List of clubs in the German Football League

This is a List of clubs in the German Football League, including all clubs who played in the league while its official name was American football Bundesliga.

The American football Bundesliga was formed in 1979, consisting of six clubs. It was renamed to German Football League in 1999. From its inaugural season to the end of the 2015 season, 71 different clubs have played in the league, with the Frankfurt Universe becoming the 72nd team to enter the league in 2016. Of these clubs, the Munich Cowboys have spent the most seasons in the league, 35 of a possible 38 as of 2016, followed by the Berlin Adler with 34, both clubs being founding members of the league. The record number of championships, the German Bowl, have been won by the New Yorker Lions, formerly the Braunschweig Lions, with eleven wins. The Lions are also the record holder in division championships, with twelve, while the Berlin Adler hold the record for play-off participations with 24.Geschichte AFVD website, accessed: 23 October 2014GFL AFVD website, accessed: 23 October 2014

Overview The league was formed with six club in 1979, with the top two teams after the regular season contesting the German Bowl. From 1980, onwards the league was always split into a northern and southern division. From 1986 to 1990 these two divisions were further subdivided, resulting in a four division format. Since 1991, it has been playing as a two division league again, north and south.

The German champions have been, from the inaugural season, determined in the German Bowl. From 1981, onwards play-offs were held to determine the two teams playing in the German Bowl. In 1981, the play-offs consisted of four teams, from 1982 onwards of eight. From 1986 to 1990 twelve teams qualified for the play-offs, with the four division champions receiving a bye for the first round. Since 1991, the format has returned to eight teams. The play-off contenders are evenly spread over each division, meaning, in the current two division format the best four teams in each division qualify.

List of clubs

The list of clubs in the league from its inception in 1979 to the present season, sorted by the last season a club played in the league: Club No First Last PO Div Bowl Seasons (Bowl) Munich Cowboys 39 1979 Present 22611993 Cologne Crocodiles 27 1981Present21312000 Allgäu Comets 2 17 1985Present6——— Stuttgart Scorpions 29 1986Present 20 2 —— Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 23 1988 Present18 10 4 2011, 2012, 2017, 2018 Berlin Rebels 14 1992Present 4 ——— New Yorker Lions1 27 1994 Present 22 15 12 1997–1999, 2005–2008, 2013–2016, 2019 Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 21 1996 Present15412010 Marburg Mercenaries 18 2003 Present135—— Dresden Monarchs 18 2003 Present 15 ——— Frankfurt Universe 5 2016Present 4 ——— Potsdam Royals 3 2018 Present ———— Ravensburg Razorbacks 1 2021 Present ———— Saarland Hurricanes 15 2001 Present 3——— Hildesheim Invaders 6 1990 2019 1 ——— Ingolstadt Dukes 3 2017 2019 1——— Kirchdorf Wildcats 2 2018 2019 ———— Düsseldorf Panther 31 1979 2019 18961983, 1984, 1986, 1992, 1994, 1995 Hamburg Huskies 4 2015 2018 1——— Berlin Adler 35 1979201724961987, 1989–1991, 2004, 2009 Rhein-Neckar Bandits5201220162——— Franken Knights 314198620155——— Cologne Falcons6200520142——— Hamburg Blue Devils161995201312241996, 2001–2003 Wiesbaden Phantoms320112013———— Lübeck Cougars120122012———— Assindia Cardinals11198620112——— Plattling Black Hawks3200920111——— Mönchengladbach Mavericks1201120111——— Weinheim Longhorns420072010———— Darmstadt Diamonds6199020082——— Hannover Musketeers120042004———— Rüsselsheim Razorbacks 581996200363—— Landsberg Express4199720001——— Aschaffenburg Stallions2199920001——— Paderborn Dolphins219981999———— Hanau Hornets119991999———— Hanau Hawks1719801998132—— Nürnberg Rams 41619831998144—— Regensburg Royals4199219952——— Erding Bulls219811994———— Solingen Hurricanes 6719861994———— Hamburg Silver Eagles3199119941——— Bad Homburg Falken121981199351—— Dortmund Giants10198119935——— Monheim Sharks9198519934——— Badener Greifs81986199364—— Cologne Bears119921992———— Red Barons Cologne9198319917111988 München Rangers5198719911——— Ansbach Grizzlies121979199011731981, 1982, 1985 Düsseldorf Bulldozer7198419903——— Troisdorf Jets 77198419903——— Mainz Golden Eagles6198519901——— Würzburg Pumas319881990———— Bremen Buccaneers219891990———— Rüsselsheim Crusaders219891990———— Fürth Buffalos119901990———— Ratingen Raiders219881989———— Königsbrunn Ants 8119891989———— Mannheim Redskins6198219882——— Hamburg Dolphins519831988———— Recklinghausen Chargers119871987———— Bremerhaven Seahawks5197919861——— Nürnberg Vikings119861986———— Frankfurter Löwen6197919846321979, 1980 Starnberg Argonauts219831984———— Stuttgart Stallions319811983———— Essen Eagles2198019831——— Solingen Steelers 219811982———— Herne Tigers 119821982———— Mönchengladbach Mustangs119821982———— Straubing Bisons219801981———— Krefeld Condors119811981———— Neu Isenburg Adler119801980———— Kitzingen Colts119801980————

Key Denotes club plays in the GFL 2019. Denotes club plays in a league below the GFL in 2019. Club defunct.

Club Name of club No Number of seasons in league First First season in league Last Last season in league PO Play-off qualification Div Number of division titles won Bowl Number of German Bowls won Seasons Seasons German Bowls were won in 1 Played as Braunschweig Lions from 1987 to 2010, as Hygia Lions in 2011 and as New Yorker Lions since 2012. 2 Played as Kempten Comets from 1982 to 1993 and as Allgäu Comets since 1994. 3 Played as Rothenburg Knights from 1984 to 1994 and as Franken Knights since 1995. 4 Played as Nürnberg Rams from 1981 to 1997 and, again, since 2007. Played as Noris Rams from 1988 to 1998. 5 Played as Rüsselsheim Razorbacks from 1989 to 2002 and, again, from 2007 to 2010 and as Rhein Main Razorbacks from 2003 to 2006. 6 Played as Hilden Hurricanes from 1983 to 1989 and as Solingen Hurricanes from 1990 to 1998. 7 Played as Bonner Jets from 1982 to 1989 and as Troisdorf Jets since 1990. 8 Played as Augsburg Ants from 1986 to 1987 and as Königsbrunn Ants since 1988.

Season placings The placings in the league from its inaugural season in 1979 to the present one:Football-history Historic American football tables and results from Germany, accessed: 23 October 2014

Bundesliga The Bundesliga era from 1979 to 1998:

Single division Six clubs competed in the inaugural 1979 season with the Frankfurter Löwen winning the league and the German Bowl. Runners-up in both were the Ansbach Grizzlies while the Berlin Bären, now the Berlin Adler came third and the Bremerhaven Seahawks, Munich Cowboys and Düsseldorf Panther followed behind in this order.

North Bundesliga North 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 Braunschweig Lions 4 5 4 2 1 Hamburg Blue Devils 4 2 1 2 Cologne Crocodiles 2 1 2 2 3 4 2 4 3 3 2 2 1 3 3 3 3 3 Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 5 4 4 Düsseldorf Panther 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 5 3 3 2 1 1 5 5 Paderborn Dolphins 6 Berlin Adler 5 6 4 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 6 6 Berlin Rebels 5 5 5 6 Solingen Hurricanes 5 5 6 5 6 6 6 Hamburg Silver Eagles 7 4 7 Monheim Sharks 8 4 2 4 6 3 4 4 7 Dortmund Giants 6 7 2 3 2 2 2 6 6 8 Cologne Bears 7 Red Barons Cologne 3 5 6 2 3 2 1 2 3 Hildesheim Invaders 4 8 Düsseldorf Bulldozer 4 5 6 6 3 3 4 Assindia Cardinals 3 4 5 4 5 Troisdorf Jets 6 4 3 5 3 4 5 Bremen Buccaneers 5 6 Ratingen Raiders 5 6 Hamburg Dolphins 6 7 5 4 6 Recklinghausen Chargers 6 Bremerhaven Seahawks 3 3 7 6 Essen Eagles 4 5 Herne Tigers 5 Solingen Steelers 4 7 Mönchengladbach Mustangs 8 Frankfurter Löwen 1 1 Krefeld Condors 7

South Bundesliga South 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 Stuttgart Scorpions 4 5 6 6 6 8 4 3 6 1 Rüsselsheim Razorbacks 5 5 2 Hanau Hawks 2 2 6 2 2 2 3 3 4 7 2 2 1 2 1 3 Munich Cowboys 3 4 2 2 4 4 4 6 2 1 2 1 1 1 3 4 3 4 Landsberg Express 4 5 Noris Rams 3 7 3 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 4 3 2 1 2 6 Regensburg Royals 4 5 4 5 Franken Knights 5 6 3 5 6 Erding Bulls 7 6 Allgäu Comets 6 2 3 2 6 4 5 5 6 7 Badener Greifs 1 1 2 1 1 3 6 7 Bad Homburg Falken 5 6 5 5 4 5 1 2 3 4 2 8 Darmstadt Diamonds 2 6 7 München Rangers 5 5 4 2 8 Mainz Golden Eagles 8 5 3 5 4 5 Ansbach Grizzlies 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 3 5 Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 4 5 6 Würzburg Pumas 4 5 6 Rüsselsheim Crusaders 6 7 Fürth Buffalos 7 Königsbrunn Ants 7 Mannheim Redskins 7 3 7 3 4 6 Nürnberg Vikings 6 Frankfurter Löwen 3 4 4 Starnberg Argonauts 5 8 Straubing Bisons 6

GFL The German Football League era from 1999 to present:

North

South

Key German Bowl winners German Bowl runners up Divisional champion Play-off participation In 1979 the league was placed in a single division format with six clubs. League table for the 1980 season not available. From 1986 to 1990 the northern and southern divisions were subdivided into two divisions.

References

External links German Football League official website German American Football Association website Football History Historic American football tables from Germany Football Aktuell American football news, results & tables