NFL’S JOHNSON SAYS ELF HAS CHANGED FOOTBALL IN EUROPE
For six years, Jakob Johnson has been a figurehead for German football in the world’s strongest league, be he still closely follows events in Europe, and has strong words to say about the European League of Football.
Speaking to Stuttgart’s podcast Surge Insights, the 30-year-old praised the concept of professional football in Europe, particularly if it increases the opportunity for players to make the leap across the Atlantic. However, he also urged patience from all sides in the current turbulent climate brought on by the emergence of the European Football Alliance and last week’s shock resignation announcement from commissioner Patrick Esume.
Johnson insists that things will not always run smoothly in the relationship between the league and its franchises, acknowledging the difference of opinion between the nine members of the EFA — which does not currently include Stuttgart as they maintain a watching brief — and ELF managing director Zeljko Karajica over matters on and off the field.
“As far as the entire business is concerned, how the league is structured, what’s going on there, these are things that will simply emerge over time,” Johnson reasoned. “The NFL we see today is not the NFL of 50 years ago, 60 years ago — or even ten years ago. These are things that the people responsible for them have to take care of. The players can’t do anything about that. That’s a matter for the GmbH people — they have to manage the whole thing.”
After stints with the New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants, the fullback is now under contract with the Houston Texans and preparing for the 2025 NFL season. However, his involvement in the ELF runs deeper than simply being an interested observer from ‘across the pond’, having jumped at the chance to play a part in the Surge organisation from early on. Having initially served as an ambassador for his hometown team, Johnson ultimately signed up as a shareholder in February 2022, prompting managing director Suni Musa to describe his investment as a ‘true coup’ as the NFL veteran both embodies the franchise’s values and acts as a role model for many young players.
“The ELF has definitely changed our sport in Europe and in Germany, improving opportunities for talented players,” Johnson commented. “Back then, I simply wanted to prove that it’s possible for a young player to make the leap across the pond. For me, it was a logical consequence that we simply need a professional league in Europe and, when the Surge joined the ELF, it was a given that I had to be involved somehow.
“It’s the biggest possible stage on which you can present yourself in Europe. The European League of Football changes the mindset of guys. I think, if the Surge had existed back then, I would definitely have played for them.”
Instead, Johnson made his move to the USA from the Stuttgart Scorpions of the German Football League in 2019, two years before the ELF was founded by Esume and Karajica, but remains an avid follower of the Europe-wide league and one who is impressed with the development he has seen.
“I see better football from most of the teams,” he claimed. “Especially when the teams from the top half of the league compete against each other, you see really good football these days — and also football that’s just fun to watch.
“You have matchups where you really say, ‘Okay, this is going to be a tough game’, and the guys deliver on the field. That’s definitely a huge difference from year one to now: the percentage of good football in the league has increased dramatically.”
Unfortunately for Johnson, this year’s ELF Championship game, which takes place in Stuttgart and could legitimately feature ‘his’ team, clashes with the opening weekend of the new NFL season, likely precluding any chance of him attending the match.