Hamburg Sea Devils

Hamburg Sea Devils
Based in	Hamburg, Germany
Stadium	Stadion Hoheluft
Established	2021
Division	Western Conference
Colors	Navyblue, White, Red   
Website	https://www.hamburgseadevils.com/

Uniform of the Hamburg Sea Devils football team in 2023.

The Hamburg Sea Devils are an American football team based in Hamburg, Germany, that plays in the European League of Football (ELF) sind 2021.

History

The Hamburg franchise of the ELF is one of the founding teams of the league. The team is operated by SEH Football Betreiber GmbH, the company of Zeljko Karajica, CEO of the ELF. Max Paatz was appointed as the general manager.

The team name was already used by the team with the same name in NFL Europe (NFLE) from 2005 to 2007. It may be used for the current team after approval by the NFL. The predecessor of the team in the NFLE won the last World Bowl on June 23, 2007.

2021 season

On July 6, 2021, the head coach of the Hamburg Sea Devils, Ted Daisher, was fired. His successor was Offensive Coordinator Andreas Nommensen, who was initially only to be given the position on an interim basis. However, after a 44-6 win over Berlin Thunder on the fourth day of play, it was announced that Nommensen would serve as head coach until the end of the season. The Sea Devils were able to secure first place in the North Division with seven wins and three losses. They secured a spot in the inaugural ELF Championship Game with a 30-27 win over the Panthers Wrocław in the semifinals. There they faced the Frankfurt Galaxy. In a game that was close until the end, the team lost 30:32.

2022 season

For the 2022 season, they secured the services of Charles Jones as head coach. Jones had already coached for the old Sea Devils. The Sea Devils started the season with a win against the Berlin Thunder and a loss against the Barcelona Dragons. From July 2022 until the end of the season, former NFL coach and coordinator John Shoop served as a consultant for Hamburg. Shoop had been a coach for various positions on the offensive side until 2015, including offensive coordinator with the Oakland Raiders.

Starting in the third, the Sea Devils put together a ten-game winning streak, defending the Northern Conference title and finishing as the best team in the regular season. In the semifinals in front of their home crowd, they held off the Raiders Tirol 19-7. In the ELF Championship Game against Vienna Vikings, the Sea Devils never really got into the game and lost 15:27 in their second final.

2023 Season

Due to the restructuring of the conferences for the 2023 season, the Sea Devils now play in the Western Conference

Charles Jones was extended as head coach for the 2023 season. A U.S. quarterback, Preston Haire, was signed. Two well-known linebackers, Kasim Edebali and Miguel Boock, ended their careers after the 2022 season.

The game against Rhein Fire on June 11, 2023, marks the first time the Sea Devils will play a game at Volksparkstadion, which was the Sea Devils' home stadium in NFL Europe. The Sea Devils' home stadium was also the home of the Sea Devils in NFL Europe.

In February 2023, league-wide lists were published on the internet showing that the Sea Devils had had a total of at least four cases of doping or drug abuse in the past two seasons, which was confirmed by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). Three of those cases involved the detection of THC, which resulted in a two-year suspension in all three cases. In addition, now-former Sea Devils running back Glen Toonga was found to have used cocaine, which conditionally resulted in a three-month suspension. In response, general manager Max Paatz stated that the Sea Devils will now increase education on the issue and implement intra-team testing.

The game against Rhein Fire on June 11, 2023 was the first time the Sea Devils played a game at Volksparkstadion, which was the Sea Devils' home stadium in NFL Europe. The Sea Devils lost 22:27, but the two games that followed were clear wins against Cologne and Berlin, and after eight games they had four wins and four defeats to their name. In the last four games, however, there were clear defeats, so that the Sea Devils missed the playoffs for the first time.

After the end of the regular season, the Sea Devils announced the dismissal of Charles Jones as head coach. In addition, defensive coordinator Kendral Ellison moved to the Munich Ravens as the new head coach and general manager Max Paatz moved to Rhein Fire.

2024 Season

In November 2023, the US American Matt Johnson was introduced as the new head coach for the 2024 season. The coaching staff will be complemented by defensive coordinator Brandon Noble, who previously played as a defensive tackle for various teams in the NFL for several years. The new sporting director is former player Miguel Boock. On December 14, 2023, the Sea Devils presented Mark Weitz as the new General Manager of the franchise, who had previously worked for SEH Holding GmbH. On December 21, 2023, Javarian Smith was introduced as the new quarterback and Jarvis McClam as wide receiver. Smith comes from the Allgäu Comets (GFL), McClam played for the Raiders Tirol in 2023. Lee Pitts and Caleb Mills were introduced as further US imports.

With the announcement of a match at the Volksparkstadion on July 14, 2024, the previous cooperation with Hamburger SV was also continued for the coming season.

In addition, two matches will be played at the Heinz-von-Heiden-Arena in Hanover, as well as one match each at the Weserstadion in Bremen and the Stadion an der Lohmühle in Lübeck. In addition, the Sea Devils' last home game of the season will also be the first "international game" of the ELF. This will take place at the Šubićevac stadium in Šibenik, Croatia, the home ground of soccer club HNK Šibenik, which is also part of the SEH Holding GmbH portfolio.

Stadium

The homefield of the Hamburg Sea Devils is the stadium Hoheluft in the Hamburg district Eppendorf, which offers a capacity of 8000 seats. The 1000 seats included here represent the oldest covered grandstand in northern Germany. Sometimes the Hamburg Sea Devils also play in the Volksparkstadion.

Attendance

2021 Season Ø 1,744

2022 Season Ø 3,520

Players

Top Players

Quarterback	Year	G	COMP	ATT	CMP%	YDS	TD	INT	SCK
Salieu Ceesay	2021-22	19	143	243	58.8	1733	10	4	29
Preston Haire	2023	8	135	220	61.4	1619	12	6	7
Moritz Maack	2022-23	23	111	217	51.2	1399	12	9	10

Receiver	Year	G	RRC	TGT	YDS	CTCH %	YPG	YPC	LNG	TD	TD/G
Jean-Claude Madin Cerezo	2021-23	32	88	141	1038	62.4	32.4	11.8	53	10	0.3
Jean Constant	2022	12	66	93	963	71.0	80.2	14.6	67	7	0.6
Malik Stanley	2023	12	67	123	924	54.5	77.0	13.8	65	9	0.8
Benjamin Mau	2021-23	26	54	95	714	56.8	27.5	13.2	62	5	0.2

Running	Year	G	ATT	YDS	AVG	YPG	LNG	TD	TD/G	FMB	FML
Glen Toonga	2022	12	257	1468	5.7	122.3	71	21	1.8	6	4
Simon Homadi	2021-23	30	212	757	3.6	25.2	41	4	0.1	1	1

2024 Roster

2024 Hamburg Sea Devils roster

	Quarterbacks  1 Javarian Smith 🇺🇸 16 Justus Marterer 🇩🇪 Running backs  5 Simon Ajuwon Homadi 🇩🇪 23 Lucas Harting Candido 🇩🇪 25 Kevin Abrokwa 🇩🇪 33 Joshua Jacob 🇩🇪 34 Julian Ampaw 🇩🇪 46 Niklas Ritter FB 🇩🇪 48 Jannis Evers 🇩🇪 Wide receivers  2 Jarvis McClam 🇺🇸  6 Leon Kusterer 🇩🇪 13 Noah Bomba 🇩🇪 14 Theo Landström 🇸🇪  80 Klaas Sengstacke 🇩🇪 81 Kester Sticht 🇩🇪 85 Maximilian Donalies 🇩🇪 88 Keanu Morgan 🇩🇪 89 Jakob Neugebauer 🇩🇪 Tight ends 44 Levi Kruse 🇩🇪 84 Malcom Abimola 🇩🇪		Offensive linemen 51 Gian De Guzman C 🇩🇪 🇵🇭 53 Nils Bars 🇩🇪 55 Deon Mutsvanemoto 🇬🇧  58 Franz Legel 🇩🇪 59 Austine Igba Ujene OT 🇳🇬  68 Dominik Behrens 🇩🇪 69 Daniel Schaefer 🇩🇪 70 Shalom Baafi 🇩🇪 72 Michel Born 🇩🇪 76 Ian Spitzke 🇩🇪 77 Daniel Claus 🇩🇪 Defensive linemen  0 Zaire Ugapo 🇳🇿  90 Manuel Raskopp DE 🇩🇪 91 Nils Binnemann 🇩🇪 92 Igor Pelowski 🇩🇪 93 Joshua Köhnlein DL 🇩🇪 95 Michael Keshinro DE 🇬🇧  97 Christoph Peters DT 🇩🇪 99 Nelson Imasuen DE 🇩🇪		Linebackers  4 Toby Naylor 🇬🇧  24 Marcello Simón Alvarez Plata 🇩🇪 🇧🇴 28 Björn Bars 🇩🇪 30 Pharrell Tyler Morris 🇩🇪 31 Felix Delgado 🇩🇪 32 Bjarne Sauer 🇩🇪 41 Regis Foumena Evina 🇨🇲 HG 42 Kai Binnemann 🇩🇪 43 Sebastian Kataroshi LB 🇩🇪 45 Jeremy Sarfo 🇩🇪 Defensive backs  7 Victor Omorodion 🇩🇪  9 Rene Merkel 🇩🇪 12 Caleb Mills S 🇺🇸 15 Gian-Luca Poerschke 🇩🇪 17 Dominic Yaw Aboagye-Duah 🇩🇪 20 Lasse Meyer S 🇩🇪 21 Ikenna Ukachu 🇩🇪 22 Lee Pitts 🇺🇸 26 Marvin Omar Gesellnsetter 🇩🇪 Special teams  8 Eric Schlomm K/P 🇩🇪 18 Jakob Stork P 🇩🇪				Rookies in italics Roster updated May 14, 2024 4 A-import, 6 E-import, 50 homegrown 60 active, 0 practice squad

2023 Roster

2023 Hamburg Sea Devils roster

	Quarterbacks  1 Salieu Ceesay {{{4}}} 🇩🇪  4 Moritz Maack {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 Running backs  3 Simon Ajuwon Homadi {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 23 Lucas Harting Candido {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 25 Kevin Abrokwa {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 34 Michel Konate {{{4}}} 🇩🇰 Wide receivers  2 Malik Stanley {{{4}}} 🇺🇸 10 Jean-Claude Madin Cerezo WR {{{4}}} 🇪🇸 HG 11 Benjamin Mau {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 13 Tim Albrecht {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 18 Johann Heuck {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 17 Finn Appelt {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 81 Felician Danquah {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 89 Lukas Rehder {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 Tight ends 44 Levi Kruse {{{4}}} 🇩🇪		Offensive linemen 51 Gian De Guzman {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 🇵🇭 65 Ron Mac Spiegel {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 69 David Weinstock {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 70 Shalom Baafi {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 71 Daryl Kamga Amia {{{4}}} CMR 72 Niklas Wiem {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 74 Dennis Kenzler {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 75 Marvin Panienka {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 77 Daniel Claus {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 Defensive linemen 90 Manuel Raskopp DE {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 93 Joshua Köhnlein DL {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 94 Berend Grube DE {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 95 Evans Yeboah DT {{{4}}} 🇬🇭 97 Christoph Peters DT {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 98 Hiswill Awuah DT {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 99 Nelson Imasuen DE {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 🇨🇦		Linebackers  3 Maurice Wright Jr. MLB {{{4}}} 🇺🇸  6 Robert Lachmann OLB {{{4}}} 🇩🇪  9 Jan-Philipp Bombeck LB {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 40 Matthias Spiegel ILB {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 41 Regis Foumena Evina {{{4}}} CMR HG 42 Simeon Okonta-Wariso {{{4}}} 🇬🇧 45 Jeremy Sarfo {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 52 Ambroise Mati OLB {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 53 Jan-Niklas Makoben OLB {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 54 Thiago Lessow OLB {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 56 Leondre Crosby LB {{{4}}} 🇺🇸 59 Lars Badenhagen LB {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 Defensive backs  7 Victor Omorodion {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 14 Gian-Luca Poerschke {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 15 Kevin Fortes {{{4}}} 🇫🇷 20 Karm Garcia Heermann {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 22 Aleksandr Astahin {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 26 Marvin Omar Gesellnsetter {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 28 Barry Maruschke {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 30 Curtis Slater {{{4}}} 🇺🇸 36 Jamal Okeke {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 Special teams  8 Eric Schlomm K/P {{{4}}} 🇩🇪				Reserve lists 29 Jóhann Gísli Hummel RB {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 19 Niklas Kahrau TE {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 55 Robin Fensch OG {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 58 Brian-Tom Lohse LB {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 21 Deion Harris CB {{{4}}} 🇺🇸 50 Kubindia Bashale {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 85 Maximilian Donalies {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 88 Keanu Morgan {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 96 Eric De Souza DL {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 Practice squad 24 Jakob Michaelsen RB {{{4}}} 🇩🇰 79 Gerrit Brandt OT {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 49 Sebastian Kataroshi LB {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 32 Bjarne Sauer {{{4}}} 🇩🇪 Rookies in italics Roster updated 18 August 2023 4 A-import, 6 E-import, 43 homegrown 53 active, 8 practice squad

Staff

Head Coaches

Name	Tenure	Record		Titles
		W	L
Ted Daisher	2021	2	0	–
Andreas Nommensen	2021	5	3	–
Charles Jones	2022-2023	16	10	-
Matt Johnson	2024-

2024 staff

2024 Hamburg Sea Devils staff

	Front office CEO – Zeljko Karajica General Manager – Mark Weitz Director player personnel – Director of Sports - Miguel Boock Director of Football Administration -Cornelis Mißfeldt Team Management - Cornelis Mißfeldt Director of Football Operations - Josip Udovičić Team Doctor - Thomas Gierth Head of Medical - Annika Zühlsdorf Head coach Head coach – Matt Johnson Assistant head coach – Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Offensive assistant – Quarterbacks – n/a Wide receivers – Marico Gregersen Tight ends – Marico Gregersen Running backs – Ariel Back Offensive line – Jared Hilbers Assistant offensive line – Offensive quality control –			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Brandon Noble Linebackers – Tevin Hanley, Charles Morris Defensive line – Assistant defensive coach – Tevin Hanley Defensive backs – Jamaal White Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Florian Voss Kicking coach – Stefan Nickel Punting coach – Stefan Nickel Strength and conditioning Head strength and conditioning – Elisabeth Thönig Staff updated March 29, 2024

Total record

	Games	Win	Loss	Win %	P+	P-	PDiff
Hamburg Sea Devils	38	24	14	0.632	1039	709	+330

Record per oppenent

	Games	Win	Loss	Win %	P+	P-	PDiff
Istanbul Rams	2	2	0	1.000	99	26	+73
Cologne Centurions	2	2	0	1.000	52	31	+21
Raiders Tirol	1	1	0	1.000	19	7	+12
Berlin Thunder	6	5	1	0.833	207	101	+106
Leipzig Kings	4	3	1	0.750	145	18	+127
Barcelona Dragons	4	3	1	0.750	99	76	+23
Panthers Wrocław	7	5	2	0.714	165	147	+18
Rhein Fire	4	2	2	0.500	113	98	+15
Frankfurt Galaxy	5	1	4	0.200	83	122	-39
Vienna Vikings	1	0	1	0.000	15	27	-12
Paris Musketeers	2	0	2	0.000	42	56	-14

Source: https://elfdata.eu/