Carlstad Crusaders secure championship experience with Rory Kelly return

The Carlstad Crusaders, fresh off back-to-back Swedish Superserien championships in 2024 and 2025, have secured a key piece of their dominant defense by re-signing Canadian defensive back Rory Kelly for the 2026 season. The 28-year-old safety from Moncton, New Brunswick will return for his fifth consecutive year with the franchise, providing continuity and leadership in the secondary.

Championship experience in Sweden
Since arriving in Sweden in 2022, Kelly has been instrumental in Carlstad’s championship runs, contributing 23.5 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 2 pass breakups during the 2025 season. His total of 89 tackles over four seasons demonstrates the consistency that makes him so valuable to the Crusaders’ defense as they prepare to defend their title in 2026.

A decorated college career
Before joining the Crusaders, Kelly built an impressive resume in Canadian university football. He spent four years with the Acadia University Axemen, where he helped the team win the Atlantic University Sport Football Conference championship in both 2017 and 2019. His individual excellence was recognized with first-team all-conference selections in both 2018 and 2019. He concluded his college career by winning the Vanier Cup national championship with the University of Western Ontario in 2021.

Kelly acknowledges that despite Carlstad’s successes, the team’s goal remains unchanged:

“The expectations still remain the same however, we have some moving pieces, new changing leadership but I can’t wait for the opportunity for the new guys to step up into bigger roles and help continue Crusaders dominance in Superserien!”