Legendary Quarterback and Captain Retire After Historic Championship Win in European Football

Two of Stuttgart's legends are retiring: Quarterback Reilly Hennessey and captain Alessandro Vergani have decided to hang up their helmets and pads after the 2025 season. This marks the end of Hennessey's over 20-year career and Vergani's over 15-year journey in American football, both concluding as European League of Football champions and key figures for the Stuttgart Surge.

Hennessey's Impressive Journey with the Surge

Since joining Stuttgart in 2023, Hennessey has been the linchpin of the team's resurgence. Working with head coach Jordan Neuman, he helped transform the Surge from a 0-12 record in the previous year to reaching the Championship Game in his first ELF season. Despite a hand injury, he amassed over 2,700 passing yards and 25 touchdowns in just ten games. In 2024, he continued to excel with 37 touchdown passes, 10 rushing touchdowns, and only seven interceptions, leading the team to the semifinals. The pinnacle came in 2025 when Hennessey guided the Surge to their first ELF championship, delivering 27 passing touchdowns, nine rushing touchdowns, and eight interceptions, capped by a dominant performance in the Championship Game at Stuttgart's MHP Arena.

"One of the Key Foundational Pieces"

Head Coach Jordan Neuman praised Hennessey, stating, "Reilly has been one of the key foundational pieces we built our program around. He set the standard for what it means to be a QB and a leader, and his impact on the Surge will never be forgotten."

Title Collector Vergani

Alessandro Vergani, the team captain, is celebrated for his reliability, leadership, and team spirit, guided by his motto "Lead by example." His career began in 2009 with Daemons Cernusco, and he quickly rose to become captain of the Italian national team in 2011. After stints with Parma Panthers and Milano Rhinos—where he won his first national title in 2016—he moved to Germany in 2018 to play for Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns. There, he reached four German Bowl finals, secured two German championships (2018 and 2022), and two CEFL titles (2021 and 2022), earning spots in the GFL All Star Team. Internationally, he won the IFAF European Championship with Italy in 2021 and placed third in 2023. Since 2023 with the Surge, Vergani was integral to the team's revival, named to the ELF All-Stars Second Team in 2024 and First Team in 2025, and led the Surge to the 2025 championship as captain.