RHEIN REMAINS STEADFAST AMID FRESH TURMOIL
Even as its founders seek to distance themselves from current team management, two-time European League of Football champions Rhein Fire are pressing ahead with preparations for the 2026 season.
Late on Tuesday (10th November), original shareholders René Alexander Engel, Martin Wagner, David Wallen, Ottogerd Karasch and Markus Fong issued a lengthy statement lamenting that ‘the internal dynamics of the organisation have changed significantly’, moving the Fire away from the ‘values that have been the foundation of the project for us from the very beginning’.
While in favour of splitting from the ELF when the league’s management were accused of causing financial instability, along with a lack of transparency and contractual breaches — indeed, Wagner was especially outspoken about the situation during the 2025 campaign — it was also proving to be a tough season for the back-to-back champions, on and off the field. Personnel changes, notwithstanding the loss of Jadrian Clark, Glen Toonga and others to rival teams over the offseason, were evident, headlined by head coach Jim Tomsula’s decision to return to the USA for ‘family reasons’ — an excuse that is now looking thin given these latest revelations.
“This development has not only had sporting consequences, but also personnel changes,” the statement confirmed. “Long-serving and valued employees such as ticketing manager Marc Nantke and, most recently, sporting director Max Paatz have left the organization, [while] head coach Jim Tomsula … decided in May 2025 not to return.”
It was a change of motivation within the wider management group that proved to be the final straw, however, with the statement citing a deviation in ‘internal dynamics’ as the reason to go public with their concerns.
“Our goal from the very beginning was to build an organisation like the one we always wished we had during our own playing days — characterised by professionalism, appreciation, and genuine passion for the sport,” the quintet wrote. “Our motivation was never financial gain, but rather the promotion of the sport, the development of athletes and the establishment of a professional American football team for the fans in our region. It has always been of utmost importance to us to be reliable and fair partners to our employees, players, coaches, cheerleaders, and service providers.
“From 2022 to 2024, Rhein Fire developed into one of the most successful and well-known brands in European American football with this approach. Together with our fans, partners, and supporters, we achieved sporting and organisational milestones — culminating in the championships in 2023 and 2024. However, since October 2024, the majority ownership within the operating company has changed so drastically that the signatories no longer control the project’s content and strategy. Consequently, the personal, including financial, interests of individual shareholders have taken precedence. At the same time, the internal dynamics of the organisation have changed significantly — moving away from the values that have been the foundation of the project for us from the very beginning.”
The apparent haste with which the team rushed to change its identity once the ELF announced that defecting franchises would not be able to retain their NFL Europe nicknames also irked the founders.
“In recent months, we have continued to try to positively influence the development of Rhein Fire — unfortunately, without success. Instead, decisions were made that we cannot support — such as the uncontested abandonment of the name and brand ‘Rhein Fire’ which, for us and many fans, is inextricably linked to the history and identity of this project. Rhein Fire was always more than a team to us. It was a family.”
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A response from the team was swift, and ended with an acknowledgement of — and open door offer to — the founding members.
“As shareholders still involved in the Rhein Fire project, they are welcome to engage in further discussions and participate at any time,” an official statement confirmed. “Rhein Fire has accomplished a great deal, but has also faced considerable challenges. As a company — and primarily as a team — we believe in a successful future for everyone involved: players, coaches, (office) staff, cheerleaders, fans, partners, sponsors, and shareholders.”
The preceding paragraphs detailed the organisation’s plans for 2026, confirming its intention to compete in whatever European league arises from the rubble of the ELF-EFA split — and consequent differing opinions within the latter.
“Our office team is working tirelessly to meet the challenges of the ongoing transition,” managing director — and founding shareholder — Daniel Thywissen noted. “A new sporting structure can’t be established overnight. It requires patience — both professionally and personally.”
Thywissen — who, along with his team, enjoys the confidence of the shareholders — also detailed developments on the sporting side as Rhein look to return to the very top.
“Sporting planning will be spearheaded by our offensive coordinator for the 2025 season, Rohat Dagdelen,” he revealed. “In addition to discussions with players from the past season and potential new signings, he is working with the franchise management to find a head coach for the upcoming year. [Erstwhile interim HC] Richard Kent has already indicated, pending the approval of a new head coach, that he will be available as defensive coordinator for the upcoming season.”
The statement also confirmed that the fan competition to find a new nickname for the team had proven to be a resounding success, with over 2,000 responses giving the management plenty of suggestions to work with.
“The response was overwhelming [for] an initiative unprecedented in European professional sports, [and] this is also reflected in the media coverage,” Thywissen concluded. “We are pleased to have the promised support of trademark attorney and football expert Robert Meyen for the next steps.”