ELF: Madrid Bravos sign QB Chris Helbig for 2024 season

| American Football | 02/20/2024

The Madrid Bravos have announced the signing of quarterback Chris Helbig for their inaugural season in the European League of Football.

The 6’4″, 214 pound, 24-year-old spent the 2023 season with the Vienna Vikings where he threw for 2,372 yards and 18 touchdowns guiding the team to a semifinal berth following an undefeated regular season. The year before, Helbig was the GFL’s leading passer for the Potsdam Royals throwing for 3,406 yards, 36 touchdowns, and completing 67% of his passes with only five interceptions. The dual-threat passer added another 344 yards and 13 scores on the ground.

Helbig commanded the Royals to the top-scoring offense in the league in 2022 averaging a jaw-dropping 50.5 points and 509 yards a game. Unfortunately, Helbig was injured in the semi-final and the Royals fell just short of a perfect season losing the German Bowl to the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns.

The Thornton, Colorado native spent two seasons playing for Southern Utah University (NCAA Div. 1, FCS). In 2018 and 2019, in 15 games he threw for 3,705 yards and 19 touchdowns while rushing for 220 yards and 11 scores. Prior to Southern Utah, Helbig spent the 2017 season with Butler Community College where he won eight of the 11 games he played in, throwing for a total of 1,661 yards, 16 touchdowns averaging 151 yards passing per game.

The dual threat passer joins an interesting squad put together by head coach Rip Scherer. In addition to wide receiver Willie Patterson who played for the Rhein Fire last season, the Bravos have added running back Dwayne Obi on offense and former Hamburg Sea Devils safety Kevin Fortes as well as DPOY nominee, defensive back Luke Glenna on defense.

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