AFLE UNVEILS FIRENZE RED LIONS AS SEVENTH TEAM

The American Football League of Europe’s Italian franchise has unveiled its official identity, confirming it will compete in the league’s inaugural season as the Firenze Red Lions.

The announcement, delivered via an emotional launch video on the club’s social media channels, formally introduces Florence to the European professional stage and signals what the organisation describes as the beginning of a new era for Italian American football.

In its launch message, the franchise leaned heavily into the city’s heritage, tying its brand to Florence’s cultural and historical weight.

“Before the stadiums, before the lights, before the game, there was a city built from marble, fire, and vision,” the message begins. “A city where art was forged like steel, where minds built empires, and where greatness was never an accident. Centuries have passed, but the spirit has never left.

“In this city, strength is tradition, passion is inherited, and pride is non-negotiable. Standing above it all is a lion — the guardian of the city, the symbol of defiance, the protector of legacy. We are the Firenze Red Lions.”

The lion, long associated with Florence, forms the centrepiece of the club’s branding, linking civic symbolism with sporting ambition. The ‘Red Lions’ moniker is designed to reflect both power and pride, while projecting confidence ahead of AFLE’s debut campaign.

With the name and logo now confirmed, the Firenze Red Lions move from concept to construction as roster-building and operational preparations continue. As the AFLE’s line-up moves from six to seven confirmed franchises, Florence’s entry adds another historic European city to the league’s footprint, with a franchise determined to translate centuries of civic identity into competitive presence on the field.