The Prague Lions have made a major coaching move ahead of the 2026 European League of Football (ELF) season, hiring experienced offensive mind Fred Armstrong as their new offensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
A proven winner joins Prague
Armstrong, 62, brings a wealth of success from across Europe to the Lions. Most recently, he served as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach for Rhein Fire during the 2025 ELF season, where he helped guide the team to a 6-2 record over the final eight regular-season games before a narrow wild-card playoff loss to the Nordic Storm. Prior to that, he was head coach of the Danube Dragons in the Austrian Football League, leading them to a 7-2 record in the 2025 campaign before his departure. His resume includes championship pedigree, having won the 2022 Austrian Bowl and the 2024 Central European Football League (CEFL) title with the Dragons, as well as five Swedish Superserien titles—two as offensive coordinator for the Stockholm Mean Machines.
Decades of transatlantic experience
Since beginning his European coaching career in 1991 with the Solna Chiefs in Sweden, Armstrong has built an impressive resume at both the professional and international levels. His adaptability has been showcased in roles with the Stuttgart Scorpions of the German Football League, the Leipzig Kings in the ELF, and even stateside with the New York Giants (2006) and New York Jets (2015). He also serves as head coach of the Dutch national team, leading them to a 24–14 victory over Belgium in 2025—their first international win since 2015.
A developer of talent and identity
Beyond his strategic expertise, Armstrong is known for elevating players and programs. He previously ended a decade-long playoff drought at Bonneville High School in Idaho and earned a European Coach of the Year award in 1998 with the Stuttgart Scorpions. He has high praise for the talent already in Prague, calling quarterback Jaylon Henderson “a top 5 QB in Europe” and receiver Willie Patterson’s skill set “elite as an offensive weapon.” Armstrong also acknowledged the culture he’s stepping into, noting, “The Lions have a chip on their shoulder; they are hungry and focused for success in 2026.”
With Armstrong’s leadership, the Prague Lions aim to build an explosive, disciplined offense and take a significant step forward in the ELF’s competitive landscape.