Tag Archives: berlin thunder

NFL, NFLE

Kresser, Eric

CARD: Playoff Contenders 2000
ACQUIRED: 2023, Private Acquisition

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Eric Kresser played QB for Florida, where he played from 1992-’95.
  • During his Junior season he threw 12 TDs to just 2 picks.
  • He transferred to Marshall for his Senior campaign in 1996.
  • Armed with prolific Randy Moss at WR, Kresser threw for over 3,400 yards and 35 TDs.
  • Undrafted, Eric signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1997.
  • He saw action in 2 games in 1998, throwing for 164 yards and a TD.
  • Allocated to the NFLE to play for the Berlin Thunder in 2000.
  • Started 4 contests, but suffered a throwing shoulder injury ending his European trip.
  • Played for the CFL Montreal Alouettes in 2002.
  • Went into coaching where was most well known as the head coach for high profile The Benjamin High School in FL for 7 seasons.

NOTES:

Eric had climbed up from offensive coordinator into the HC job at TBS. He resigned at the end of 2024, and had a 45-28 record.

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211016447.6%1250.637
NFL
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1025269051.0%5664.640t
NFLE
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31733.3%00N/aN/a
CFL

NFL, NFLE

Lira, Hugo

CARD: Frankfurt Galaxy Team Issue 2003
ACQUIRED: 2023, Private Acquisition

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Hugo Lira played gridiron football in Mexico growing up and through college as a runningback at UDLAP from 1998-2002.
  • Joined the NFLE with the Frankfurt Galaxy in 2003 where he was converted to WR.
  • He also spent time on special teams, returning one kick for 33 yards in 2004.
  • Saw the most action in 2005 as a member of the Berlin Thunder.
  • Caught 3 passes for 24 yards, returned 11 kicks for 248 yards, and posted 5 special teams tackles.
  • Spent preseason with the Carolina Panthers in 2005 and was part of final cutdowns.
  • Returned to Mexico and began climbing up the coaching ranks.
  • Spent time at UVM Querétaro (2005–2006), ITESM CEM (2007–2011), ITESM Puebla (2012–2021), and currently is head coach of ITESM CCM (2022–present).
  • Worked with the Mexican squad for the World University American Football Championship helping them earn gold in 2014, ’16, and ’18.
Arena, CFL, NFL, NFLE

Brown, Jonathan

CARD: Playoff Contenders 2000 European Ticket
ACQUIRED: 2021, Future Considerations

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Defensive lineman Jonathan Brown played collegially at Tennessee where he helped the Vols win the SEC title in ’97.
  • In that season he had a career high 13.5 sacks- good for second on the school’s all-time list.
  • Over his 4 years at Tennessee, Brown notched 27.5 sacks.
  • Selected in the 3rd round of the 1998 draft by the Green Bay Packers.
  • Released during roster cuts in ’99, and finished the season on the active roster of the Broncos that year.
  • Joined the Berlin Thunder in 2000, recording 10 sacks, 30 tackles and 2 forced fumbles.
  • Played for the St. Louis Rams in 2001.
  • Returned to the NFLE in 2003, as a selection of the Amsterdam Admirals.
  • Posted 6.5 sacks and 26 tackles.
  • Took his game to the Arena Football League playing for the Indiana Firebirds.
  • In 2004, Jonathan played for the CFL Argonauts, becoming a fixture at DE for the next 6 seasons.
  • He’d accumulate 50 sacks over his time in Toronto with dual 13 sack seasons in 2005, and 2007.
  • Retired after a final season in BC with the Lions, adding another 4 sacks to his career CFL number.

ACCOLADES:

  • NFLE Defensive MVP 2000
  • All-NFL Europe 2000, ’03
  • CFL All-Star 2005- ’07

NOTES:

Cool looking card here of Jonathan. The green actually works. He’s also got a great autograph for a big man. He really backdoored into a pretty solid career playing in the CFL there.

NFLE

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5616.5400-.-0-.-

ARENA

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41.0000-.-0-.-

CFL

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23254.0212929.0029