In a stunning in-season move, the Potsdam Royals have swooped in and signed arguably the top receiver in Sweden, Jacob Dahre of the Carlstad Crusaders.
Dahre was under contract to the Crusaders and had played one game this season.
Over the past two seasons the 6’6″, 220 lb Dahre has caught a total of 1,395 yards in passes and 25 touchdowns. He is a key member of the Swedish national team. He helped the Crusaders win five Swedish titles (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017).
The Potsdam Royals, in their first year in Germany’s top league in 2018, finished fifth in the GFL North, and were eliminated from playoff contention on the final day of the regular season. The team suddenly lost one of its top two receivers when Max Zimmermann was drafted by the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders earlier this month.
Although he is sad to be leaving his team in Sweden, Dahre is excited about the opportunity to play in the German Football League:
“This is obviously a great opportunity for me to develop and just to see the world and a different, more competitive league. The GFL is always the “dream” in Europe since it’s the biggest and the best. league.”
Carlstad head coach Billy Kennedy was caught off guard by the news but took it in stride:
“Jacob contacted me earlier this week and told me a German team has reach out to him and offered him a contract to go and play for them this season. Although the timing of this is not at all good, I can only wish him the best of luck. Football is a team game and you can lose a player anytime for a variety of reasons. We have the “next man up” philosophy, so, although losing a player of Jacob’s ability is tough, it also opens an opportunity for another player to step and and take his place. That is where we are at and I have no doubts someone will step and and help our team be productive.”;