RIP Michael Löhr – 1970-2024

It is with deepest regret that we report the passing of 54 year old former offensive lineman Michael Löhr from Stockholm, Sweden.

The longtime member of the Stockholm Mean Machines and the Swedish national team died peacefully in his sleep earlier this week after a brief illness.

Micha, together with his twin brother Tompa, was a key member of Team Sweden’s 2005 European championship squad. The 6’4″, 270 pound Löhr also helped the Mean Machines win 10 Swedish titles over the course of his 24 years playing football and more recently was a coach on two of the Mean Machines Swedish championship winning teams.

Mean Machines head coach and former teammate (defensive lineman) of Löhr, Fredrik Pilbäck knew him maybe better than most:

“Micha is one of the best who ever was. Humble, honest and fearless. Great athlete and teammate. He started his career in Berga Bulldogs 1992 and then transferred to the Mean Machines in 1997. He played a couple of seasons for Uppsala before coming home to SMM for a final season in 2015. Micha were a part of the coaching staff that brought back the trophy to Stockholm.

“He was a part of the national team for more than a decade and played a huge role in bringing home the European championship vs Germany 2005.

“His 24 seasons in the trenches, more the 20 games with national team, 10 national championship as a player and two championship as a coach puts him at the very top among our games greatest. I should know. I had to practice against him and we played roughly 11,000 snaps against each other over 15 seasons.”