The American Football in Switzerland: Between Success and Growing Pains

The Calanda Broncos have reached the final of the Central European Football League, another testament to the international class of some Swiss teams. While the ELF team Helvetic Mercenaries is still falling short of expectations, other clubs are making waves across Europe. Whether it’s tackle, flag, or 7v7/5v5 touch football: Swiss players are competing at the top level. However, why isn’t success equally spread across the board? A look at the good – and not-so-good – sides of Swiss football. 

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As successful as it gets in Europe: A look a the Calanda Broncos

The Calanda Broncos have reached the final of the CEFL for the second year in a row, after a 17–7 semifinal win against the Warsaw Eagles. The CEFL is currently the Champions League equivalent of European American football. Most of the best clubs from European leagues compete here, usually the national champions or runners-up. Of course, European League of Football (ELF) franchises are not included, and not all of Europe’s top teams take part. Still, this competition gives European tackle football clubs a chance to compete on an international stage at the highest level. 

The Broncos are among the best tackle football organizations in Europe. After a loss in last year’s final to the Danube Dragons and a controversial defeat in 2019 to the Tirol Raiders, they are aiming to finally win their first international title since 2012. Back then, Calanda won the predecessor competition, the Eurobowl, defeating the Vienna Vikings 27–14 in the final. This year, they’ll face the Thonon Black Panthers in the final, a team they still have unfinished business with after Calanda’s quarter final loss to them in 2023. 

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The Reasons Behind The Success of Calanda

What’s the Broncos’ secret? Their organization. The front office and coaching staff have been doing an outstanding job for years. Head coach Geoff Buffum is one of the best football coaches in Europe. The Broncos don’t just look at talent when choosing imports, they value character as well. Versatile weapon Max Gray has been in Chur since 2019 and could easily fill an A-import spot on an ELF team. The dominant offensive line, anchored by 50-year-old (!) football legend Andre Mathes, is another ingredient in the recipe for success. Since 2024, the Broncos have been starting homegrown local talent Robin Sennrich at quarterback, and it’s working out extremely well. 

American football is a fringe sport in Switzerland and far less popular and developed than in neighboring countries like Germany or Austria. But in the cantonal capital of Chur, American football is no fringe sport. "With few alternatives, no other club from the Chur region has been as successful in the Alpine canton as the Broncos." There’s no professional soccer team, and the local hockey club doesn’t play in the first division. The lack of alternatives and the Broncos’ national dominance attract sponsors and media interest. In 2021, I played a season with the Calanda Broncos myself, and I must admit: The facilities, training conditions, and overall setup are on another level. No other canton in Switzerland values American football like Graubünden – thanks to the Broncos. 

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The Swiss Have More Than Just The Broncos

In flag football, the ASVZ Blackbirds are what the Broncos are in tackle. The Zurich based team ranks among the best in Europe. Last fall, led by quarterback Dennis Sieger, the team reached the final of the Champions Bowl in Croatia. The Champions Bowl is the equivalent of the Champions League and is very professionally organized. Unlike the CEFL, ALL European national champions and runners-up actually take part in this top level flag football event, competing over a weekend in Croatia to crown the best European team. The Swiss beat the Italian champions the Arona 65ers and English champions London Smoke. Only in the final did the Blackbirds fall to German powerhouse Walldorf Wanderers. 

At the 2024 Flag Football World Championship, the Swiss men’s national team won a sensational bronze medal. Their only defeats came against the eventual world champion (USA) and runner-up (Austria). In the third-place game, they pulled off a spectacular upset over tournament favorite Mexico. 

While 7v7 and 5v5 touch football aren’t as widespread in Europe as in North America, Swiss teams have been highly successful in this style of football. In the U.S. and Canada, 7v7 and 5v5 currently enjoy more hype than tackle or flag football, especially among top college recruits (via the NFL Network), former D1 athletes, and adult recreational players. As founder and captain of the Baselland Pioneers, and co-organizer of the 7v7 and 5v5 Swiss Championships, I can confidently say: Switzerland’s level is among the best in Europe. No surprise: ELF stars, flag footballers, and Swiss NLA players all compete here. 

Want examples? ELF Rookie of the Year Milan Spiller plays for Pres d’Orvin Only Flags, ex-NFL Academy player Timothy Schürmann suits up for the BBD Cheetahs (2025 Switzerland Bowl Champions), and flag football World Championship bronze medalist Tim Vogler plays for the Baselland Pioneers (2024 Swiss 7v7 Champions & 2025 European 7v7 Champions). 

On March 2nd, the Pioneers won the 7v7 European Championship in Amsterdam, powered by a strong mix of imports like Darrell Stewart Jr. and Dion Henrique, Swiss ELF and NLA players like Fabian Bruhin and Greg Calonego, and flag football stars like QB Dennis Sieger and Tim Vogler. In the final, they beat the Precision Academy 31–18. 

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Not Everything is Sweet in Switzerland

Swiss football teams clearly prove their international class again and again. So why hasn’t Switzerland’s ELF team, the Helvetic Mercenaries, managed to do the same? 

In an ideal scenario, the Mercenaries have playoff potential, as shown by Madrid Bravos in 2024 or Nordic Storm in 2025. The conditions? A competent coaching staff, already in place with Marcus Herford. Young talent? Names like Milan Spiller, Timothy Schürmann, or NLA Offensive Rookie of the Year Lennox Gautschi suggest so. Even A-imports like Keelan Cole, Ken Hike Jr., Anthony Brown, and Sky Noble have made an impact. So yes, some key elements are there, though more young players are needed. Still, success has been elusive. Why? 

A central reason: Many of Switzerland’s top players don’t (or didn’t) want to play for the ELF team in 2025. Names like Tim Hänni, Sven Riepl, Thomas Gfeller, Fabian Bruhin, Dominik Liechti, and Patrick Grand have stayed loyal to the NLA. Even in the team’s first season, not all positions were filled with the best homegrown talent.

 Another factor: The front office’s unstable and often controversial past. Frequent ownership and management changes, sometimes involving unqualified personnel, have driven away players, sponsors, and media interest. Only recently was the heavily criticized GM dismissed. 

Head coach Herford and ex-NFL players like Cole bring fresh hope, but more is needed. The Mercenaries must prove that scandals and instability are a thing of the past. They must convince top NLA players to join, recruit high-quality imports, rebuild their reputation, and in doing so regain the interest of sponsors and media. 

The talent in Swiss football and European success is undoubtedly there. Teams like the Calanda Broncos, ASVZ Blackbirds, or Baselland Pioneers prove it. The Mercenaries could share in that success, if they make the necessary structural changes. 

Then, they too could make positive headlines.