Sweden’s Gridiron Power Couple: Inside the Championship Lives of Carlstad’s men’s HC and women’s QB

If you asked an NFL fan to name a small town on a huge lake that is known for breeding champions in American football, Green Bay, Wisconsin and its beloved Packers would probably be top of mind.

If you asked a fan of American football in Europe that same question, the Carlstad Crusaders American football club in Karlstad, Sweden might come to mind. Both Green Bay, Wisconsin and Karlstad, Sweden have populations of about 100,000 – smaller than many of the cities that host teams they compete against. Karlstad is on the coast of Vänern, the largest lake in the European Union, while Green Bay is on the coast of Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes in the USA.

The comparison between the city also translates to football – the Green Bay Packers have won four NFL Super Bowls and the Carlstad Crusaders have won 10 championships in the Sweden elite men’s league. The Crusaders elite women’s team has won 8 straight Swedish championships from 2018-2025.

Now, if you follow football in Sweden, chances are you have heard the names Christian Forsman and Linda Johansson in the last few years.

Christian is the head coach of the Carlstad Crusaders elite men’s team and has won back to back Sweden Superseries championships. Before then, he led the Crusader ladies team as Head Coach to Swedish championships. Before his coaching career, Forsman played as a running back for the Crusaders men and was later named to the club’s 30th Anniversary Team.

Linda has been the quarterback of the Carlstad Crusaders women’s team for many years and has won multiple Swedish titles. Before American football, she was a European handball player, which shaped much of her competitive mindset and leadership on the field.

They share more than just football – they are also partners who share a home. We caught up with them to ask them a few questions.

You may be the only couple where one is a men’s championship head coach and the other a women’s championship quarterback. Does that fact register for you?

Linda:

“It’s not something we really think about. Sport has always been a part of our lives in different ways.”

Christian:

“Spontaneously, it doesn’t affect us at all. We both come from different sporting backgrounds in different sports, and it was more of a coincidence that we both got hooked on American football and that our roles became a natural next step.”

Be honest: who is more intense in the lead-up to games?

Christian:

“I’m more excited and strategically focused before a game, while Linda is more in a constant fight-or-flight mode where she always ends up choosing fight.”

Linda:

“I’d say we have different mindsets when it comes to preparing for games. Christian is much more strategic and looks forward to games in a different way. I get incredibly nervous before every game and I always have, even in handball. So a lot of my energy goes into being nervous.”

How do you avoid talking about football all the time at home?

Linda:

“It’s difficult, but we’ve had to set boundaries. During the season it’s basically impossible for football not to be part of our lives almost 24/7.”

Christian:

“The short answer is that we don’t. If Linda doesn’t put a stop to it, there is no stop. That probably has a lot to do with the fact that my season stretches over a longer period since it includes a lot of work with recruiting and meetings with the federation and the sports committee, etc.”

When both of you lose a game, what does that evening look like?

Christian:

“Since I took over the men’s team, the women haven’t lost a game on the same weekend, so I actually don’t know what such an evening would look like. But I have learned that it’s from losses that you learn the most, as long as you can process the experience and use it for something positive.”

Linda:

“It depends a bit on how we lost. If it’s against a better team, it obviously hurts, but if it’s because my own team underperformed, I get very disappointed.

I hate losing, and losses stay with me for a long time. But losing is part of sport, and you probably learn the most from a loss.”

You both lead champions. Do you ever critique each other’s leadership styles?

Linda:

“I wouldn’t criticize him. If there’s something I think about, it’s more that I respect Christian’s knowledge as a coach far too much. But I might ask questions and we can discuss decisions he’s made so I can understand how he acted.”

Christian:

“No, I’ve never criticized Linda, nor have I felt that she has criticized me. But we haven’t always agreed on every decision that’s been made, especially during the time when I coached the women’s team and Linda. Then it’s important that there is a place and a time to talk through those decisions so you end up on the same page. And also to dare to be self-critical.”

How do you support each other during championship runs?

Christian:

“Since I have a longer background in the sport and work in a very logical way, my way of supporting is more strategic than emotional. That’s something Linda has had to learn to handle over the years. We also train on different days, which makes it easier to support each other in everyday tasks, even though Linda carries a heavier load.”

Linda:

“We try to support each other as much as we can. That can be everything from making everyday life work and making things easier for each other, to being there and showing that I stand behind Christian and how proud I am of how much the sport, the Crusaders, and the team mean to him.

Christian is the reason behind the women’s success story, and everything I’ve learned over the years is thanks to him.”

Practical question: where do you keep all the trophies and medals?

Linda:

“Most of them are on two shelves in a room that we don’t really use very much.”

Christian:

“They’re currently sitting on a shelf collecting dust, but we have a long-term plan to solve that. I’m not even sure I have all my gold medals, because it’s more important that players and staff get theirs first, and sometimes there haven’t been enough. Medals and trophies have never been the reason we do this. The fun part is seeing the joy in those who get to win for the first time.”

Do you ever compete with each other?

Linda:

“We’ve realized that we’re better as a team than competing against each other. We’re both very competitive, and I’m an extremely bad loser. We discovered that early in our relationship.”

Christian:

“I agree with Linda.”

What has football taught you about being partners?

Linda:

“We’ve experienced an incredible amount together through football, and for me it means a lot to have been able to share all the joy we’ve had.

There have been many tough conversations and ‘theory meetings’ with ‘Coach Christian,’ where I had to learn to separate him criticizing football player Linda from criticizing me as a person. But I think we’ve handled it well. It all comes down to the respect we have for each other.

Together we’ve made a journey both with CC Women over time and with the women’s national team leading up to the European Championship silver in Leeds in 2019.

Building success and being part of a group where all individuals work together as one unit. Team sports are magical when that happens, and getting to share all those successes with your partner is something very special. I admire Christian as a coach for how he manages to get the best out of every player.”

Christian:

“The biggest lesson is handling the difference between being partners and the coach–player relationship when we were both in the same club team and national team. Managing both the highs and the lows. But also being able to share those sports memories with the person who is closest to me, and investing that time together in something we both care so deeply about.”

What do people misunderstand most about your situation?

Christian:

“I would say there are three things.

Number one: the amount of time that goes into training, games, and preparation. Because I refuse to leave anything to chance, everything takes more time than is probably reasonable.

Number two: people think everything runs smoothly and that it’s conflict-free to live this life as partners where you constantly have to compromise between everyday life and football.

Number three: that some people think you make money from this. For me, it’s about giving back to the club that gave me so much growing up.”

Linda:

“People will never understand how much time football has taken from our ‘normal’ lives. That’s both good and bad, of course. But it’s an insane amount.”

Finally, if you had to describe your relationship in football terms, what would it be?

Linda:

“A strong offensive system.”

Christian:

“With a game plan built on toughness and trust.”

Linda:

“With freedom to improvise.”

How can people follow you this season and support what you’re building?

Linda:

“The best place to start is www.crusaders.se. That’s where you find schedules, news, and information about both teams.

This season is special because the Crusaders are joining the new Swedish Women’s American Football League. It’s a huge step forward for women’s football and for creating a real future in the sport.”

Christian:

“And Karlstad will host the Swedish Championship games for both men and women on July 4, 2026. Last year was such a success that the federation wanted to bring it back here. That says a lot about the club and the city.”

Linda:

“American football in Europe is still community-driven. Both our men’s and women’s teams, and many individual players, depend on sponsors to cover equipment, travel, medical support, and development.”

Christian:

“Sponsors don’t just fund football. They invest in discipline, teamwork, equality, and excellence. That matters.”

Linda:

“So whether you’re a fan, a company, or just curious, following us, coming to games, sharing our story, and exploring sponsorship opportunities are all ways to be part of what we’re building.”