You Want Rhein? Good Luck – We’ve Seen What Happens Next

Despite winning back-to-back titles, Rhein’s mindset has not changed.

Despite losing the most lethal offensive one-two combo, Rhein’s mindset has not changed.

Despite an even more competitive league that saw all their rivals improve, Rhein’s mindset has not changed.

The mindset is to win—and not just win, but dominate.

The Rhein Fire have been an unstoppable force the past two years. With two MVPs leading the way in Jadrian Clark and Glen Toonga, the Rhein Fire found themselves not just winning, but at times obliterating the best competition in the European League of Football. The only loss in those two years came from a scrappy new Madrid team, who had no in-game experience and ultimately no film to study. Aside from one misstep, the Rhein Fire have been flawless over the past two years.

Now, part of this has to be attributed to the MVP duo of Toonga and Clark, but the most underrated aspect of this team has always been their defense. The defense has playmakers at all three levels, not to mention a stacked defensive backfield consisting of Omari Williams, Till Janssen, Jannik Seibel, Tony Anderson, and Darius Nash.

“They [Clark and Toonga] are great players. So, it hurts to lose them, but at the same time, I guess the only thing I’ll say is ‘we’ll see,’” stated returning DB, Tony Anderson. “What I can say, though, is we’ll play Rhein Fire football. And we’ll show up, and we’ll perform, and our intention is to win every game. That hasn’t changed.”

In the exchange, Anderson made it clear he admired his former teammates—but as we say in the States: ain’t shit sweet, meaning that when it comes time to win, there is no holding back. Even for friends. The focus of Rhein is the same as it has always been, no matter who their personnel is—and that focus is winning. This ball club does not linger on the past, even in the good times.

Anderson was also noted in the interview, saying that “the ‘23 team is not the ‘24 team. And the ‘25 team is not the ‘24 team. Basically, we have to prove—once again—that we can do it.”

These are the kind of words that must be music to Coach Tomsula’s ears. And it’s not just Anderson who shares this philosophy. It is the entire roster that embodies this mindset. At a team event during the offseason, Anderson said he was wearing a championship T-shirt, and teammate Omari Williams made it known that he could not wear the shirt again. His reasoning? The shirt says 2024, and this is 2025.

The dog mentality that Rhein brings is unlike anything I have seen from any other franchise within the ELF. There are no nuanced conversations about winning and losing. There are no asterisks. These gentlemen with Rhein have “expectations,” as Anderson put it—and that expectation is a week-by-week goal to break down each opponent the Rhein Fire way; however necessary.

That takes me to the defense. With the season so close, there are some folks—myself included—who have dropped Rhein down a peg due to personnel losses over the offseason. But after the discussion I had with Anderson, I have a feeling the Rhein defense is going to make me eat my words. In a league full of players foaming at the mouth at the thought of facing Rhein—and trust me, we’ve had enough interviews at FDF with guys saying that’s who they want to play—they may be biting off more than they can chew.

This defense—and more specifically the secondary—has been giving even the most high-powered offenses fits. They avenged their regular-season loss to the Bravos by holding them to 10 points in the Wildcard Round—Tony Anderson having two incredible pass breakups. They caused Reilly Hennessey to throw an uncharacteristic three interceptions, with Till Janssen grabbing two and Omari grabbing one. This tied Hennessey’s total interceptions thrown for the season. And they held a Vienna team, which many considered the best offense in the league, to a meek 20 points.

Those three individuals I just mentioned—along with Jannik Seibel, who had a pair of picks himself in the regular season—will be returning to continue their streak of wreaking havoc through the air. And Darius Nash, who is returning from injury last season, and looking to wreak the same level of havoc as his teammates. It is safe to say that the Rhein secondary is a no fly zone.

While this Rhein club constantly reminds themselves and others that this is a different team, I, as a journalist, can confidently say that this is the same defense, no, a better defense. I know it’s a mindset thing when they mention this being a different team, but as someone not associated with the squad, I have to say the other teams in the league should be terrified. This defense that held 3 of the 5 most high-powered offenses to an average of 17.7 points in the playoffs has seen minimal changes.

Oh, and they’re filling the QB spot with Chad Jeffries—the guy who was third in the league in passing yards last year—and adding a heat-seeking missile at WR in Jordan Bouah. Both additions, Anderson and company are very excited about. So, the offense will be fine too, but it should be the least of your worries. All these teams that say they want the Rhein Fire should reconsider that stance because they will quickly remind the league of exactly who they are: the best-run franchise in the league.

The Rhein Fire does not care about a three-peat.

The Rhein Fire does not care about accolades.

The Rhein Fire does not care about personnel changes.

The Rhein Fire does not care how good your offense is.

The Rhein Fire only has one goal—and that’s to take out any opponent that stands in the way of winning. Whether it’s a Week 1 matchup or a playoff game, they are always willing to prove themselves again. Between one of the most elite club cultures in the league and this relentless defense that never finds itself sucked into the black hole of complacency, this team is every bit as much a contender as they were in the past.