GFL: Potsdam Royals add Italian LB Fillipo Fort

| American Football | 12/04/2021

The Potsdam Royals of the German Football League have added Italian linebacker Fillipo Fort.

Fort transfers from the New Yorker Lions to the Royals, staying in the competitive GFL North for the 2022 season.

The defender is thrilled to be a part of the Royals organization:

 “I am truly excited and grateful to be part of the Royals family. I am coming to Potsdam to win a championship and establish myself as the best Linebacker in Europe. I can’t wait to meet the rest of the team and all the Potsdam fans!”

The 6′, 230 pound linebacker spent the 2021 season playing for both the New Yorker Lions of the German Football League and the Firenze Guelfi of the Italian Football League. The Florence, Italy, native put up a league-leading 54.5 tackles and 13.5 tackles for a loss, to go along with four sacks helping his hometown Guelfi to the postseason. Following the Italian season, the 25-year old took his talents to Germany, recording 47 tackles, six tackles for a loss, and three sacks for the New Yorker Lions in only seven games.

Prior to the 2021 season, Fort spent many years in the United States, first playing high school football in Florida for Clearwater Academy International, then moving on to suit up for the University of Central Florida (NCAA D1). As a walk-on linebacker on the Knights, Fort competed with NFL draft picks Richie Grant, Aaron Robinson, and Tay Gowan. Fort was also invited to the 2021 CFL Global Draft but was not selected.

The Italian linebacker is just the latest in a group of talented players heading to Potsdam for the 2022 season. Fort joins returning American players Adehkeem Brown (Quincy NCAA D2), Abu Daramy Swaray (Colgate NCAA D1 FCS), and the league’s leading rusher Jake Mayon (Northern Michigan NCAA D2) all looking to make another run at the GFL championship in Potsdam.

Watch Fort’s highlights here:

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