The Berlin Thunder took a significant step backward during the 2025 European League of Football season, finishing with a 3-9 record and landing in last place in the competitive North Division.
A promising passing attack
The lone consistent bright spot for the franchise was its potent aerial offense. Quarterback Jakeb Sullivan orchestrated one of the league’s most productive passing games, which ranked third overall by averaging 272.6 yards per contest. Sullivan threw for 2,966 yards and 26 touchdowns, demonstrating the ability to carry the offense. The season also revealed a major talent in 20-year-old German wide receiver Tyler Foster. His emergence as a reliable playmaker, resulting in 826 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, earned him Rookie of the Year honors and provided a crucial homegrown cornerstone for the future.
Glaring weaknesses prove costly
Despite the success through the air, critical flaws plagued the team. The ground game was virtually nonexistent, averaging a league-worst 96.6 rushing yards per game and offering no balance. Defensively, the Thunder were among the ELF’s most vulnerable units, surrendering an average of 36 points per game. The pass defense was a particular liability, ranking 15th by allowing 263.8 yards per game. Furthermore, Sullivan’s 16 interceptions often undermined the team’s efforts and placed the struggling defense in untenable positions.
An uncertain future
The 2025 campaign raises serious questions about the franchise’s direction. While pieces like Sullivan and Foster provide a foundation, the roster requires substantial improvements, particularly on defense and the offensive line. The organization must make decisive changes this offseason to address these systemic weaknesses; failure to do so will likely see the Thunder remain stagnant in the lower tier of the standings.