German Football League 2

The German Football League 2 (GFL2) is the second tier of American football in Germany, below the German Football League. Until 2007, the league was known as the 2. Bundesliga.[1]

German Football League 2
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023 German Football League
SportAmerican football
Founded1982 (1982)
AdministratorAFVD
No. of teams16
CountryGermany
Most recent
champion(s)		North: Berlin Adler
South: Straubing Spiders
Level on pyramidLevel 2
Related
competitions		German Football League
Regionalliga
Official websiteGFL.info

League structure

The GFL2, formerly the 2. Bundesliga, which was formed in 1982,[2] is divided into a northern and southern division, with eight teams in each division. Unlike the GFL, there are no inter conference games and no GFL2 champion is determined.

For the 2011 season, both the northern and the southern champions were promoted, while the runners-up of the two divisions played the last placed team in the GFL division above for another spot in the league in 2012.[3] Since then the two division champions play a home-and-away series for a place each in the northern and southern division of the GFL.

Below the GFL2, six Regionalligas, Regional Leagues, are set, North, South, West, Central, East and Southwest. Four teams each are promoted each season from the Regionalliga to the GFL2. However, additional spots may become available if teams resign from either the GFL or the GFL2.[2]

Promotion to the GFL2 is achieved through a promotion round at the end of the Regionalliga season which includes the best Regionalliga teams. For the southern division of the GFL2 the champions of the southern, southwestern and central division and for the northern GFL2 division the champions of the Regionalliga divisions north, west and east play each other once to determine the two promoted teams.

League history

The league was formed as the 2nd American Football Bundesliga in 1982, consisting of 16 clubs in three regional divisions. League strength varied from season to season after this, but the three division format was retained until 1986, when a fourth regional group was added.[2]

In 1995, the league was reduced to two divisions with seven clubs each. The strength was increased to eight teams per division in 1998 but continued to fluctuate because of teams withdrawing.[2]

Promotion to the GFL2 is achieved through the promotion round of the best Regionalliga clubs whereby the champions from the south plays the runners-up from central division and the champions from central the runners-up from the south. The winners of these two contests earn a place in the southern division of the GFL2 for the following season. In the north the champions Of the Regionalliga divisions North,

GFL2 Teams in 2023
German Football League 2 is located in Germany
Cardinals
Huskies
Invaders
Longhorns
Longhorns
Cougars
Dolphins
Griffins
Griffins
Paladins
Paladins
Sentinels
Sentinels
Pirates
Pirates
Razorbacks
Razorbacks
Golden Dragons
Golden Dragons
Dukes
Wildcats
Scorpions
Phantoms
Location of teams in the German Football League 2 in 2022

GFL2 North
Team City State
Düsseldorf PantherDüsseldorfNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Hildesheim InvadersHildesheimLower Saxony
Langenfeld LonghornsLangenfeldNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Lübeck CougarsLübeckSchleswig-Holstein
Münster BlackhawksMünsterNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Oldenburg KnightsOldenburgLower Saxony
Rostock GriffinsRostockMecklenburg-Vorpommern
Solingen PaladinsSolingenNorth Rhine-Westphalia

GFL2 South
Team City State
Bad Homburg SentinelsBad Homburg vor der HöheHesse
Frankfurt UniverseFrankfurtHesse
Fursty RazorbacksFürstenfeldbruckBavaria
Gießen Golden DragonsGießenHesse
Kirchdorf WildcatsKirchdorf am InnBavaria
Pforzheim WilddogsPforzheimBaden-Württemberg
Regensburg PhoenixRegensburgBavaria
Stuttgart ScorpionsStuttgartBaden-Württemberg

GFL2 season placings

The placings in the league since 2000:[2][4][5][6]

North
GFL2 North 0001020304 0506070809 10111213 1415 1617 1819 2021 2223
New Yorker Lions GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL
Dresden Monarchs 421 GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL
Kiel Baltic Hurricanes GFLGFL GFL2 11 GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL
Berlin Rebels 25561 GFL2GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL
Cologne Crocodiles GFLGFL GFLGFL 3 41 GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL
Potsdam Royals 531 GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL
Berlin Adler 31 GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL8 *1GFL GFL
Paderborn Dolphins 3257 1GFL
Hildesheim Invaders 7 8 75 1GFL GFLGFL GFL GFL31
Düsseldorf Panther GFLGFL GFL1 GFLGFL GFL445 2GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL2 1GFL *2GFL2
Rostock Griffins 8 343 *453
Langenfeld Longhorns 5356 34234 3 454 *324
Lübeck Cougars 433 66353 53GFL52 24662 *645
Oldenburg Knights 6
Münster Blackhawks 7
Solingen Paladins 25 *568
Assindia Cardinals 1GFL GFLGFL7 7 1GFL GFLGFL 8 68 *87
Hamburg Huskies 1 24645 42127 431 GFLGFL GFLGFL6 *78
Elmshorn Fighting Pirates 8 831 GFL
Hannover Spartans 7
Troisdorf Jets 7 368 4327 8
Bonn Gamecocks 76 7646 657
Bielefeld Bulldogs 8 14 77
Ritterhude Badgers 8
Cologne Falcons 1 GFLGFL GFLGFL 2 661 GFLGFL
Hamburg Blue Devils GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL 1GFL GFL
Osnabrück Tigers 56
Cottbus Crayfish 27
Mönchengladbach Mavericks 1GFL
Magdeburg Virgin Guards 65 45
Recklinghausen Chargers 8
Frankfurt Red Cocks 7
Weyhe Vikings 4 78
Hannover Musketeers 22GFL 5
Bochum Cadets 6 8
Dortmund Giants 53
  • In the 2000, 2001 and 2006 seasons, only seven clubs played in the league.
  • In the 2002 and 2011 seasons, only six clubs played in the league.
  • In the 2003 season, only five clubs played in the league.
  • 1 Played as the Hamburg Wild Huskies until 2003, then as the Hamburg Eagles from 2004 to 2009 before becoming the Hamburg Huskies from 2010.

South
GFL2 South 0001020304 0506070809 10111213 1415 1617 1819 2021 2223
Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 2GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL
Marburg Mercenaries 311 GFLGFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL
Munich Cowboys GFLGFL GFL1 GFLGFL 1GFL GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL
Allgäu Comets 3336 11 GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL
Ravensburg Razorbacks 46 5211 GFLGFL GFLGFL
Saarland Hurricanes 1GFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL GFL54 1GFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL GFL22 *GFLGFL GFL
Straubing Spiders 668 33 *1GFL GFL
Ingolstadt Dukes 21GFL GFLGFL GFL1 GFL
Kirchdorf Wildcats 1 12 5566 5651 321GFL GFL *321
Fursty Razorbacks 27 7 *252
Regensburg Phoenix 3
Pforzheim Wilddogs 4
Gießen Golden Dragons 6467 45
Frankfurt Universe 223 1GFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL GFL6
Bad Homburg Sentinels 437
Stuttgart Scorpions GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL GFLGFL68
Wiesbaden Phantoms 4 22432 2GFLGFL GFL2 53555 *57
Frankfurt Pirates 6568 *68
Biberach Beavers 4 *
Darmstadt Diamonds 42623 1GFL GFLGFL3 5487 76 *
Nürnberg Rams 434 4434
Albershausen Crusaders 67
Montabaur Fighting Farmers 47 8
Rhein Neckar Bandits 5 42GFL GFLGFL GFLGFL
Franken Knights GFLGFL GFLGFL GFL 4422 1 31GFL GFLGFL GFL7
München Rangers 88
Holzgerlingen Twister 6375 6
Starnberg Argonauts 7
Kaiserslautern Pikes 6 838
Plattling Black Hawks 331 GFL GFLGFL
Badener Greifs 7 7
Weinheim Longhorns 3 1 GFL GFL GFL GFL8
Hanau Hornets 855 668 7
Stuttgart Silver Arrows 778
Königsbrunn Ants 8758
Aschaffenburg Stallions GFL 7
Jena Hanfrieds 8
Franken Timberwolves 55467
Rhein Main Razorbacks GFLGFL GFLGFL
Mainz Golden Eagles 54
Rottenburg Red Knights 47
Landsberg Express GFL
  • In the 2003 and 2004 seasons, only seven clubs played in the league.
  • In the 2001 season, only six clubs played in the league.
  • 1 Played as the Simbach Wildcats until 2003.
GFL = Team played in GFL Divisional champion

Divisional champions

The winners of the regional divisions of the GFL:[2]

Year North Central South
1982 Hamburg Dolphins Red Barons Cologne Noris Rams
1983 Bonn Jets Mannheim Redskins Kempten Comets
1984 Dortmund Giants Mainz Golden Eagles Kempten Comets
1985 Cologne Crocodiles II Stuttgart Scorpions Rothenburg Knights
Year North West Central South
1986 Hildesheim Invaders Recklinghausen Chargers Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns München Rangers
1987 Bremerhaven Seahawks Ratingen Raiders Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns Würzburg Pumas
1988 Bremen Buccaneers Recklinghausen Chargers Rüsselsheim Crusaders Königsbrunn Ants
1989 Hildesheim Invaders Recklinghausen Chargers Darmstadt Diamonds Fürth Buffalos
1990 Hamburg Silver Eagles Cologne Bears Stuttgart Scorpions Regensburg Royals
1991 Berlin Rebels Cologne Bears Stuttgart Scorpions Regensburg Royals
1992 Hamburg Silver Eagles Solingen Hurricanes Hanau Hawks Rothenburg Knights
1993 Braunschweig Lions Cologne Bears Frankfurt Gamblers Erding Bulls
1994 Kiel Baltic Hurricanes Tecklenburg Silverbacks Stuttgart Scorpions Simbach Wildcats
Year North South
1995Kiel Baltic HurricanesRüsselsheim Razorbacks
1996Berlin RebelsLandsberg Express
1997Paderborn DolphinsSaarland Hurricanes
1998Berlin RebelsAschaffenburg Stallions
1999Bremen BraveheartsFranken Knights
2000Assindia CardinalsSaarland Hurricanes
2001Berlin AdlerMarburg Mercenaries
2002Dresden MonarchsMarburg Mercenaries
2003Düsseldorf PantherSimbach Wildcats
2004Cologne FalconsMunich Cowboys
2005Kiel Baltic HurricanesDarmstadt Diamonds
2006Kiel Baltic HurricanesWeinheim Longhorns
2007Hamburg EaglesMunich Cowboys
2008Assindia CardinalsPlattling Black Hawks
2009Berlin RebelsFranken Knights
2010Mönchengladbach MavericksSaarland Hurricanes
2011Hamburg Blue DevilsFranken Knights
2012Cologne FalconsAllgäu Comets
2013Bielefeld BulldogsAllgäu Comets
2014Hamburg HuskiesKirchdorf Wildcats
2015Hildesheim InvadersFrankfurt Universe
2016Cologne CrocodilesIngolstadt Dukes
2017Potsdam RoyalsKirchdorf Wildcats
2018Düsseldorf PantherRavensburg Razorbacks
2019Elmshorn Fighting PiratesRavensburg Razorbacks
2021Berlin AdlerStraubing Spiders
2022Paderborn DolphinsIngolstadt Dukes
2023Hildesheim InvadersKirchdorf Wildcats

References
  1. German Football League 2 Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine (in German) AFVD website, accessed: 20 January 2011
  2. Football History(in German) Historic American football tables from Germany, accessed: 2 January 2010
  3. Spielplan der GFL für 2011 steht (in German) GFL website, published: 8 December 2010, accessed: 29 December 2010
  4. GFL 2008 www.football-aktuell.de, accessed: 2 January 2011
  5. GFL 2009 www.football-aktuell.de, accessed: 2 January 2011
  6. GFL 2010 www.football-aktuell.de, accessed: 2 January 2011
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