This is a List of clubs in the German Football League, including all clubs who played in the league while its official name was American football Bundesliga.
The American football Bundesliga was formed in 1979, consisting of six clubs. It was renamed to German Football League in 1999. From its inaugural season to the end of the 2015 season, 71 different clubs have played in the league, with the Frankfurt Universe becoming the 72nd team to enter the league in 2016. Of these clubs, the Munich Cowboys have spent the most seasons in the league, 35 of a possible 38 as of 2016, followed by the Berlin Adler with 34, both clubs being founding members of the league. The record number of championships, the German Bowl, have been won by the New Yorker Lions, formerly the Braunschweig Lions, with eleven wins. The Lions are also the record holder in division championships, with twelve, while the Berlin Adler hold the record for play-off participations with 24.[1][2][3]
The league was formed with six club in 1979, with the top two teams after the regular season contesting the German Bowl. From 1980, onwards the league was always split into a northern and southern division. From 1986 to 1990 these two divisions were further subdivided, resulting in a four division format. Since 1991, it has been playing as a two division league again, north and south.
The German champions have been, from the inaugural season, determined in the German Bowl. From 1981, onwards play-offs were held to determine the two teams playing in the German Bowl. In 1981, the play-offs consisted of four teams, from 1982 onwards of eight. From 1986 to 1990 twelve teams qualified for the play-offs, with the four division champions receiving a bye for the first round. Since 1991, the format has returned to eight teams. The play-off contenders are evenly spread over each division, meaning, in the current two division format the best four teams in each division qualify.[1]
The list of clubs in the league from its inception in 1979 to the present season, sorted by the last season a club played in the league:[1]
| Club | No | First | Last | PO | Div | Bowl | Seasons (Bowl) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Munich Cowboys | 39 | 1979 | Present | 22 | 6 | 1 | 1993 |
| Cologne Crocodiles | 27 | 1981 | Present | 21 | 3 | 1 | 2000 |
| Allgäu Comets 2 | 17 | 1985 | Present | 6 | — | — | — |
| Stuttgart Scorpions | 29 | 1986 | Present | 20 | 2 | — | — |
| Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns | 23 | 1988 | Present | 18 | 10 | 4 | 2011, 2012, 2017, 2018 |
| Berlin Rebels | 14 | 1992 | Present | 4 | — | — | — |
| New Yorker Lions1 | 27 | 1994 | Present | 22 | 15 | 12 | 1997–1999, 2005–2008, 2013–2016, 2019 |
| Kiel Baltic Hurricanes | 21 | 1996 | Present | 15 | 4 | 1 | 2010 |
| Marburg Mercenaries | 18 | 2003 | Present | 13 | 5 | — | — |
| Dresden Monarchs | 18 | 2003 | Present | 15 | — | — | — |
| Frankfurt Universe | 5 | 2016 | Present | 4 | — | — | — |
| Potsdam Royals | 3 | 2018 | Present | — | — | — | — |
| Ravensburg Razorbacks | 1 | 2021 | Present | — | — | — | — |
| Saarland Hurricanes | 15 | 2001 | Present | 3 | — | — | — |
| Hildesheim Invaders | 6 | 1990 | 2019 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Ingolstadt Dukes | 3 | 2017 | 2019 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Kirchdorf Wildcats | 2 | 2018 | 2019 | — | — | — | — |
| Düsseldorf Panther | 31 | 1979 | 2019 | 18 | 9 | 6 | 1983, 1984, 1986, 1992, 1994, 1995 |
| Hamburg Huskies | 4 | 2015 | 2018 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Berlin Adler | 35 | 1979 | 2017 | 24 | 9 | 6 | 1987, 1989–1991, 2004, 2009 |
| Rhein-Neckar Bandits | 5 | 2012 | 2016 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Franken Knights 3 | 14 | 1986 | 2015 | 5 | — | — | — |
| Cologne Falcons | 6 | 2005 | 2014 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Hamburg Blue Devils | 16 | 1995 | 2013 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 1996, 2001–2003 |
| Wiesbaden Phantoms | 3 | 2011 | 2013 | — | — | — | — |
| Lübeck Cougars | 1 | 2012 | 2012 | — | — | — | — |
| Assindia Cardinals | 11 | 1986 | 2011 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Plattling Black Hawks | 3 | 2009 | 2011 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Mönchengladbach Mavericks | 1 | 2011 | 2011 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Weinheim Longhorns | 4 | 2007 | 2010 | — | — | — | — |
| Darmstadt Diamonds | 6 | 1990 | 2008 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Hannover Musketeers | 1 | 2004 | 2004 | — | — | — | — |
| Rüsselsheim Razorbacks 5 | 8 | 1996 | 2003 | 6 | 3 | — | — |
| Landsberg Express | 4 | 1997 | 2000 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Aschaffenburg Stallions | 2 | 1999 | 2000 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Paderborn Dolphins | 2 | 1998 | 1999 | — | — | — | — |
| Hanau Hornets | 1 | 1999 | 1999 | — | — | — | — |
| Hanau Hawks | 17 | 1980 | 1998 | 13 | 2 | — | — |
| Nürnberg Rams 4 | 16 | 1983 | 1998 | 14 | 4 | — | — |
| Regensburg Royals | 4 | 1992 | 1995 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Erding Bulls | 2 | 1981 | 1994 | — | — | — | — |
| Solingen Hurricanes 6 | 7 | 1986 | 1994 | — | — | — | — |
| Hamburg Silver Eagles | 3 | 1991 | 1994 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Bad Homburg Falken | 12 | 1981 | 1993 | 5 | 1 | — | — |
| Dortmund Giants | 10 | 1981 | 1993 | 5 | — | — | — |
| Monheim Sharks | 9 | 1985 | 1993 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Badener Greifs | 8 | 1986 | 1993 | 6 | 4 | — | — |
| Cologne Bears | 1 | 1992 | 1992 | — | — | — | — |
| Red Barons Cologne | 9 | 1983 | 1991 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1988 |
| München Rangers | 5 | 1987 | 1991 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Ansbach Grizzlies | 12 | 1979 | 1990 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1981, 1982, 1985 |
| Düsseldorf Bulldozer | 7 | 1984 | 1990 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Troisdorf Jets 7 | 7 | 1984 | 1990 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Mainz Golden Eagles | 6 | 1985 | 1990 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Würzburg Pumas | 3 | 1988 | 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| Bremen Buccaneers | 2 | 1989 | 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| Rüsselsheim Crusaders | 2 | 1989 | 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| Fürth Buffalos | 1 | 1990 | 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| Ratingen Raiders | 2 | 1988 | 1989 | — | — | — | — |
| Königsbrunn Ants 8 | 1 | 1989 | 1989 | — | — | — | — |
| Mannheim Redskins | 6 | 1982 | 1988 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Hamburg Dolphins | 5 | 1983 | 1988 | — | — | — | — |
| Recklinghausen Chargers | 1 | 1987 | 1987 | — | — | — | — |
| Bremerhaven Seahawks | 5 | 1979 | 1986 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Nürnberg Vikings | 1 | 1986 | 1986 | — | — | — | — |
| Frankfurter Löwen | 6 | 1979 | 1984 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1979, 1980 |
| Starnberg Argonauts | 2 | 1983 | 1984 | — | — | — | — |
| Stuttgart Stallions | 3 | 1981 | 1983 | — | — | — | — |
| Essen Eagles | 2 | 1980 | 1983 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Solingen Steelers | 2 | 1981 | 1982 | — | — | — | — |
| Herne Tigers | 1 | 1982 | 1982 | — | — | — | — |
| Mönchengladbach Mustangs | 1 | 1982 | 1982 | — | — | — | — |
| Straubing Bisons | 2 | 1980 | 1981 | — | — | — | — |
| Krefeld Condors | 1 | 1981 | 1981 | — | — | — | — |
| Neu Isenburg Adler | 1 | 1980 | 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| Kitzingen Colts | 1 | 1980 | 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| Denotes club plays in the GFL 2019. | Denotes club plays in a league below the GFL in 2019. | Club defunct. |
| Club | Name of club |
| No | Number of seasons in league |
| First | First season in league |
| Last | Last season in league |
| PO | Play-off qualification |
| Div | Number of division titles won |
| Bowl | Number of German Bowls won |
| Seasons | Seasons German Bowls were won in |
The placings in the league from its inaugural season in 1979 to the present one:[1]
The Bundesliga era from 1979 to 1998:
Six clubs competed in the inaugural 1979 season with the Frankfurter Löwen winning the league and the German Bowl. Runners-up in both were the Ansbach Grizzlies while the Berlin Bären, now the Berlin Adler came third and the Bremerhaven Seahawks, Munich Cowboys and Düsseldorf Panther followed behind in this order.
| Bundesliga North | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 |
| Braunschweig Lions | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Hamburg Blue Devils | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| Cologne Crocodiles | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Kiel Baltic Hurricanes | 5 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Düsseldorf Panther | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | ||
| Paderborn Dolphins | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Berlin Adler | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | ||
| Berlin Rebels | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | |||||||||||||||
| Solingen Hurricanes | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||
| Hamburg Silver Eagles | 7 | 4 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
| Monheim Sharks | 8 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | ||||||||||
| Dortmund Giants | 6 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 8 | |||||||||
| Cologne Bears | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Red Barons Cologne | 3 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||
| Hildesheim Invaders | 4 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||
| Düsseldorf Bulldozer | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Assindia Cardinals | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||||||||
| Troisdorf Jets | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||||||
| Bremen Buccaneers | 5 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| Ratingen Raiders | 5 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hamburg Dolphins | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Recklinghausen Chargers | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bremerhaven Seahawks | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | |||||||||||||||
| Essen Eagles | 4 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| Herne Tigers | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Solingen Steelers | 4 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
| Mönchengladbach Mustangs | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Frankfurter Löwen | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Krefeld Condors | 7 |
| Bundesliga South | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 |
| Stuttgart Scorpions | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 1 | |||||||||
| Rüsselsheim Razorbacks | 5 | 5 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Hanau Hawks | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||
| Munich Cowboys | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | |
| Landsberg Express | 4 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| Noris Rams | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |||
| Regensburg Royals | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
| Franken Knights | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Erding Bulls | 7 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| Allgäu Comets | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |||||||||
| Badener Greifs | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | |||||||||||
| Bad Homburg Falken | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 8 | |||||||
| Darmstadt Diamonds | 2 | 6 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
| München Rangers | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 8 | ||||||||||||||
| Mainz Golden Eagles | 8 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||||||
| Ansbach Grizzlies | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | ||||||||
| Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| Würzburg Pumas | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| Rüsselsheim Crusaders | 6 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fürth Buffalos | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Königsbrunn Ants | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mannheim Redskins | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Nürnberg Vikings | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Frankfurter Löwen | 3 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Starnberg Argonauts | 5 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||
| Straubing Bisons | 6 |
The German Football League era from 1999 to present:
|
99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | |||
| Potsdam Royals | 5 | 6 | * | 2 | 1 | 1 | * | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Dresden Monarchs | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | * | 1 | 5 | 2 | * | ||||||
| New Yorker Lions | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | * | 4 | 2 | 3 | * | ||
| Berlin Rebels | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | * | 6 | 6 | 4 | * | ||||||||||||||
| Berlin Adler | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 5 | * | |||||||||
| Paderborn Dolphins | 6 | 6 | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kiel Baltic Hurricanes | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 7 | * | 5 | 7 | 7 | * | ||||||
| Hildesheim Invaders | 5 | 7 | 7 | 3 | * | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cologne Crocodiles | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | * | 3 | 3 | w | ||||||||||||||||
| Düsseldorf Panther | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | ||||||||||||||
| Elmshorn Fighting Pirates | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hamburg Huskies | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cologne Falcons | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 3 | w | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Hamburg Blue Devils | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 6 | w | |||||||||||||||
| Lübeck Cougars | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mönchengladbach Mavericks | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assindia Cardinals | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hannover Musketeers | 6 |
|
99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | |||
| Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | * | 1 | 1 | 1 | * | ||||
| Allgäu Comets | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 6 | * | 4 | 3 | 2 | * | |||||||||||||||||
| Saarland Hurricanes | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 3 | * | ||||||||||
| Ingolstadt Dukes | 4 | 6 | 5 | * | 4 | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Munich Cowboys | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 7 | * | 3 | 2 | 5 | * | |||||
| Straubing Spiders | 4 | 6 | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ravensburg Razorbacks | * | 5 | 7 | 8 | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kirchdorf Wildcats | 7 | 8 | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marburg Mercenaries | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 3 | * | 6 | 6 | 7 | |||||||
| Frankfurt Universe | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | * | 7 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Stuttgart Scorpions | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 4 | * | 8 | |||||
| Rhein Neckar Bandits | 2 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Franken Knights | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Wiesbaden Phantoms | 5 | 6 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plattling Black Hawks | 5 | 3 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weinheim Longhorns | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Darmstadt Diamonds | 4 | 5 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rhein Main Razorbacks | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aschaffenburg Stallions | 3 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Landsberg Express | 5 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hanau Hornets | 6 |
| German Bowl winners | German Bowl runners up | Divisional champion | Play-off participation |