Sweden’s Carlstad Crusaders Sign Top Rival Juhlin As New Quarterback

| American Football | 12/04/2015

One of the top two quarterbacks in Sweden is changing addresses as Philip Juhlin has signed a three year deal with Swedish and IFAF Europe Champions League champions the Carlstad Crusaders.

“I am pretty excited about the move. With my old team being demoted to a lower division this is a great opportunity for me. Carlstad is a terrific organization and team. I couldn’t be moving to a better place.”

The timing of the move could not have been better for either Juhlin or Carlstad.

The six time Swedish champion Crusaders know that quarterback Anders Hermodsson, who has led them to four Swedish titles, will not be returning and has been courting offers from a number of high profile teams on the European continent.  And Juhlin’s team of the last four years – the Kristianstad Predators – has been demoted to a lower division in Sweden.

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A Tennessee native, the 24 year old Juhlin had another outstanding season in 2015 for the Predators throwing for more than 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns. The Swedish-American, who plays with a dual passport, is of enormous value for a team in Sweden. The import rule in Sweden restricts teams to one import on the field at a time so he plays as a non-import quarterback, making him invaluable for teams as most clubs rely on an American or Canadian quarterback.

He has had a dazzling career in Sweden first helping the Predators advance to the Super Series, the top league in Sweden, and then being named Rookie of the Year as well as league’s  Top Quarterback. He also rotates with Hermodsson as the national team starting quarterback.

Carlstad Crusaders Club Director Robert Sundberg:

“With Philip, we get a guy who can take over and play the kind of football we want to play. A quarterback with a good arm and good touch but with the size – 6’1″ 210 lbs –  who can also run with the ball, which he really showed last year.  We want to have continuity in this position and build our attack around him. So we have agreed to a three-year contract so we can continue to build the team.”

With his track record and winning attitude Carlstad is hoping Juhlin will help them win a seventh straight Swedish title and defend their European crown.

Roger Kelly is an editor and a writer for AFI. A former PR Director the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League for 7 years, he now lives in Sweden writing about and scouting American Football throughout the world.