Former NFL Players in the European League of Football’s 2024 season

| American Football | 04/10/2024

This year’s European League of Football is set to kick off on May 25th. The ELF is now heading into its fourth season and boasts an impressive number of talented European and American talent spread throughout its 16 teams.

While there are still a few American roster spots available across the league, most teams have locked down their American talent for the upcoming season. This year, the league has several players with NFL experience, following in the footsteps of other former NFL players to suit up in the ELF such as Michael Sam, JR Tavai, Kasim Edeballi, Giorgio Tavecchio, Seantavius Jones, and Jerod Evans. 

For the purpose of this article, we will highlight players who spent time either on the practice squad or active roster for an NFL team, as the list of players who spend the pre-season or a minicamp with NFL teams is very long. 

Kelvin Mcknight Jr – WR Rhein Fire

The Florida-born receiver and kick returner spent three months and a half months on the Denver Broncos practice squad as well as two off-seasons with them and a stop with Bill Bellicheck and New England Patriots. The Samford University ( NCAA D1 FCS) standout played two seasons in the CFL following his NFL stint with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The last time we saw Mcknight Jr on the field he was the 2023 XFL’s leading kick returner making several highlight plays for the Seattle Seadragons. He’ll be a key part of the Fire’s title defense this season as a returner and receiver. 

Connor Weddington – WR Cologne Centurions

The 6’ Stanford product was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks and spent the 2021 season on the Seahawks practice squad and on the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. In 2022, he signed with the Houston Texans but was released just prior to the season. He was then added to the Seahawks practice squad in early 2023 but was released before the season. Weddington looks to be the go-to guy for the Centurions on the outside this year.

During his time playing at Stanford University, he recorded 971 receiving yards, 106 receptions, one receiving touchdown, 87 rushing yards and 686 kick return yards across four seasons. Weddington ran a 4.44 40-yard dash on his pro-day and was a top recruit during his high school days.

Aaron Donkor – Edge Rhein Fire

Donkor was an NFL IPP player out of Germany who spent two seasons on the Seattle Seahawks practice squad before stops in the XFL and CFL last year. The former basketball player is a freak athlete at the edge position with a explosive get off. Donkor could be a force coming off the edge for the Fire after spending three seasons in pro ball in North America.

After years of hiding on practice squads, Donkor is ready to show off the skills and athleticism that made him an NFL athlete in front of his friends and family back in Germany. 

Chis Ezeala – LB Stuttgart Surge

After a year off Ezeala returns to the field for last year’s runner-ups the Stuttgart Surge. Ezeala was a hard-hitting linebacker for the Allgau Comets in 2017 before catching the eye of NFL IPP scouts. Ezeala spent two seasons as a fullback for the Baltimore Ravens before playing in the CFL and the ELF with the Cologne Centurions in 2021. The hard-hitting veteran could be a game changer for the Surge’s defense as they look to get back to the title game this year.

Matt Cole – WR Wroclaw Panthers

Even at the age of 27, Matt Cole is one of the most experienced players in the ELF today, possibly ever. Cole has been part of seven NFL rosters, whether it be as a member of practice squads, reserves, or, in the case of his stint with the San Franciso 49ers, on the active roster. The receiver has legitimate speed, quickness, and burst that will make him borderline uncoverable if he is used in the slot. As a former special team standout, he gives the Panthers options on both kick and punt return with the 2023 Specialist of the Year in Devan Burrell. Not only this, but getting the ball into in his hands early and often could see the short passing game of Wroclaw enter into the elite conversation. – via Matt Bressington

Sandro Platzgummer – RB Frankfurt Galaxy

The Austrian running back went viral for an explosive run in the NFL preseason but never got a chance to play in the regular season for the New York Giants as he spent three years on their proactive squad. The medical student returned to his hometown last year playing for the Tirol Raiders before suffering an ACL tear early in the season. Now he looks to make some noise for the Frankfurt Galaxy as he eyes a return to the professional game in America.

Dominik Eberle – Kicker Berlin Thunder

The German born kicker joins the ELF after three seasons kicking in the NFL for the Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, and Las Vegas Raiders. The former Utah State record breaking kicker made 3-4 field goals with a long of 51 during the 2021 and 2022 seasons filling in for the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions.

Eberle was one of the XFLs best kickers in 2023 hitting 14-18 field goals (78%) for the Seattle Sea Dragons. 

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Rumors around the ELF are that there are more ex-NFL players heading to the league this summer. We’ll make sure to keep our readers updated. I

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