ELF: Rhein Fire sign All-Europe offensive lineman Yasir Raji

| American Football | 02/14/2023

The Rhein Fire of the European League of Football have signed German-Nigerian offensive lineman Yasir Raji. Raji, who has been one of the best offensive linemen in the German Football League the last two seasons now takes his talents to Düsseldorf joining former San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Tomsula and the Rhein Fire.

The 6’2 270 pound lineman played the last two seasons for the Potsdam Royals helping them reach the German Bowl last season. Behind Raji, the Royals had the top rushing attack in both 2022 and 2021 in the GFL. Raji earned first-team GFL All-Star honors both seasons and was recognized by AFI as first-team all Europe in 2021. 

Raji was a key component in a dominant Royals offensive line that produced the GFL’s most potent rushing offense with 2,660 yards and 31 touchdowns through 12 games in 2021. The next closest team, the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, had 556 fewer yards despite playing one more contest. Skipping ahead to last season, Potsdam again had a top offense, averaging a jaw-dropping 50.5 points and 509 yards a game.

In 2021, Raji even ran 27 yards to paydirt on a TE end around against the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes, a testament to his unique athleticism.

Prior to joining the Royals in 2021, Raji played six seasons for the Dresden Monarchs and was invited to the 2019 NFL International Combine in Cologne. 

Raji is one of many European free agents flocking to the Rhein Fire. So far this off-season, Jim Tomsula and the Rhein Fire management have already signed up a laundry list of the top available players in Europe including NFL IPP prospects Lino Schroeter, Flamur Simon, Leiander Weigand, Alejandro Fernandez, as well as All-Star offensive lineman Joachim Christensen and maybe the biggest of all, last year’s leading rusher in Brit Glen Toonga.

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