The
Berlin Thunder were a professional
American footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team in
NFL EuropeNFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
, which was a springtime
American footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
league serving primarily as a developmental league for the
National Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Most of the players were young American professional players assigned by NFL teams to receive additional game experience and coaching. Coaching staffs are predominantly provided by the NFL for developmental purposes as well. In addition, "national" players, or non-American players, compete on each team. Berlin's 2006 squad included players from
GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
,
FinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
,
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
,
MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and
JapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Players and coaches had their living expenses paid for by the league while in Europe in addition to their salaries..
History
The Thunder came into existence as an expansion team, after the
London/England MonarchsThe London Monarchs were a professional American football team in NFL Europe and its predecessor league, the World League of American Football . The Monarchs played their final season in 1998 as the England Monarchs...
franchise shut down operations, prior to the 1999 season.
The Thunder have won the
World BowlThe World Bowl was the American football Championship game of NFL Europe, similar to the Super Bowl of the National Football League.The World Bowl trophy itself was a globe made of glass measuring 35.5 cm in diameter and weighing 18.6 kg .-World League of American Football:When NFL Europe was...
3 times:
2001World Bowl IX was the first World Bowl that didn't have the year that it was played in the title. It was the 2001 edition of NFL Europe's championship game. The site was the Amsterdam ArenA in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. On June 30, 2001, the 6-4 Berlin Thunder took on the 8-2 Barcelona Dragons...
,
2002World Bowl X was NFL Europe's 2002 championship game. The game was played at Rheinstadion in Düsseldorf, Germany on June 22, 2002. It would be the final event held at Rheinstadion before its demolition....
and
2004World Bowl XII was NFL Europe's 2004 championship game. The game was played at Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 12, 2004. In this game, the defending champion Frankfurt Galaxy returned to try to protect their title after going through a 7–3 regular season. Their opponent was...
(a year that they went 9-1).
They also made it to the World Bowl in
2005World Bowl XIII was NFL Europe's 2005 championship game. It was played at the LTU arena in Düsseldorf, Germany on June 11, 2005. In this match-up, the 6-4 Amsterdam Admirals managed to get back to the World Bowl after losing in World Bowl III and spending nearly a decade being on the outside. ...
, but were narrowly defeated by the
Amsterdam AdmiralsThe Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
. The final score was 27-21.
Two Berlin
quarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
s,
Rohan DaveyRohan St. Patrick Davey is a Jamaican-born American football quarterback who is currently a free agent.-High school years:...
(2004) and
Dave RagoneDavid Patrick Ragone is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. He is currently the wide receivers coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League.-Early years:...
(2005), were named NFL Europe Offensive Most Valuable Players.
LinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Rich ScanlonRichard James Scanlon is an American football linebacker. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
(2005) was named NFL Europe Defensive MVP. In 2006, the Thunder had three players earn All-NFL Europe honors:
guardIn American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
Chad BeasleyThomas Chad Beasley is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns. He played college football at Virginia Tech and was drafted in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings....
and safety
Anthony FloydAnthony Franklin Floyd was a safety for the Indianapolis Colts. He spent 2006 NFL Europe season with the Berlin Thunder, where he earned All-NFL Europe honors after making four interceptions, tied for second in the league...
earned all-league honors at their respective positions and German
defensive endDefensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Christian MohrChristian Mohr is an American football defensive end who plays for Mönchengladbach Mavericks of the German Football League....
was honored as the national player on the defensive all-league team.
On April Fools Day 2006, the Thunder recorded their very first tie in franchise history. Trailing the
Hamburg Sea DevilsThe Hamburg Sea Devils were an American football team that began play in NFL Europa from 2005 to 2007. They played their home games at Hamburg's AOL Arena . They played their first game on April 2, 2005 losing 24-23 to the Cologne Centurions...
17-0 at halftime, the Thunder erased their deficit to tie it up, going into overtime. Unfortunately, neither team could come up with a point in the extra period. This was only the second tie in the history of NFL Europe. The previous tie came in the 1992 season between the
Birmingham FireThe Birmingham Fire was a professional American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama that played in the World League of American Football in 1991 and 1992. The team played at Legion Field, and it made the playoffs in both seasons....
and the
London MonarchsThe London Monarchs were a professional American football team in NFL Europe and its predecessor league, the World League of American Football . The Monarchs played their final season in 1998 as the England Monarchs...
. The final score for that game was also 17-17.
Season-by-season
| Season |
League |
Regular season |
Postseason results |
Awards |
| Finish |
|
|
|
|
| Berlin Thunder |
| 1999 The 1999 Berlin Thunder season was the inaugural season for the team in the NFL Europe League.-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:...
|
NFLE |
6th League |
3 |
7 |
0 |
.300 |
— |
— |
| 2000 The 2000 Berlin Thunder season was the second season for the team in the NFL Europe League.-Staff:-Roster:...
|
NFLE |
6th League |
4 |
6 |
0 |
.400 |
— |
— |
| 2001 The 2001 Berlin Thunder season was the third season for the team in the NFL Europe League.-Free Agent Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-World Bowl IX:...
|
NFLE |
2nd League |
6 |
4 |
0 |
.600 |
Won World Bowl IX World Bowl IX was the first World Bowl that didn't have the year that it was played in the title. It was the 2001 edition of NFL Europe's championship game. The site was the Amsterdam ArenA in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. On June 30, 2001, the 6-4 Berlin Thunder took on the 8-2 Barcelona Dragons...
(DragonsThe Barcelona Dragons were a team originally in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. Their home field in Barcelona was the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and later the Mini Estadi. The Dragons were successful on the field, making it...
) |
— |
| 2002 The 2002 Berlin Thunder season was the fourth season for the team in the NFL Europe League.-Free Agent Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-World Bowl X:...
|
NFLE |
2nd League |
6 |
4 |
0 |
.600 |
Won World Bowl X World Bowl X was NFL Europe's 2002 championship game. The game was played at Rheinstadion in Düsseldorf, Germany on June 22, 2002. It would be the final event held at Rheinstadion before its demolition....
(FireThe Rhein Fire was a professional American football team in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991-1992 WLAF seasons.-History:The team was...
) |
Peter Vaas -Professional:-External links:* * * *...
(Coach of the Year) |
| 2003 The 2003 Berlin Thunder season was the fifth season for the team in the NFL Europe League.-Free Agent Draft:-Staff:-Roster:...
|
NFLE |
6th League |
3 |
7 |
0 |
.300 |
— |
— |
| 2004 The 2004 Berlin Thunder season was the sixth season for the team in the NFL Europe League.-Free Agent Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Week 1: vs Scottish Claymores:-Week 2: at Amsterdam Admirals:-Week 3: vs Cologne Centurions:...
|
NFLE |
1st League |
9 |
1 |
0 |
.900 |
Won World Bowl XII World Bowl XII was NFL Europe's 2004 championship game. The game was played at Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 12, 2004. In this game, the defending champion Frankfurt Galaxy returned to try to protect their title after going through a 7–3 regular season. Their opponent was...
(GalaxyThe Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
) |
Rick Lantz Rick Lantz was the interim head football coach at Navy in 2000, following the firing of former head coach Charlie Weatherbie. He was formerly a widely recognized defensive coordinator, and held high profile jobs at Virginia, and Louisville...
(Coach of the Year) |
| 2005 The 2005 Berlin Thunder season was the seventh season for the team in the NFL Europe League.-Free Agent Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-World Bowl XIII:...
|
NFLE |
1st League |
7 |
3 |
0 |
.700 |
Lost World Bowl XIII World Bowl XIII was NFL Europe's 2005 championship game. It was played at the LTU arena in Düsseldorf, Germany on June 11, 2005. In this match-up, the 6-4 Amsterdam Admirals managed to get back to the World Bowl after losing in World Bowl III and spending nearly a decade being on the outside. ...
(AdmiralsThe Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
) |
— |
| 2006 The 2006 Berlin Thunder season was the eighth season for the team in the NFL Europe League.-Free Agent Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Week 1: at Amsterdam Admirals:-Week 2: vs Rhein Fire:-Week 3: at Hamburg Sea Devils:...
|
NFLE |
6th League |
2 |
7 |
1 |
.250 |
— |
— |
| 2007 The 2007 Berlin Thunder season was the ninth and final season for the team in the NFL Europa League.-Free Agent Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Honors:*Chris Barclay, Special Teams Player of the Week...
|
NFLE |
6th League |
2 |
8 |
0 |
.200 |
— |
— |
| Total |
42 |
47 |
1 |
.472 |
(1999–2007, includes only regular season) |
| 3 |
1 |
0 |
.750 |
(1999–2007, includes only postseason) |
| 45 |
48 |
1 |
.506 |
(1999–2007, includes both regular season and postseason) |
Head coaches
| # |
Name |
Term |
Regular season |
Postseason |
Achievements |
Reference |
| GC |
W |
L |
T |
Win% |
GC |
W |
L |
Win% |
| Berlin Thunder |
| 1 |
Wes ChandlerWesley Sandy "Wes" Chandler is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for eleven seasons in the 1970s and 1980s...
|
1999 The 1999 Berlin Thunder season was the inaugural season for the team in the NFL Europe League.-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:...
|
10 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
.300 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
|
| 2 |
Peter Vaas -Professional:-External links:* * * *...
|
2000 The 2000 Berlin Thunder season was the second season for the team in the NFL Europe League.-Staff:-Roster:...
–2003The 2003 Berlin Thunder season was the fifth season for the team in the NFL Europe League.-Free Agent Draft:-Staff:-Roster:...
|
40 |
19 |
21 |
0 |
.475 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1.000 |
Coach of the Year (2002) |
|
| 3 |
Rick Lantz Rick Lantz was the interim head football coach at Navy in 2000, following the firing of former head coach Charlie Weatherbie. He was formerly a widely recognized defensive coordinator, and held high profile jobs at Virginia, and Louisville...
|
2004 The 2004 Berlin Thunder season was the sixth season for the team in the NFL Europe League.-Free Agent Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Week 1: vs Scottish Claymores:-Week 2: at Amsterdam Admirals:-Week 3: vs Cologne Centurions:...
–2006The 2006 Berlin Thunder season was the eighth season for the team in the NFL Europe League.-Free Agent Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Week 1: at Amsterdam Admirals:-Week 2: vs Rhein Fire:-Week 3: at Hamburg Sea Devils:...
|
30 |
18 |
11 |
1 |
.617 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
.500 |
Coach of the Year (2004) |
|
| 4 |
John Allen John Allen is an American football coach. He is currently the Head Coach at Lock Haven University and previously served as Coordinator of Player Personnel & Development at Penn State University. Previously he was the head coach for the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europa.-Playing career:Allen played...
|
2007 The 2007 Berlin Thunder season was the ninth and final season for the team in the NFL Europa League.-Free Agent Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Honors:*Chris Barclay, Special Teams Player of the Week...
|
10 |
2 |
8 |
0 |
.200 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
|
Notable players
Richard AdjeiRichard Adjei is a German bobsledder who has competed since 2007 and former American football linebacker.-Biography:...
- LB (2007)
David AkersDavid Roy Akers is a left footed American football placekicker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Atlanta Falcons in 1997. He played college football at Louisville....
- K (1999)
Chris BarclayChris Barclay is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Wake Forest...
- RB (2007)
Lang CampbellLang Campbell is an American football quarterback for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League. He was originally signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
- QB (2005)
Rohan DaveyRohan St. Patrick Davey is a Jamaican-born American football quarterback who is currently a free agent.-High school years:...
- QB (2004)
Anthony FloydAnthony Franklin Floyd was a safety for the Indianapolis Colts. He spent 2006 NFL Europe season with the Berlin Thunder, where he earned All-NFL Europe honors after making four interceptions, tied for second in the league...
- S (2005)
Ben HamiltonBenjamin "Ben" Thomas Hamilton is a retired American football guard and center, who played for the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
- C (2002)
Israel IdonijeIsrael Idonije is a Nigerian-Canadian defensive end for the National Football League's Chicago Bears. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Manitoba...
- DE (2004)
Dave RagoneDavid Patrick Ragone is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. He is currently the wide receivers coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League.-Early years:...
- QB (2005)
Brian SimnjanovskiBrian Simnjanovski was a former NFL Europe punter for the Berlin Thunder, an American football team.-High School Years:...
- P/K (2005)
Brian WatersBrian Demond Waters is an American football guard for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1999 out of the University of North Texas...
- C/OG (2000) Phil Stambaugh - QB (2003)
Ahmad HawkinsAhmad Hawkins is an American football defensive back who is currently a free agent of the Arena Football League. He has also played for the Alabama Vipers. He was signed by the Colorado Crush as a street free agent in 2003...
- CB (2002)
Tony PapeTony Pape is an American football offensive tackle who is currently an Assistant football coach and in charge of the offensive Line at Oak Lawn Richards high school in Oak Lawn Illinois...
- G (2005)
See also: :Category:Berlin Thunder players