Former Alabama defensive back and two-time national champion becoming a star with a European pro football team
Alabama Crimson Tide football has an incredible legacy of creating star football players. Many of them go on to play in the NFL. Others go on to star in professional football leagues around the world.As A to Z Sports has been in communication with investors in one particular European League of Football team this spring […]
Alabama Crimson Tide football has an incredible legacy of creating star football players. Many of them go on to play in the NFL. Others go on to star in professional football leagues around the world.
As A to Z Sports has been in communication with investors in one particular European League of Football team this spring we learned that a former Alabama defensive back and two-time national champion is becoming a star with a new expansion team in the ELF!
Daniel Wright, who won the 2017 and 2020 national championships with Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide officially joined the Prague Lions this offseason to become a star defensive back. Wright, of course, racked up 60 tackles and grabbed two interceptions during the 2020 national championship run for the Crimson Tide. He is one of just four players on the Prague Lions from the United States (per ELF rules), and has already become one of the few faces of the franchise as the season kicked off just a few short weeks ago.
Who are the Prague Lions and the ELF?
The Prague Lions are six-time Czech League of American Football champions, but recently decided to make a move to join the highest standard of American football in Europe (the ELF). However, in order to make that leap, the team knew they would need proper funding to find success that would match expectations set by their franchise's illustrious history. That's where a star-studded investment group comes in.
Former NFL playmakers Maurice Jones-Drew (Jaguars star RB), DeVante Parker (recently retired WR), and rock star Vince Neil of Motley Crue joined an investment group from Nashville, Tennessee to help the Lions make their move to the European League of Football this past year and the team is already coming together.
The Prague Lions were part of a league expansion last season to bring the total teams in the ELF to 17. The investment group and team management has since rebranded with a new logo, bought all brand new gear and uniforms, and have begun putting significant money towards the next few seasons so that the Prague Lions can not only compete, but win against the toughest opponents in the European League of Football.
The third season of the ELF–the premier American football league in Europe–has already begun just a few short weeks ago with major legacy brands like the Barcelona Dragons, Berlin Thunder, and the defending champion Rhein Fire.
The league features several former NFL players and coaches who are looking to expand the growth of football in Europe. Hall of Fame offensive lineman Joe Thomas is a coach with the Munich Ravens. Jon Gruden is an advisor with the Milano Seamen. And former NFL edge defender Michael Sam is a coach with the Barcelona Dragons.
Daniel Wright joins star quarterback Kare Lyles, who recently played with Deion Sanders at Jackson State and in the German Football League in 2023. The vast majority of the rest of the team are Europeans who are looking to make a name for themselves as the sport's popularity continues to grow internationally.
The ELF regular season will continue through the end of August, with the playoffs and championship wrapping up in late September. We'll be back with more updates on Daniel Wright, the Prague Lions, and the ELF here at A to Z Sports as more exciting football games unfold! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
