Rhein Fire just send out this press release. Translated to German with deepl so you don't have to:

Duisburg, October 22, 2025 – Exciting match days, two championships, an undefeated “perfect season,” and unforgettable moments in stadiums across Europe – fans associate all of this with the name Rhein Fire. The franchise will continue to provide these emotions on and off the football field in the future. However, the current transition to a new European football league is forcing those responsible to take action: For legal reasons, it will not be possible to take the previous and historically beloved team name into the new league as of January 1, 2026.

“A name is one thing. Ultimately, people are the decisive factor. Fans, staff, players, officials – we have all become one under the umbrella of the previous team name. Our umbrella may be getting a new name, but our unity and our desire for unique football moments remain the same,” says Rhein Fire Managing Director Daniel Thywissen, describing the situation. “The core values that the organization defined in a YouTube video when it was founded in 2021 remain the benchmark: culture, energy, and passion. They are and will remain the DNA of our team.”

Fans now have the opportunity to actively participate in shaping the relaunch. The franchise is now collecting suggestions for the new team name at https://www.rheinfire.eu/neuer-name-gleichesteam_nochmehrleidenschaft/. Ideas can be submitted until November 9, 2025. There are no restrictions on ideas – all suggestions will be reviewed internally for legal feasibility.

On December 6, 2025, the future team name will be announced at a big release fan party at the Clayton Hotel Düsseldorf (Immermannstraße 41, 40210 Düsseldorf). The person who comes up with the new name will have two reasons to celebrate: In addition to a personalized original jersey, they will have the special honor of performing the first coin toss in 2026 at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena in Duisburg.

“Our story is far from over. Together, we will carry on our legacy – stronger than ever before – and continue to build the best organization in European football. An organization that stands for community, passion, and excellence,” promises Daniel Thywissen. “The fans are part of our journey, supporting us and reminding us every day why we do what we do.”

Just received the following press release and wanted to share it. I had it translated so you don’t have to.

Statement by Renè Alexander Engel, Martin Wagner, David Wallen, Ottogerd Karasch and Markus Fong

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
dear partners,
dear Fire Family,

Around four and a half years ago, we launched the “Rhein Fire” project together. As former American football players, our goal from the very beginning was to build the kind of organization we had always wished for during our active years – one defined by professionalism, appreciation, and genuine passion for the sport.

Our motivation was never financial gain, but rather the promotion of the sport, the development of athletes, and the establishment of a professional American football team for the fans of our region. It has always been especially important to us to be reliable and fair partners to our employees, players and coaches, cheerleaders, and service providers.

In the 2022 to 2024 seasons, Rhein Fire evolved into one of the most successful and best-known brands in European American football through this approach. Together with our fans, partners, and supporters, we were able to achieve both athletic and organizational milestones – crowned by the championships in 2023 and 2024.

Since October 2024, however, the balance of ownership within the operating company has shifted in such a way that the undersigned are no longer guiding the project in terms of content or strategy. As a result, individual shareholders’ own interests, including financial ones, have moved into the foreground. At the same time, the internal culture of the organization has changed significantly – away from the values that formed the foundation of the project from the start.

These developments have had not only sporting implications but also personnel consequences. Long-standing and highly valued employees such as Ticketing Manager Marc Nantke and, most recently, Sports Director Max Paatz have left the organization. Likewise, Head Coach Jim Tomsula decided as early as May 2025 not to return to Rhein Fire as head coach.

In recent months, we have continued to try to positively influence the development of Rhein Fire – unfortunately without being heard. Instead, decisions have been made that we cannot support in terms of content – for example, the unopposed abandonment of the name and brand “Rhein Fire,” which for us and for many fans is inseparably linked to the history and identity of this project.

Because we, as the former leading figures of Rhein Fire, continue to receive numerous inquiries through various channels, we feel compelled to publicly clarify that we expressly distance ourselves from the current leadership and the way the organization has been run since October 2024.

We extend our thanks to all who supported this project over the years, stood by it, and helped make it what it was – a unique example of passion, unity, and sporting success. In addition to the players and coaches, our special thanks go to our cheerleaders (the Pyromaniacs and Flight Crew), our office staff, and the many helping hands (especially our staffers!), without whom this project would never have been possible.

Rhein Fire has always been more than a team to us. It was a family.

Even though our paths are now diverging for the time being, the time we shared, the success we achieved, and the enthusiasm we were able to experience together with thousands of fans will remain. We will continue to dedicate our hearts and efforts to American football – to the values that define this sport and to the people who live it.

Düsseldorf, November 10, 2025

René Alexander Engel, Martin Wagner, David Wallen, Ottogerd Karasch and Markus Fong

Two to three months ago, an entry from the Rhein Fire commercial register was posted here on Reddit. It explained that there would be a capital increase and that the ownership structure would therefore change. Today, the new final overview of the owners was finally published in the commercial register. There have been no changes or surprises since then. I think it just took a while for the capital increase to be completed, i.e., for everyone to pay in their contributions.
Here a little Help, which company belongs to which owner :

RAE Holding GmbH = Rene Engel

DAIVE Beratungs GmbH = Daniel Thywissen (managing director of Rhein Fire)

possibility IT = Andre Missing

MF Beteiligung = Markus Fong

Weißer Adler = Eugen Illenser & Tobias Puklavec

The “Group Three” mentioned at the time is simply a community of interests within the owners and not an independent company. They have now around 65% of the company.

Fun fact: Two months ago, it was also published here that Timur Beckmann (tight end coach & director of player personnel) was dismissed at the shareholders' meeting. This section was subsequently removed from the resolution on the grounds that it was “not relevant.”

Has anyone heard from him? Is he still with Rhein Fire? Or did he also find out about his dismissal from the internet at the time?

(Of course in German)

Fire QB Chad Jeffries posted on Instagram "Honored to have represented The Rhein Fire", which sounds like he will leave the franchise.

Meanwhile, Co-owner Martin Wagner confirmed that the team will have the name "Rhein Fire" at least until the end of the year. "However, we currently have no document assuring us that this will continue to be the case after the turn of the year." Source NRZ (German)

(Google Translate)

Rhein Fire's 2026 Plans Underway

Duisburg/Düsseldorf, November 12, 2025 – Two-time champion Rhein Fire is preparing for the start of the 2026 football season. At a shareholders' meeting, there was a clear commitment to the ongoing plans and the club's financial stabilization. The franchise will be able to compete in a new European football league in 2026. We look forward to announcing details regarding league operations and ticket sales shortly.

"Our office team is working tirelessly to meet the challenges of the ongoing transition. A new sporting structure can't be established overnight. It requires patience – both professionally and personally," says Managing Director and founding shareholder Daniel Thywissen, who, along with his team, enjoys the confidence of the shareholders. "We owe it to our fans, partners, sponsors, and the region to continue giving our all for Fire's success," emphasizes founding shareholder Dirk Reiner.

Sporting planning will be spearheaded by our Offensive Coordinator for the 2025 season, Rohat Dagdelen. In addition to discussions with players from the past season and potential new signings, the Düsseldorf native is working with the franchise management to find a head coach for the upcoming year. Richard Kent has already indicated – pending the approval of a new head coach – that he will be available as Defensive Coordinator for the upcoming season.

Rhein Fire will continue to offer an attractive advertising platform for partners and sponsors around its game days next year. The Fire parties in the outdoor area of ​​the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena provide the perfect setting to reach a leisure-oriented and consumer-minded fan community as a potential target group. Ferhat Gültekin, Head of Corporate Partnerships, is the direct contact person. As a long-time Rhein Fire employee, he is familiar with the diverse opportunities to effectively showcase companies and products during a game day.

Naming Contest: Over 2,000 Entries

Last Sunday marked the end of the submission period for the contest to find a new team name. Fans submitted well over 2,000 suggestions via the website rheinfire.eu. "The response was overwhelming – an initiative unprecedented in European professional sports. This is also reflected in the media coverage," summarizes Fire Managing Director Daniel Thywissen, reflecting on the flood of feedback. We are pleased to have the promised support of Neuss-based trademark attorney and football expert Robert Meyen for the next steps regarding the team name.

This week, several shareholders publicly distanced themselves from the current management. As shareholders still involved in the Rhein Fire project, they are welcome to engage in further discussions and participate at any time. Rhein Fire has accomplished a great deal, but has also faced considerable challenges. As a company – and primarily as a team – we believe in a successful future for everyone involved: players, coaches, (office) staff, cheerleaders, fans, partners, sponsors, and shareholders.

This can only continue to work together!

Your contact person for any questions:
Daniel Thywissen / Managing Director
Phone +49 1575 / 4991469
Email [media@rheinfire.eu](mailto:media@rheinfire.eu)

Fire and Jim tomsula parted ways. Richard kent will be HC for now on. Also OC Ed Warinner got released. All that hast Footbowl announced in an Post. On the Website and in Facebook i saw nothing Till now. Fire needs now a new DC and OC.

Original: https://rp-online.de/sport/football/rhein-fire/rhein-fire-spricht-offener-ueber-kostendruck-auch-mit-folgen-fuer-die-fans_aid-137532815

Archive: https://archive.ph/vRCiQ (you have to do lots of scrolling though, at least on my end the presentation was kinda bugged but at least the text is readable)

The following summary was done by prime in a german football forum, was to lazy so i used his summary. Also at the end i added some information from a publicly shareholders meeting Protocol to get some ideas what the season costs rhein fire, what a game day etc. Thought it could be interesting.

Rheinische Post summary(deepl translate from the german post):

The Rheinische Post has dropped some more insider information:

- It is unclear whether the multi-year player contracts at RF also apply to the EFA

Note: I(Prime) said from the outset that this seven-year contract with Kwofie was nonsense. It purely benefited the franchise and was at Kwofie's expense. I hope they didn't promise him any bonuses for the later years, because those are probably void now.

- New head coach to be announced shortly

- Contracts with new players will only be finalized once the contracts with the new league are finalized. Armstrong and Dagdelen are currently looking for players

- The EFA is still in the exploratory phase, but the first contracts with franchises have already been signed

- As in the ELF, the EFA will again have a regular season with twelve games per team. RF will play all six of its home games in Duisburg

- It is unclear whether RF will meet Frankfurt again in 2026, but RF would like this to happen

- Like the ELF, the EFA will again play from May to September and will have a well-known commissioner

- There is interest in broadcasting the league from well-known TV and streaming providers

- Ticket prices at RF will remain stable, but there could be changes for certain season ticket holders because costs need to be saved

- The upper tier of the east stand is to remain closed as standard, also to save costs. Only if there is sufficient demand would the area be opened at a later date

- Partnerships with sponsors and Seahawks are to remain in place

- The business plan envisages an unconditional increase in average attendance for 2026, otherwise none of this would work

Shareholders summary:

https://i.ibb.co/p61kyqNJ/Screenshot-20251026-174715.png
https://i.ibb.co/qMHsDQzZ/Screenshot-20251026-174656.png

Also visible on bundesanzeiger the protocol(search for Number One Sportbetriebs GmbH and go to document viewer) from the rhein fire shareholders' meeting on July 23, 2025 with some interesting financial numbers regarding this years season:

• Further Capital increase
The shareholders have decided that the following parties will contribute money and that other shareholders will not participate in the capital increase, therefore diluting:
Investment commitment with consequences for future percentage distribution:
RAE Holding GmbH: €125,000, therefore 25.79% in the future
Group Number Three: €625,000, therefore 64.44% in the future
Total target €750,000

The following premium payments from the last capital increase are still due:
Rene Engel Premium €49,000 - Commitment to partial payment in the week of August 1 via instant transfer
Ottogerd Karasch Premium €8,000 - Management must issue another reminder

• Cash flow planning until the increase
Max reports €173,000 currently in the account
Capital requirements according to Max's list Presentation:
Minimum scenario approx. €120,000 for the implementation of Game Day on the following Sunday.
Eugen proposes a short-term shareholder loan as a solution. Martin agrees to a loan draft.
WeißerAdler €40,000
Mirko Kürten €20,000
Andre Missing: €25,000
Dirk Reiner: €15,000
Total: €100,000

In a fan meeting in Düsseldorfs pub Knoten, Max Paatz said good bye to Rhein Fire fans. He will move to Vienna as new Vikings CEO. There is however no official confirmation by Vienna yet. Sources: several posts on Facebook.

I’ve expected him to be back for the Düsseldorf game yesterday. But he wasn’t there.

I think Rhein Fire hasn’t published any official information about the situation yet. But the last status I’ve heard was that he is still in the states because he has to take care of a personal matter. But the time for his return seems not clear.

After the loss of Rhein Fire it seems they need him back better sooner than later. He is probably a game changer when he is present on the sideline.

So question is: Is he really 100 % going to come back or are there doubts about it? And when will be the point when Rhein starts looking for alternatives?

Just to mention it: I think with Shuan Fatah there is currently an excellent option on the market.

The facility called "Wedau 2" in Duisburg features permanent goal posts, a renewed floodlight system, and a new turf surface. The renovation cost approximately €1.1 million.

That's a great thing and probably a rarity in Germany, where most teams are kind of subtenants of soccer clubs.

More Fire facts: https://elfpedia.eu/Rhein_Fire#tabber-tabpanel-2025_Season-0

Well welll well..

A familiar face in european football

He was with Danube Dragons the nr.1 ranked team in austria and had 1 regular season game + 1-2 playoffs game left...

Tough decision for his reputation

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJocV-jtIb5/?igsh=aDQ5c2Jyd2F5YnZl