Finnish defensive lineman Samuel Leppänen joins the Firenze Red Lions

28.03.2026•12:00

The Firenze Red Lions have signed their next import player with Finnish defensive lineman Samuel Leppänen. The 23-year-old becomes the seventh addition to the Italian franchise ahead of the new season.

Strong performances in Finland

Leppänen most recently played for the Seinäjoki Crocodiles and the Vantaan TAFT. During his time in Finland, he impressed with strong and consistent performances on the defensive line.

With his size and physical style of play, he is expected to bring energy and stability to the Red Lions defense.

Watch the first ever Inside the League episode with Rams defensive back Chad Walrond here!

Building an international defense

Leppänen is not the only international player on the defensive side of the ball. The Red Lions have also signed Panamanian linebacker Ezra Drakes and Hungarian defensive back Szabolcs Szöllösi.

Together, these players are expected to play an important role in shaping the defensive identity of the team.

Defense taking shape

Under the leadership of defensive coordinator Tom Mason, the defensive unit is starting to take form. Especially when it comes to import players, the Red Lions are building a group that can compete at a high level.

With the addition of Samuel Leppänen, the defense continues to grow stronger ahead of the upcoming season.

Weitere News

Alpine Rams’ Chad Walrond: “I’m going to lead by example, every single snap”

28.03.2026

Chad Walrond has played football across half of Europe. From London to Istanbul, Cologne to Copenhagen, he has worn a lot of jerseys and faced a lot of challenges. Now the Alpine Rams defensive back is heading to Switzerland for the AFLE’s inaugural season. He was the first guest on Inside the League, and he […]

Veteran coach John Shannon joins Berlin Thunder as offensive coordinator

28.03.2026

The Berlin Thunder have found their offensive coordinator for the upcoming season. The team signed 71-year-old American coach John Shannon, who brings decades of coaching experience to the franchise. A long coaching career in the United States Shannon has worked at many levels of American football. He was offensive coordinator at Marshall and Toledo University, […]

Alpine Rams sign dual-threat quarterback Gabriel Cunningham as QB1

27.03.2026

The Alpine Rams have found their starting quarterback for the upcoming season, signing American dual-threat quarterback Gabriel Cunningham. The 30-year-old brings a lot of experience and mobility to lead the offense of the new Swiss franchise. Experienced journey across college and pro football Cunningham played college football at Texas Tech and New Mexico before starting […]