Markus Kuhn appointed President of the European Football League EFA
Former NFL player takes over as league president with a clear goal: a true professional league “made in Europe”
Innsbruck, August 28, 2026 – Markus Kuhn has been appointed President of the European Football Alliance (EFA). The former NFL player and sports executive assumes the position with immediate effect. His contract runs for at least three years. Kuhn reports directly to the league’s Board of Governors.
The league made the announcement shortly before its final game as part of the Championship Weekend, marking the successful conclusion of the EFA’s first season.
“There has never been a true professional American football league ‘made in Europe’. That is exactly what we aspire to create,” says Markus Kuhn. “The EFA offers the best possible conditions for this. At the same time, we have to acknowledge that we are not yet where a professional league needs to be – neither on the field nor in the structures behind it. That is what makes this task so exciting. I look forward to building it together with a strong team and the American football community in Europe.”
Bottom-up rather than top-down
Kuhn deliberately chose the EFA and its league model. The franchises are shareholders in the league, hold voting rights and make all strategic decisions jointly through the Board of Governors – a structure modeled after the NFL, in which the teams support the league rather than the other way around. Previous European league projects were organised centrally and consequently failed to achieve sustainable success.
“We founded this league because we are convinced that it must belong to the clubs,” says Jörg Zirener, co-owner of Frankfurt Galaxy. “With Markus Kuhn, this model gains a leader who understands both sides: the sport at the highest level and the business behind it. Not only did he work his way from college to the NFL through his own efforts, but he also spent many years working on the sports-business side of major NFL teams. That combination is exactly what American football in Europe has been missing. We look forward to working with him!”
Sporting quality, professional structures and genuine fan engagement
Kuhn intends to develop both sides of the league: the product on the field and the business operations behind it. On the sporting side, the goal is to significantly raise the level of play through players trained in the United States and the best European talent. On the organisational side, the focus will be on professionalising the league’s structures, particularly in the areas of sport, marketing and fan experience.
“Our goal must be to give our best players the opportunity to earn NFL contracts in the medium term,” says Kuhn. “To achieve this, we need to develop the sport throughout Europe, together with the NFL, IFAF and the national federations. And we have to bring the fans along with us. They should not just watch the league; they should help shape it. Here, we will break entirely new ground.”
Another key focus will be strengthening the clubs’ local presence in their respective markets. The EFA currently operates in Germany, Austria, France, the Czech Republic and Denmark. London and potentially additional locations will be added in 2027. According to Kuhn, a league led from Europe with clubs deeply rooted in their local communities is essential for the sustainable development of American football in Europe.
“The appointment of Markus Kuhn is an important step in the professionalisation of the league. His experience and network will give the EFA further momentum. I look forward to working together for the future of American football in Europe,” explains Eric Reutemann, CEO of the Frankfurt Galaxy who has served as head of the league in its first season and successfully established league operations within just a few months.
About Markus Kuhn
Markus Kuhn, born in Mannheim in 1986, began his career with the Weinheim Longhorns in the German Football League. In 2007, he moved to the United States, where he played college football for five years at North Carolina State University while also earning a degree in business administration.
In 2012, he was drafted by the New York Giants. In 2014, he became the first player born in Germany to score a touchdown in the NFL. After four seasons with the New York Giants, he was signed by the New England Patriots.
After about ten years as a player in the United States, Kuhn spent another ten years working in the sports business and building his own companies. His experience includes a master’s degree in sports management from Columbia University in New York, positions with the NFL and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), as well as roles on the sports-business side of the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. Since 2017, he has also worked as an NFL analyst on German television.
About the European Football Alliance (EFA)
The European Football Alliance is a professional American football league in Europe owned and supported by its clubs. The franchises are shareholders in the league and jointly make decisions on the budget, licensing and expansion.
In the 2026 season, six teams from five countries are competing in the EFA: Frankfurt Galaxy, Munich Ravens, Nordic Storm (Copenhagen), Paris Musketeers, Prague Lions and Raiders Tirol. London have been announced to join in 2027.
All games have been broadcast live and free of charge on the league’s YouTube channel during the inaugural season. In North America, FuboTV broadcasts at least 18 games per season.