ELF: Stuttgart Surge sign German Bowl MVP quarterback Reilly Hennessey

| American Football | 11/20/2022

The Stuttgart Surge of the European League of Football have made a splash signing bringing in German Bowl and Italian Bowl-winning quarterback Reilly Hennessey.

The 2022 German Bowl MVP joins his coach from last season in Schwäbisch Hall as long-time Unicorns coach Jordan Neuman looks to build up the Stuttgart Surge into contenders in the ELF. Hennessy was widely considered one of the top players on the market this off-season and is a crucial signing as the Surge hope to move into a new era of winning. Hennessey on reuniting with coach Neuman in Stuttgart:

“I am very pleased that I can continue to work with Coach Neuman, and I am also looking forward to all the new coaches and teammates who will be part of this great challenge. I am as motivated as ever and very thankful for the chance to reaffirm those people who rightly believe in me”

The 6’3 220-pound quarterback threw for 2,088 yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, leading the German Football League in passing efficiency (min 100 attempts) completing an impressive 73% of his passes. A powerful redzone dual-threat, he also added eight scores and 160 yards on the ground. Hennessey’s exciting play style led the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns to an undefeated season winning both the German Bowl and the CEFL championships.

Unicorns QB Reilly Hennessey reaching for a TD Photo: Manfred Löffler

The veteran passer orchestrated an offense that averaged 42 points and 416 yards a game as the Unicorns rode strong all the way through the GFL and CEFL championships. Hennessey was named German Bowl MVP after throwing three touchdowns and rushing for two to lift the Unicorns over the Potsdam Royals in the title game. Now he hopes to recreate the same magic with his coach former coach this year in Stuttgart.

Prior to joining the Unicorns, he quarterbacked the Parma Panthers in the Italian Football League for two seasons, leading them to a perfect 10-0 championship season in during the 2021 campaign. Hennessey threw for 1,672 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding another two scores as he and current Paris ELF team head coach Marc Mattioli  guided the Panthers to a title.

Parma QB Reily Hennessey #12 Photo: Giulo Busi

Before playing in Italy, Hennessey had a very productive collegiate career at Central Washington University (NCAA D1). The Camas, Washington native, threw for 2,705 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2018 to go along with his 2,551 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2017. He also ran for 572 yards and five touchdowns in 2018, setting a CWU single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback, and the year before he rushed for 477.  He set a CWU record by throwing for five touchdowns in three consecutive games. He also set a CWU record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 118 against Humboldt State. His 67.3 completion percentage was the second-best single-season mark in school history.

Hennessey and his coach from last season will hope to create a championship culture in Stuttgart as the Surge have only won two games in two seasons. Coach Jordan Neuman’s pedigree and connections to the Unicorns and other European talent should make Stuttgart a destination for many top players.

The Surge have already signed former Unicorn Yannick Mayr, and are rumored to be bringing in others as many prominent players in Schwäbisch Hall have announced they will not be returning.

Read more on Hennessey’s 2022 season 

Watch Hennessey’s NCAA Highlights against Oregon

Alex is a former NCAA and semi-pro American football player who is now located in London, where he works in digital marketing. His goal in writing for AFI is to stay involved with the game that has given him so much. Alex enjoys covering leagues and