Frankfurt Galaxy

The 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 Waldstadion. The Galaxy was the only team in the league to have remained in operation and in the same city throughout the league's existence.

Frankfurt Galaxy
Frankfurt Galaxy logo
Year founded1991
Year retired2007
Home fieldCommerzbank-Arena
CityFrankfurt, Germany
Team colorsPurple and Orange
   
Football Uniforms of Frankfurt Galaxy
Championships

In September 2014 it was announced that the Frankfurt Football Betriebs GmbH had purchased the rights for the Frankfurt Galaxy from the NFL. It plans to rename the Frankfurt Universe, playing in the German Football League 2 into Frankfurt Galaxy and to take the former's spot in the league in 2015. An attempt to do the same in 2007 had failed because the naming rights then lay with the NFL.[1][2]

History

In 1991, the Galaxy was a founding member of the World League of American Football (WLAF). They hosted the first ever WLAF game against the London Monarchs at the Waldstadion on March 23, 1991 and scored the first ever WLAF points with a safety, but lost the game.

When the World League resumed in 1995, the Galaxy, the Monarchs, and Barcelona Dragons were the only former WLAF teams that continued playing. Before it folded, Frankfurt Galaxy was the oldest pro football team outside of the NFL and CFL. Frankfurt also played in the last NFL Europa game, losing the 2007 World Bowl to Hamburg.

The Frankfurt Galaxy's record eight appearances in the 15 World Bowl games were evenly split in the composite standings with four wins (1995, 1999, 2003 and 2006) and four losses (1996, 1998, 2004, and 2007).

Season-by-season

Season League Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
1991 WLAF 7 3 0 .700 3rd (European)        
1992 WLAF 3 7 0 .300 2nd (European)        
1993 WLAF suspended operations from 1993 to 1994
1994
1995 WLAF 6 4 0 .600 2nd (League) 1 0 1.000 World Bowl '95 champions
1996 WLAF 6 4 0 .600 2nd (League) 0 1 .000 Lost to Scottish Claymores in World Bowl '96
1997 WLAF 4 6 0 .400 5th (League)        
1998 NFLE 7 3 0 .700 1st (League) 0 1 .000 Lost to Rhein Fire in World Bowl '98
1999 NFLE 6 4 0 .600 2nd (League) 1 0 1.000 World Bowl '99 champions
2000 NFLE 4 6 0 .400 5th (League)        
2001 NFLE 3 7 0 .300 6th (League)        
2002 NFLE 6 4 0 .600 3rd (League)        
2003 NFLE 6 4 0 .600 1st (League) 1 0 1.000 World Bowl XI champions
2004 NFLE 7 3 0 .700 2nd (League) 0 1 .000 Lost to Berlin Thunder in World Bowl XII
2005 NFLE 3 7 0 .300 5th (League)        
2006 NFLE 7 3 0 .700 2nd (League) 1 0 .000 World Bowl XIV champions
2007 NFLE 7 3 0 .700 2nd (League) 0 1 .000 Lost to Hamburg Sea Devils in World Bowl XV
Total 82 68 0 .547 4 4 .500

Head coaches

# Name Term Regular season Postseason Achievements
GC Won Lost Ties Win % GC Won Lost Win %
1 Jack Elway 19911992 20 10 10 0 .500          
2 Ernie Stautner 19951997 30 16 14 0 .533 2 1 1 .500 World Bowl '95 championship
World League Coach of the Year (1995)
3 Dick Curl 19982000 30 17 13 0 .567 2 1 1 .500 World Bowl '99 championship
2× NFL Europe Coach of the Year (1998, 1999)
4 Doug Graber 20012003 30 15 15 0 .500 1 1 0 1.000 World Bowl XI championship
NFL Europe Coach of the Year (2003)
5 Mike Jones 20042007 40 24 16 0 .600 3 1 2 .333 World Bowl XIV championship
NFL Europe Coach of the Year (2006)

Notable players

No. Player Position(s) Years Played Notable
5, 81 Mario Bailey WR 1995–2000 All-Time NFL Europe Receiving leader
1, 18 Andy McCullough WR 1999, 2001 World Bowl VII Most Valuable Player[3]
4 J. T. O'Sullivan QB 2004, 2007 NFL Europa Co-Offensive Most Valuable Player (2007)[4]
11 Mike Perez QB 1991–1992 First starting quarterback in team history
32 Roger Robinson RB 2006 Led League in rushing, All-NFLEL team selection[5]
82 Keith L. Craig WR 1991 First Service Member (U.S.Army) selected under Operation Discovery[6]

References

  1. Aus Universe wird Galaxy (in German) football-aktuell.de, accessed: 10 September 2014
  2. Streit um Frankfurt Galaxy (in German) football-aktuell.de, accessed: 10 September 2014
  3. "Andy is a real catch". NFL.com. June 27, 1999.
  4. "All-NFL Europa Team" (Press release). June 21, 2007.
  5. "NFLEL names All-League team, MVPs" (Press release). May 25, 2006.
  6. "Wiesbaden Galaxy sets player tryouts, medical seminar". Stars and Stripes. September 11, 1991.
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