The Ancona Dolphins have announced the signing of veteran Italian-American running back Mike Gentili for the 2025 Italian Football League season.
The Dolphins reached the IFL semifinals this past year after posting a 6-2 regular season record.
The versatile 35-year-old, 5’10”, 215 pound native of Leominster, Massachusetts, was a key part of the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns’ offense for the past two German Football League seasons. In 2023, he rushed for a league-leading 1,305 yards in helping the GFL South winners to reach the GFL Bowl. This past season, he again led the GFL in rushing carrying the ball 201 times for 1,154 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Gentili spent part of the 2022 season playing for the Raiders Austrian Football League team while coaching running back and special teams with the Raiders Tirol of the European League of Football.
The veteran runner spent the 2021 season playing for the Osos Rivas in Spain where he put up 826 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns. After the season, Gentili suited up for both the Lazio Ducks in the Italian Football League and the Helsinki Roosters in Finland’s Maple League. The year prior, Gentili played for the Örebro Black Knights of Sweden and the Roosters.
In 2021, Gentili was a key part of Team Italy’s historic gold medal run in the IFAF European championships. The dual citizen rushed for two touchdowns in decisive title game victory over Sweden.
He spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons with the Lazio Ducks in Italy’s Div. I, rushing for a total of 1,087 yards in 14 regular-season games. He was important in helping Team Italy defeat Austria to advance to Europe’s Final Four. He finished his college career with a two-year stint at Bridgewater State University (NCAA Div. III) where he rushed for 912 yards. He also played at the University of New Hampshire (NCAA Div. I) and Curry College (NCAA Div. III).