NFL Berlin

NFL in Berlin – A Legacy Reborn in 2025

The NFL’s journey in Berlin spans over three decades, reflecting a growing enthusiasm for American football in Germany. From early exhibition games to NFL Europe, and now an official regular-season game in 2025, Berlin has evolved into a vital hub for the NFL’s international ambitions.

Berlin first welcomed the NFL in the early 1990s through the American Bowl, a series of preseason exhibition games played internationally to promote the sport. Between 1990 and 1994, Berlin hosted five American Bowl games, which helped ignite German interest in football. These games were largely showpieces but laid the foundation for long-term NFL engagement in the country.

A major leap came in 1999 with the creation of the Berlin Thunder, part of the now-defunct NFL Europe. Based initially at the Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark before moving to the historic Olympiastadion in 2003, the Thunder quickly became one of the league’s most successful franchises. Under head coach Peter Vaas, they won three World Bowl titles in 2001, 2002, and 2004, and were runners-up in 2005. Players like Rohan Davey and Ahmad Brooks gained attention through stellar performances, with Davey earning World Bowl MVP honors.

After NFL Europe was disbanded in 2007, Berlin’s connection to the NFL paused—until now. In a landmark move, the NFL announced that Berlin will host its first-ever regular-season game in 2025, as part of the league’s expanded international series. The game will take place at the Olympiastadion, a venue steeped in history and capable of accommodating over 70,000 fans. The Indianapolis Colts are set to be the “home team,” though their opponent has yet to be announced.

This 2025 matchup is a critical part of the NFL’s plan to increase international games from four to eight per season, starting that year. It also marks Berlin’s return to the global football spotlight and signals a deepening relationship between the NFL and its growing German fanbase.

Germany has become one of the league’s strongest international markets, with record attendance in recent games held in Munich and Frankfurt. With Berlin joining the regular-season rotation, the NFL’s future in Europe appears more promising than ever. From its roots in exhibition games to the glory years of the Berlin Thunder and now a historic regular-season fixture, Berlin’s NFL story is one of passion, progress, and potential.