Tag Archives: frankfurt galaxy team issue 2003

GFL, NFL, NFLE, XFL

Hippler, Werner

CARDS: Frankfurt Galaxy Team Issue 2000, 2003
ACQUIRED: 2023, Private Acquisition

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • German born Werner Hippler is considered a home grown Football Legend.
  • Played college ball at Sacramento State at TE from 1992-’94.
  • In ’95 played for the Frankfurt Galaxy catching 2 passes for 6 yards and 2 TDs.
  • Spent two seasons on the practice squad of the San Diego Chargers.
  • During that period returned to Frankfurt, playing for the Galaxy through the 2000 campaign.
  • Also played for the GFL Cologne Red Barons/ Crocodiles as well.
  • In 1999 caught a career high 34 passes for 341 yards for the Galaxy.
  • After going through camp with the Detroit Lions, played with the Las Vegas Outlaws of the XFL 2001 catching a pass for 6 yards.
  • Returned to the NFLE playing for the Galaxy through the ’03 season.
  • In 2004, had a change of scenery, and played for the Cologne Centurions.
  • He’d catch 18 passes for 128 yards and a TD over the next 4 seasons before the league ended.

ACCOLADES:

  • All World League 1999-’00

NOTES:

Hippler all in all played in 12 football seasons and played in more games than any other player in NFLE history. He’s gotten a few bit roles in movies, and runs a security company. He’s also been involved with the GFL and the Hamburg Huskies.

GFL, NFL, NFLE

Benetka, Daniel ‘The Bull’

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

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Daniel Benetka was a 6-foot-4-inch, 295lb DL who attended the University of Idaho.
  • He also was a Discus thrower at the school notching a throw of 183.5 yards.
  • Signed by the San Francisco 49ers as a rookie free agent, but was released prior to the 1999 regular season.
  • Signed with the Frankfurt Galaxy of the NFLE in 2001.
  • Ended up having a very long and productive career in the NFLE playing there from 2001 to the league’s conclusion in 2007.
  • Played with the Indianapolis Colts during the 2001 preseason, but it is not clear if he was released prior to the regular season.
  • Played with the New England Patriots during the 2003 preseason, but was released prior to the regular season.
  • Played for the Falcons in 2004.
  • Over seven seasons in the NFLE posted 4.5 sacks and 2 interceptions for 10 yards.

NOTES:

Daniel is considered a Frankfurt Galaxy ‘great’ and was involved with the founding of the GFL club, the Frankfurt Universe. He’s also been active in promoting the sport of American Football in Europe.

NFL, NFLE

Graber, Douglas

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

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Douglas Graber has a long and established history coaching football at every level, starting at high school level back in the 60s.
  • By 1969 he entered the college ranks working as a DC at Michigan Tech (1969-’71) and Eastern Michigan (1972-’75).
  • He then was a positional coach for DBs at Ball State (1976-’77) and Wisconsin (1978-’81).
  • In 1982, Graber took his first head coaching job, leading Montana State to a share of the Big Sky Conference Title at 6-5.
  • The NFL came calling in 1983, and Douglas moved to Kansas City where he was the DBs coach for the team through 1986.
  • In 1987, he orchestrated the Tampa Bay Bucs defense for two seasons.
  • The defense in 1988 improved from 30th to 4th in run defense under his tutelage.
  • He’d depart for the HC job at Rutgers in 1990- a position he’d hold through the ’95 season.
  • Overall the Scarlet Knights finished with a 35-41-1 record over his tenure.
  • Douglas reappeared on the football radar in 2001, taking over as head coach of the Frankfurt Galaxy of the NFLE.
  • After a slow start, he’d lead the team to back to back 6-4 records, and a World Bowl victory (XI) in 2003.
  • In 2004, he served a single season as the New York Jets defensive backs coach.
  • Then served a final year as Ball State’s DC in 2009.
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