Back on the Rhine: Sammy Schmale Named Managing Director of Rhein Fire

Rhein Fire is setting its course for the 2027 season: Sammy Schmale becomes the club’s new Managing Director. From November he is responsible for business, partnerships and organization. He takes over from Daniel Thywissen, who has led the club as acting general manager. Rhein Fire thanks Daniel for his service and his tireless effort, including guiding the club into its new chapter in the American Football League Europe. His continuing role will be announced soon.

For many in the Fire Family, Schmale is a familiar face. He was part of Rhein Fire from the very beginning in 1994, helped build the organisation, set up the club’s flag football programme for schools and served as managing director from 2004 to 2007, through the final years of NFL Europe. In 2005 he brought the team back from Gelsenkirchen to Düsseldorf, and in 2006 he ran the club together with head coach Jim Tomsula.

Since then, the qualified sports teacher from Bochum has stayed close to the game, above all with young players. He heads the flag football performance centre of the North Rhine-Westphalia American football association (AFCV NRW) and coaches the flag football team of Düsseldorf’s Theodor-Fliedner-Gymnasium, the 2025 German NFL school flag football champions in the U14 category.

His mission: make Rhein Fire strong as a business, develop talent from the region and turn every game day into an event for the fans.

Sammy Schmale, Managing Director of Rhein Fire, said: “Rhein Fire has never been just a team. It is a feeling this region has carried for three decades. I was trusted with this fire once before. Being trusted with it again is an honour. We don’t just want to win, we want to last: with a healthy club, with players from the region and with game days people talk about for weeks.”

Jim Tomsula, CEO of the American Football League Europe, added: “I’ve known Sammy since 2006, when we ran Rhein Fire together. He knows how to lead a football club in Europe, with heart and with numbers. Strong clubs make a strong league. That’s why this is a good day for Rhein Fire and for the whole AFLE.”

About Rhein Fire

Rhein Fire is one of Europe’s most storied football teams. The brand has stood for American football on the Rhine since 1995 and won the World Bowl in NFL Europe in 1998 and 2000. In 2023 and 2024 the team won back-to-back European championships. Since 2026, Rhein Fire has played in the American Football League Europe, with home games at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena in Duisburg.