Stuttgart Surge sign ex NFL/CFL FB Chris Ezeala

The Stuttgart Surge of the European League of Football have announced the signing of former Baltimore Raven and Saskatchewan Roughrider fullback Chris Ezeala for the 2024 season.

The 28 year old spent the 2021 season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League where he appeared in 11 games after briefly signing with the Cologne Centurions that year. In his two games with the Centurions contributed in all three phases, carrying four times for 10 yards and catching one 10-yard touchdown on offense, making six tackles, three tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks on defense, while also punting eight times for an average of 42.25 yards per kick.

The 6′, 248 pound Ezeala had spent two years on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. Initially assigned to the team in 2018, Ezeala was brought back for the 2019 season but did not receive a third contract. In eight NFL preseason games, he saw action on 100 snaps as a lead blocker and special teamer, recording one tackle.

Born in Munich, Ezeala began playing football as a 13-year old for the Munchen Rangers before breaking into the GFL ranks with the Allgäu Comets in 2015. In three GFL seasons, two with the Comets and one with the Ingolstadt Dukes, Ezeala played primarily linebacker, racking up 205 tackles, 50 tackles for loss and 16 sacks.

Ezeala’s potential as a running back wasn’t realized until his final GFL season in 2017, when he carried the ball for the Dukes 17 times for 206 yards and a touchdown, producing an eye-popping 12.1 yards per carry. His accomplishments caught the eye of Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde and Ezeala was converted to an NFL fullback under the tutelage of two-time Pro Bowler Earnest Byner.

Ezeala joins a Surge squad that reached the ELF championship game in 2023. Under head coach Jordan Neuman, Stuttgart improved from 0-12 in 2022 to a 10-2 record a year later.