ELF: Hamburg Sea Devils sign ex-NFL assistant Bob Valesente as DC

| American Football | 05/22/2025

The Hamburg Sea Devils have found an experienced successor to their current defensive coordinator, Ray Woodward. Bob Valesente, an internationally recognized football veteran, will now assume responsibility for the Hamburg team’s defense.

NFL resume

Valesente brings over 35 years of coaching experience – including stints as an assistant coach in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Colts, and Carolina Panthers. The 84-year-old has also left his mark internationally: As defensive coordinator, he led the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe, won the 2010 German Bowl with the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes, and won the World Games title with the French national team in 2017.

“With Bob, we are gaining an exceptional coach who has impressively demonstrated his ability to shape and develop teams both in the USA and Europe,” says Mark Weitz, Managing Director of the Hamburg Sea Devils. “His experience and personality are an asset to the entire organization.”

The Hamburg Sea Devils have found an experienced successor for their current defensive coordinator, Ray Woodward: Bob Valesente, an internationally recognized football veteran, will now assume responsibility for the Hamburg team’s defense.

The next step in Hamburg

Valesente brings over 35 years of coaching experience – including stints as an assistant coach in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Colts, and Carolina Panthers. The 84-year-old has also left his mark internationally: As defensive coordinator, he led the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe, won the 2010 German Bowl with the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes, and won the World Games title with the French national team in 2017.

For Valesente himself, the move to Hamburg is far more than just another chapter in his long career: “Football is my passion. I love the challenge of developing talent, building teams, and competing at the highest level,” he explains. “It’s a great privilege for me to be able to take on this role at my age – and I will do everything I can to be successful with the Sea Devils.”

Valesente will make his debut on the Sea Devils’ sidelines this Saturday in an away game against the Prague Lions. The first major home game follows on May 31 in Bremen against Stuttgart Surge.

Alex is a former NCAA and semi-pro American football player who is now located in London, where he works in digital marketing. His goal in writing for AFI is to stay involved with the game that has given him so much. Alex enjoys covering leagues and