Why a second AFLE season would look very different for the Firenze Red Lions
The Firenze Red Lions‘ inaugural American Football League Europe season was a difficult one by any measure. But behind the results lies a story that is far more nuanced, and one that points toward a very different future if the right foundations are put in place.
A season that started before it began
The Red Lions‘ challenges did not begin at kickoff. Recruiting for the AFLE season was complicated by the overlap with Italy’s national football league, which ran late into the calendar and made it difficult to assemble a complete roster in time. That context matters when assessing what followed. This was a team building itself under pressure from the very first day of preparation.
Italian football has the talent
What makes the Firenze story genuinely exciting is what lies beneath the surface. Italy has produced some of the finest homegrown talent in European football. At the last three European Championships, the Italian national team finished on the podium each time, claiming the title in 2021. That depth of talent is real, and it is there to be tapped. Florence itself is home to Guelfi Firenze, one of the most successful clubs in Italian football history and the back-to-back Italian Football League champions. The footballing culture in this city is strong and established. Getting that community fully behind the Red Lions is an opportunity that a second season, with more time and better preparation, would allow the franchise to pursue properly.
The youngest team in the league
The Red Lions went through the 2026 season with the youngest roster in the league. That brought difficulties, particularly in the early weeks when heavy defeats tested the character of a squad still finding its feet in a highly competitive environment. But character was not what this team lacked. Over the course of the season, a clear development was visible. The team grew, adapted and improved, and by the later weeks of the campaign the gap between Firenze and their opponents had begun to close.
Too much change, too little continuity
One of the clearest lessons from the Red Lions‘ season is the cost of instability. Multiple changes at head coach and at the quarterback position meant that every time a connection began to form between the signal caller and his receivers, the reset button was pressed. Building a culture and an identity takes time, and with different coaches bringing different approaches throughout the year, that process was repeatedly interrupted. Continuity is not a luxury for a young team. It is a necessity.
The foundation for something better
The 2026 season was hard. But it was also an education, and the Red Lions should approach the off-season with that in mind. Italy has the talent, Florence has the passion, and this franchise now has a full season of experience to learn from. Get the recruitment right, commit to stability in the coaching structure and give the players the time to grow together, and a second AFLE season for the Firenze Red Lions could look very different indeed.
