German Football League 2


The German Football League 2 is the second tier of American football in Germany, below the German Football League. Until 2007, the league was known as the 2. Bundesliga.

League structure

The GFL 2, formerly the 2. Bundesliga, which was formed in 1982, is divided into a northern and southern division, which eight teams in each division. Unlike the GFL, there are no inter conference games and no GFL 2 champion is determined.
For the 2011 season, both the northern and the southern champions were promoted, while the runners-up of the two divisions played the last placed team in the GFL division above for another spot in the league in 2012. Since then the two division champions play a home-and-away series for a place each in the northern and southern division of the GFL.
Below the GFL 2, six Regionalligas, Regional Leagues, are set, North, South, West, Central and East. Four teams each are promoted each season from the Regionalliga to the GFL 2. However, additional spots may become available if teams resign from either the GFL or the GFL 2.
Promotion to the GFL 2 is achieved through a promotion round at the end of the Regionalliga season which includes the best Regionalliga teams. For the southern division of the GFL 2 the champions of the southern and central division of the Regionalliga play the runners-up from the other division with the winners of each contest being promoted. For the northern GFL 2 division the champions of the Regionalliga divisions north, west and east play each other once to determine the two promoted teams.

League history

The league was formed as the 2nd American Football Bundesliga in 1982, consisting of 16 clubs in three regional divisions. League strength varied from season to season after this, but the three division format was retained until 1986, when a fourth regional group was added.
In 1995, the league was reduced to two divisions with seven clubs each. The strength was increased to eight teams per division in 1998 but continued to fluctuate because of teams withdrawing.
Promotion to the GFL 2 is achieved through the promotion round of the best Regionalliga clubs whereby the champions from the south plays the runners-up from central division and the champions from central the runners-up from the south. The winners of these two contests earn a place in the southern division of the GFL 2 for the following season. In the north the champions Of the Regionalliga divisions North,

GFL 2 Teams in 2019

GFL 2 North

GFL 2 South

GFL 2 season placings

The placings in the league since 2000:

North

GFL = Team played in GFLDivisional champion

The winners of the regional divisions of the GFL:
YearNorthCentralSouth
1982Hamburg DolphinsRed Barons CologneNoris Rams
1983Bonn JetsMannheim RedskinsKempten Comets
1984Dortmund GiantsMainz Golden EaglesKempten Comets
1985Cologne Crocodiles IIStuttgart ScorpionsRothenburg Knights

YearNorthWestCentralSouth
1986Hildesheim InvadersRecklinghausen ChargersSchwäbisch Hall UnicornsMünchen Rangers
1987Bremerhaven SeahawksRatingen RaidersSchwäbisch Hall UnicornsWürzburg Pumas
1988Bremen BuccaneersRecklinghausen ChargersRüsselsheim CrusadersKönigsbrunn Ants
1989Hildesheim InvadersRecklinghausen ChargersDarmstadt DiamondsFürth Buffalos
1990Hamburg Silver EaglesCologne BearsStuttgart ScorpionsRegensburg Royals
1991Berlin RebelsCologne BearsStuttgart ScorpionsRegensburg Royals
1992Hamburg Silver EaglesSolingen HurricanesHanau HawksRothenburg Knights
1993Braunschweig LionsCologne BearsFrankfurt GamblersErding Bulls
1994Kiel Baltic HurricanesTecklenburg SilverbacksStuttgart ScorpionsSimbach Wildcats

YearNorthSouth
1995Kiel Baltic HurricanesRüsselsheim Razorbacks
1996Berlin RebelsLandsberg Express
1997Paderborn DolphinsSaarland Hurricanes
1998Berlin RebelsAschaffenburg Stallions
1999Bremen BraveheartsFranken Knights
2000Assindia CardinalsSaarland Hurricanes
2001Berlin AdlerMarburg Mercenaries
2002Dresden MonarchsMarburg Mercenaries
2003Düsseldorf PantherSimbach Wildcats
2004Cologne FalconsMunich Cowboys
2005Kiel Baltic HurricanesDarmstadt Diamonds
2006Kiel Baltic HurricanesWeinheim Longhorns
2007Hamburg EaglesMunich Cowboys
2008Assindia CardinalsPlattling Black Hawks
2009Berlin RebelsFranken Knights
2010Mönchengladbach MavericksSaarland Hurricanes
2011Hamburg Blue DevilsFranken Knights
2012Cologne FalconsAllgäu Comets
2013Bielefeld BulldogsAllgäu Comets
2014Hamburg HuskiesKirchdorf Wildcats
2015Hildesheim InvadersFrankfurt Universe
2016Cologne CrocodilesIngolstadt Dukes
2017Potsdam RoyalsKirchdorf Wildcats
2018Düsseldorf PantherRavensburg Razorbacks
2019Elmshorn Fighting PiratesRavensburg Razorbacks