars playing against the United States national team.{{Cite web |url=https://blog.ticketmaster.de/sport/all-star-game-european-league-of-football-8684/ |title=All Stars der European League of Football treffen auf das Nationalteam der USA |website=Ticketmaster Blog |author=Stefanie Röcklinger |language=de |date=21 July 2021 |access-date=8 January 2025}}

{{updated|September 5, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://europeanleague.football/schedule|title=European League of Football - past games |access-date=June 21, 2021}}{{efn-ua|The attendances for Leipzig - Cologne (July 4), Hamburg - Berlin (July 11), Berlin - Wroclaw (July 18), Hamburg - Barcelona (July 31), Cologne - Wroclaw (Aug 1), Leipzig - Berlin (Aug 1), Hamburg - Wroclaw (Aug 22) and Berlin - Barcelona (Aug 22) haven't been announced}}

Games without fans are not counted in averages or games played. All teams started the season with capacity restrictions, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 1. October 2021 the "ELF Honors" were presented at RCADIA Hotel in Hamburg. The following players received the awards mentioned below:Tim Hanswillemenke: [https://europeanleague.football/elf-news/european-league-of-football-honors-2021-powered-by-project-pixxl European League of Football Honors 2021 powered by Project Pixxl.] In: europeanleague.football. 1. October 2021, retrieved 1. October 2021 .{{cite web |url=https://cflnewshub.com/global/european-league-of-football-honors-2021/|title=European League Of Football Honors 2021}}

• Most Valuable Player: Madre London, Running back, Cologne Centurions
• Offensive Player of the Year: Jakeb Sullivan, Quarterback, Frankfurt Galaxy
• Defensive Player of the Year: Kyle Kitchens, Defensive End, Leipzig Kings
• Special Teams Player of the Year: Phillip Friis Andersen, Kicker / Punter, Hamburg Sea Devils
• Rookie of the Year: Louis Geyer, Wide Receiver, Stuttgart Surge
• Coach of the Year: Thomas Kösling, Head coach, Frankfurt Galaxy
• Offensive Rookie of the Year: Gerald Ameln, Running back, Frankfurt Galaxy
• Defensive Rookie of the Year: Marcel Dabo, Cornerback, Stuttgart Surge
• Assistant Coach of the Year: Kendral Ellison, Defensive Coordinator, Hamburg Sea Devils
• Man of Honor: Jan Weinreich, Quarterback, Cologne Centurions

{{updated|September 12, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://europeanleague.football/statistics/top-players-of-the-league|title=European League of Football - player stats|access-date=July 14, 2021|archive-date=July 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714143431/https://europeanleague.football/statistics/top-players-of-the-league|url-status=dead}}

The following players invited to the NFL's International Combine, assigned to NFL's International Player Pathway Program (IPPP), signed or drafted by CFL team or signed with USFL team following their involvement with The ELF in 2021:{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/four-players-afc-south-rosters-2022-nfl-international-player-pathway-program|title=Four players added to AFC South rosters for 2022 season through NFL International Player Pathway program|date=May 3, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://xflnewshub.com/columns/why-the-xfl-should-embrace-the-european-league-of-football/|title=Why The XFL Should Embrace The European League Of Football|date=June 4, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/germanys-marcel-dabo-shines-at-london-nfl-international-combine/|title=Germany’s Marcel Dabo shines at London NFL International Combine|date=October 10, 2021}}

The following players signed with a CFL team:

The following players got drafted in the CFL's Global draft:

{{notelist-ua}}

{{Reflist}}

{{European League of Football}}

{{2021 European League of Football season by team}}

ELF

ELF

Category:European League of Football seasons