“Seikovits and I played rock-paper-scissors to decide…” Florian Bierbaumer is one of the star players of the Vienna Vikings. The Graz native, who carries the nickname “Cheat Code”, recently had to take an enforced break due to an ankle injury but used the time to try out new things alongside his recovery. The former NFL hopeful looked back on his AFLE season so far exclusively with First Down Magazine, spoke about his experience as a co-commentator, his collaboration with f

There were few surprises across this weekend’s AFLE and EFA action (arguably none at all). The favourites mostly won, the struggling sides kept struggling, and the supposed contenders either confirmed their strength or exposed their limitations. Still, beneath the predictable results, there were warning signs: Rhein Fire look less convincing than expected, Vienna Vikings were involved in exactly the kind of blowout AFLE said it wanted to avoid, and Frankfurt Galaxy still seem

The race for playoff positioning intensified this weekend as both the European Football Alliance (EFA) and the American Football League Europe (AFLE) delivered another slate of important results. While several contenders maintained their momentum, other teams took significant steps forward as the season approaches its midpoint. EUROPEAN FOOTBALL ALLIANCE (EFA) Paris Steals Victory at the Death The Paris Musketeers produced the most dramatic finish of the weekend, rallying

After three or four weeks of competition, both the EFA and the AFLE are beginning to leave a similar impression: there is still plenty of football to be played, of course, but perhaps not quite as much mystery as we would like. The top contenders have started to separate themselves, several hopefuls have taken heavy blows, and a few projects are still searching for a competitive identity before the season slips away from them. EFA: Munich Ravens and Nordic Storm Take Command

The 2026 European football season is no longer warming up. Both the AFLE and the EFA are already moving at full speed, and after another packed weekend of football, the early shape of both competitions is becoming clearer. Some teams are confirming their status as contenders, others are still searching for rhythm, and several teams that looked beaten have shown enough fight to suggest that this season will not be short on drama. AFLE Week 2: Vikings Stay Perfect as Thunder,

The ELF isn’t the only league in Europe suffering from serious changes and disputes. The players weren’t the only ones busy during the offseason. Reviews were conducted here and there, which led to drastic changes in the results of the 2025 season. VIOLATION BY THE SALZBURG DUCKS The Austrian Football League has a very strict policy on import players and what actually counts as an import player. If a player has spent his whole career in Austria, he is considered an ö-class

So much has happened in Italian Football during the last month, as the Italian Football League has started its Silly Season and the Blue Team, both in Tackle and in Flag Football, has achieved great successes and points of departure at both youth and senior level. There's as much meat on the fire in this issue as an Easter Monday or August 15th barbecue, so let's not waste any time and get into the third summary of Italian football brought to you by First Down Mag. ...

The Championship Game of the best league in European football wasn’t just a battle for the crown, it was a story of how a nearly unstoppable force fell at the final hurdle. Ladies and gentlemen, for the last time this summer, we gather to talk about our beloved football. So let’s do it justice. Two of the finest teams in Europe faced off, but as we all know, sport can be a cruel affair, there can only be one winner. From the opening whistle, it felt like a balanced matchup.

The teams still standing in this incredible postseason weren’t just playing football, they were battling with heart, resilience, and sheer determination, each moment fueled by the dream of keeping their season alive. Every drive, every play, and every hit carried the weight of their ambitions, as they fought to make sure they would earn the right to step onto the grandest stage of them all: the ELF Championship Game...

The curtain has fallen on the regular season, and as tradition dictates, the council gathers one last time. The grades are in, the exam papers have been marked, and it’s time to see which teams proudly move to the top of the class, which barely scraped a passing grade, and which will be stuck in detention until next year. We could have done that division by division to hand out the grades, but here’s a little spoiler for the impatient: nobody really shone across the board. Ea

And just like that, the regular season of Europe’s premier league has come to an end. It’s been one of the most thrilling campaigns yet, but before the playoffs begin, let’s take one last look back at everything that unfolded. 1st. Vienna Vikings 11-1 What a season, huh? In one of the decisive games, they completely crushed the Parisians’ ambition of reaching the playoffs. But it was far from an easy task, the battle went all the way to overtime before they could finally s

While everyone is wondering which teams still have a shot at the playoffs, we turned to ELFpedia.eu for some clarity, using math, not guesswork. ELF Pedia is a data-driven platform that provides valuable insights and up-to-date resources like current rosters, standings, and stats, which we often rely on for our coverage. Here’s how they broke down the playoff odds and who’s still in the race… and who’s not: “We applied a probabilistic forecasting model using one million Mont

The playoff race is now well underway, with several compelling games already in the books. Which teams have climbed the standings, and which have lost ground? Here’s a closer look. Every next game is mentioned as “next-week” but obviously it’s after the league-around bye-week...

Another amazing week of action across European football fields has come to a conclusion. Some teams are charging full speed ahead, while others have seen their dreams come to an early end. Is your team still in the running, or have they already been shown the door? Let’s break it all down together and take a closer look at who’s rising, who’s falling, and what it means for the road ahead. 1st. Vienna Vikings Another dominant showing from the Austrian squads, further cement

From jaw-dropping plays to unexpected upsets, the weekend delivered all the drama and excitement fans could hope for. Now, it’s time to dive into the highs and lows, the standout performances and the surprising slip-ups. Are you ready to take a closer look at all the ups and downs from this past weekend on the gridiron? ...

The playoffs of the Austrian Football League, one of the most competitive leagues in the world just came to a close and here is everything you need to know if you missed the games and want to know what’s waiting for you in the finals. Two games in one weekend and four teams wanting to come out on top while only two of them are going to be in the finals. Welcome to the Austrian Bowl playoffs review...

Curious about what made headlines last week and what’s coming up in the days ahead? You’ve come to the right place. Whether you missed the action or just want a quick recap, we’ve got you covered. From standout moments and major upsets to what’s on the radar for the next few days, we’re diving into all the key highlights and upcoming stories you need to know. So sit back, get comfortable, and let’s take a closer look at the past week, and what’s waiting just around the corner

The halfway point of the European League of Football season is here, and there's more drama and excitement than ever. We've seen the rise of programs like the Prague Lions fighting for playoff positioning, the dominance of the new program Nordic Storm, and the consistency of teams like the Rhein Fire, Stuttgart Surge, and Paris Musketeers. Last year’s midseason MVP list was all over the board. This year, to promote a more focused conversation, Fourth Down Fiasco has introduc

Each week is a better one and as our friend Matt Bressington said : It was the best ELF ball week we’ve ever seen. 1. Nordic Storm Their scheduled matchup against the Mercenaries may have been postponed, but that doesn’t take away from their current form. Based on what we’ve seen so far this season, they’ve proven to be one of the most complete and dominant squads in the league. Alongside the Musketeers, they’ve clearly set themselves apart as one of the top contenders for

What a week it’s been! The standings saw some serious shakeups, with several teams on the rise, and others starting to raise red flags. Let’s dive into who’s trending upward and, more importantly, who’s beginning to look a little worrying...