We’ll Leave Our Hearts on the Field. Przemysław Lewszyk to Continue Leading the Panthers Defens

Przemysław Lewszyk will once again take charge of the defensive unit of the Wrocław Panthers in the upcoming season, as the team competes in the Polish Football League (PFL).

Przemek is a coach with a rich history within the organization. He began his journey with the Wrocław Panthers as a player, representing the club in both domestic and European competitions and winning numerous titles along the way. Over time, he combined playing with coaching youth teams before eventually hanging up his cleats and fully dedicating himself to developing young American football players within our organization. We are delighted that Przemek will remain with us for another year — there is no better person for this role.

You’ve had a very intense year. You coordinated the defense in both the senior and junior Polish Football League. How do you evaluate the 2025 season?
You could say I’ve gotten used to working two jobs within the club — either as a player and a coach, or as a coach in two different sections. This year was definitely intense, both in life and in sports, but overall I evaluate it positively. Both teams I coached proved that we belong among the national elite. Returning to the Polish league made me very happy, and I believe the fact that a team made up mostly of juniors and rookies reached the playoffs sent a clear message about the quality of our organization. No other team in Poland would be able to field two full senior rosters, competing at a high level and achieving success in their respective leagues.

What kind of defense can we expect in 2026? Are you introducing any major changes to the system?
I definitely want to change myself and my approach. I got a bit too carried away with 11-man football and, instead of focusing on the fundamentals, I tried to get a little too fancy — which, among other things, resulted in a quarterfinal loss. This season will be all about the basics and tough, straightforward football.

What individual and team goals do you set for the new season?
I don’t really set individual goals in a sporting sense — this is a team sport, we win and lose as a team. Team goals? The Polish Championship. We’re playing for that and nothing else will satisfy us.

Do you have aspirations to join the coaching staff of the first team competing in European competitions in the future?
It’s hard to say. Football is my passion, not my job. Being a head coach at that level is a full-time position, and with my current professional career it would be difficult to combine the two. But if I won the lottery, I probably wouldn’t hesitate.

What would you like to say to Panthers Nation?
As always, you can be sure that both our players and I will leave our hearts on the field in 2026.