12 Years of Panthers Wrocław!

September 25th – Panthers Wrocław Celebrate Their Birthday

12 years have passed like a single game.

After years of disputes, rivalries, and derby battles for every yard, Devils and Giants Wrocław found themselves at the center of building a new order on the football map. On September 25, 2013, at the Municipal Stadium, the birth of Panthers Wrocław was announced…

That was the introduction to the anniversary album published for the club’s 10th birthday, still available in the hidden corners of the website. It can be quoted year after year, because in a nutshell it captures the circumstances under which an organization was born that has been tirelessly promoting American football in Poland and Wrocław in football Europe.

Giants and Devils Join Forces

Let’s return to that press conference, because today marks exactly 12 years since the event. “At the Municipal Stadium Panthers will play American football! Giants and Devils have joined forces,” “Giants Wrocław merge with Devils. They will fight as Wrocław Panthers,” “Giants + Devils = Panthers. A new force in American football,” “Panthers in Wrocław!” – these were just some of the online headlines that appeared shortly after the official announcement of the merger.

Behind the scenes, things were just as intense, especially from the locker-room perspective. Current president of Panthers Wrocław, Dawid Tarczyński, recalls:
“These are memories that will stay with me for life. Meetings with Jakub Głogowski and Michał Latos had to be kept secret, because we knew that any leak could cause negative feelings among players. For several months we worked in secret on the entire concept of the club, and the players only found out about the plan during a joint organizational meeting. They thought they were coming to wrap up the season, only to discover their rivals ‘from across town’ were there too. It was a shock for everyone – but the machine had started.”

Three Games, Two Finals in a Week

In the debut season of 2014, everything went according to plan… until the final, where the Panthers fell to Seahawks Gdynia. Interestingly, the same matchup took place again in the 2015 Polish League of American Football final, and once more the team from the coast proved stronger. That defeat stung more, since the (Super)Final 2015 was played in Wrocław, at the then-Municipal Stadium, with around 14,000 fans in attendance.

“I remember those two lost finals. The truth is, after the merger we needed time to become one team. That made us hungrier for victory and gave us extra motivation to work even harder,” says veteran linebacker Krzysztof Wis.

That hunger, motivation, and hard work led to the club’s greatest – and at the time somewhat unexpected – triumph. “Winning the Polish Championship and the IFAF Champions League – three games, two finals in a week!” recalls Jakub Samel, now the club’s sporting director, when asked about his fondest Panthers memory.

More Medals

The triumph in the IFAF Europe Champions League in 2016, preceded by (finally) a successful revenge against the Seahawks in the Polish final, was especially sweet. But it came with pain.

“To give you the picture: on July 16 we won the Polish championship, on July 22 we played the IFAF semifinal against Danube Dragons, and on July 24 the final. On the day of the final, I couldn’t even walk anymore… I still remember sitting in the ice tub as Milano Seamen were already warming up, thinking maybe it’s time to get moving. In the end, I managed to play the whole game and win the European championship with Panthers,” recalls Wis.

The years 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 brought even more Polish Championship medals: gold, silver (this time after a loss to Lowlanders Białystok, again on home turf, though this time at the Olympic Stadium), gold, and gold. Since the club’s inception, there hasn’t been a single PLFA (later LFA) final without Wrocław’s team. With rivals stagnating both athletically and organizationally, the club decided ahead of the 2021 season to step out of their comfort zone and make a true breakthrough.

Record at Tarczyński Arena

The Panthers gave up guaranteed trophies in the domestic league to join the newly formed, highly competitive European League of Football, which brought together top programs across the continent.

“Every season is a new challenge – from organizing the Final Four of the Champions League at the legendary Oporowska stadium just days after winning the Polish title, to restructuring the entire club to become a model organization in the ELF. It was a huge leap from Polish league realities to European stadiums, but after five years I can say we rose to the challenge,” comments Dawid Tarczyński.

The most memorable event – also thanks to its location and accompanying festivities – was the 2024 season opener, which broke the attendance record for American football in Wrocław. “At Tarczyński Arena, as many as 15,000 fans supported us live. We showed that American football can be a top sport in Wrocław,” adds Tarczyński.

A Football Family

Over 12 seasons, Panthers Wrocław have played many unforgettable games, such as the “Snow Bowl” in March 2018, the “pandemic” Polish final in November 2020 in front of empty stands, or the ELF overtime thrillers in 2022 and 2024. They hosted opponents first at the old and later the renovated Olympic Stadium, also playing on Na Niskich Łąkach field and occasionally at the city’s two biggest football arenas.

There were tough seasons too – with midseason coaching changes, four different quarterbacks in one year, failed transfers, and premature contract terminations – as in any developing sports organization.

Today, Panthers Wrocław is a multi-sport club. Beyond senior, junior, and youth American football, there are teams for softball, lacrosse, and ultimate frisbee, with more than 350 athletes training under its banner.

“Over the years, I’ve learned what a real team is, about responsibility, hard work, and fighting until the end. But above all, I value the amazing people I’ve met. Together we’ve shared good and bad moments, but could always rely on one another. It’s the people who built the team, the atmosphere, and made you want to give everything,” says Wis.

Continuous Growth

The 2026 season will bring more changes. On the horizon: searching for a new head coach, new imports, and most likely… participation in another international league. The machine with the black panther logo keeps working at full speed.

“Our plans? We want to develop young players so that the next generation from Poland can confidently compete with anyone in Europe, and continue building Panthers Wrocław as a top brand both athletically and organizationally. We’re fortunate to have Tarczyński as a partner and Jacek Tarczyński as an owner who believes in this vision. We’re not stopping,” emphasizes Dawid Tarczyński.

And since it’s a birthday, let’s wrap up with wishes:

• Krzysztof Wis: “I wish the organization further growth, because it’s a process that requires time and consistency. Support young players, because juniors are the foundation that will pay off in the future.”

• Wojciech Simka (DB): “Championships and determination in pursuing goals.”

• Jakub Samel: “Further steps in the club’s development, expanding junior sections, and continuing to build a multi-generational project!”

ARKADIUSZ BARSKI