BRZOZOWSKI BOOSTS WROCLAW AHEAD OF 2026 CAMPAIGN
Panthers Wroclaw have ensured some vital continuity ahead of the 2026 season, with star running back Dawid Brzozowski signing a new contract to remain with the club as they prepare for the inaugural AFLE campaign.
The extension keeps one of Europe’s most productive offensive players at the heart of the Lower Silesian side, underlining both his importance to the organisation and the franchise’s wider ambitions as the continent’s competitive landscape reshapes.
Brzozowski’s journey to becoming a cornerstone in Wroclaw has been anything but conventional. Born in Italy, he first took up the sport in Poland with the Bielawa Owls before earning a move to the Panthers ahead of the 2022 season. Since then, he has developed into a defining presence in elite European competition — the kind of player, internally, around whom lineups are constructed.
That status has been reinforced by sustained production. A breakout 2023 campaign saw him rush for 1116 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning ELF Homegrown of the Year honours, before following it with 1119 yards and eight scores the next season. He added a further 770 yards and 12 touchdowns last year, bringing his four-year total to 3,684 yards and 35 touchdowns on 699 carries.
Such consistency has made him both a focal point of the Panthers’ offense and a symbol of their long-term project — one that now carries into AFLE’s debut season.
“It’s obvious – the Wroclaw Panthers are my second home,” Brzozowski said. “I’m proud to represent this organisation as a ‘homegrown’. It’s one of the best clubs in Europe where, as a player, I’m provided with everything I need to develop.”
His preparation for 2026 reflects a player intent on maintaining that level. “In the off-season, I focus primarily on building strength, muscle mass, and recovery,” he explained. “I spend most of my time in the gym, but I also ensure regular on-field training and ongoing physiotherapy to be in optimal condition for the start of the season.”
Beyond his individual output, Brzozowski’s presence offers a reference point for the Panthers’ evolving roster — one he believes is capable of elevating the offense further.
“The roster moves are looking great, and I can’t wait to start preparing together,” he said. “The team’s potential is enormous, and each of us will want to prove it on the field. I think we’ll surprise many defenses in the league with our offensive play.”
While the AFLE will bring unfamiliar opposition, one matchup already stands out.
“We’ll be facing many teams for the first time, so it’s hard to predict who will present the toughest challenges,” he said. “However, the [Vienna] Vikings, whom I know well, will definitely be among the top teams.”
There is also a personal edge to the schedule, with Brzozowski highlighting a return to his roots.
“When it comes to away games, I’m most excited about the match in Florence,” he admitted. “This has to do with my roots as I was born and spent my childhood in Italy.”
As one of the league’s leading homegrown talents, Brzozowski’s trajectory carries broader significance for the sport’s development in the region though, by his own admission, there is no blueprint to follow.
“Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all recipe for success,” he said. “Every player writes their own story, with different goals, motivations and limitations. However, if I were to point to factors that helped me get to this point, they would be the support of loved ones, hard work ethic and humility.”
For Panthers Wroclaw, securing that mindset — and the production that comes with it — offers both stability and momentum heading into a defining year.
“Speaking on behalf of myself and the entire team: thank you for your support so far,” Brzozowski added. “We promise to give our all in preparations to provide you with unforgettable experiences and make the 2026 season special for the entire Panthers Nation!”