The Frankfurt Galaxy of the European League of Football (ELF) have signed former NFL defensive backs Tony Anderson and Jamalcolm Liggins for the 2023 season.
Both Anderson and Liggins suited up for the Raiders this year, who ranked fifth in the league in passing yards allowed. Despite these mediocre numbers, both Anderson and Liggins played a crucial role in the team’s push to the playoffs, with the latter joining the Raiders at the backend of the season.
Anderson began his career in France before finding his way to Grand View (NAIA) in Iowa. Unfortunately, he was limited to just a one-year collegiate career due to his time playing back home eating up his eligibility.
Determined to play in the NFL, Anderson emailed every agent on the NFLPA website in the hope of finding a pro-day to host him. His persistence paid off and he found himself at the Northern Iowa pro-day in front of NFL scouts.
Anderson’s 6 ‘4″, 215-pound frame garnered interest and he was invited to the Indianapolis Colts rookie minicamp and then the LA Rams. Unfortunately for Anderson, a sprained knee cut his time at both short.
The Frenchman was then drafted by the Ottawa Red Blacks in the 2021 CFL Global Draft and spent a year there before returning to Europe in 2022 to play a season with the Raiders Tirol. In his first ELF season Anderson tallied 40 tackles, one interception and seven pass break-ups.
Liggins had a far more typical journey through college and the NFL. The 6 ‘1″, 200 pounder finished his illustrious college career at Dickinson State (NAIA) with first team All-American honors in 2018. He was also named second-team in 2017. In addition, Liggins was a two time All-American in track and field.
The North Dakota native led the Blue Hawks to conference championships for four straight years and set a school record with four interceptions in one game when they defeated Northwestern Iowa for their first ever road playoff win.
Immediately after he left college, Liggins was picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles and even played in two pre-season games. This legitimate NFL game-time led to a season with the XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks in 2020 and then the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2021.
In 2022, Liggins decided to make the jump to Europe and signed with the Bern Grizzlies in Switzerland where he would go on to win the Swiss Bowl in July before getting picked up by the Raiders in early August for the final four games of the regular season.
In four games Liggins dominated. He showed his NFL pedigree and racked up two interceptions and nine pass breakups. This time he will be afforded a whole season with the team and will likely prove to be one of their biggest assets on defense.