Jim on tour as Tomsula takes his AFLE presidency on the road
AFLE President Jim Tomsula is not the kind of man to run a league from behind a desk. Since taking up his new role, Tomsula has been doing what he has always done best: showing up, listening, and getting to work. One franchise at a time.
Getting to know the league from the inside
Tomsula’s approach to his new role is straightforward. He is visiting every AFLE franchise in person, meeting the people who run them, the coaches who lead them and the players who play for them. He is asking questions, taking note of challenges and looking for ways to help on the ground. For a league in its first ever season, that kind of hands-on leadership is exactly what it needs.
Panthers Wroclaw and Berlin Thunder
Week 7 saw Tomsula spend time with Panthers Wroclaw before heading to Berlin, where he spent several days with the Thunder. Getting inside a franchise for more than a brief visit is part of the point. It takes time to understand what a team needs, and Tomsula is not cutting those conversations short. He will continue moving through the league in the weeks ahead, visiting every franchise and making a point of connecting with fans too, not just those on the inside of the operation.
The right man for the job
Tomsula’s connection to European football runs deep. He began his coaching career on this side of the Atlantic, working with several NFL Europe franchises before a long stint in the NFL that included a head coaching role with the San Francisco 49ers. When he came back to Europe in 2022 to lead Rhein Fire, he built one of the most dominant runs in the history of European football, winning back-to-back championships after finishing the 2023 regular season with a perfect 12-0 record. He knows what it takes to build something that lasts, and that is precisely the experience AFLE wants shaping its future.
A president who puts the game first
Working alongside Commissioner Andreas Nommensen, Tomsula’s focus is on raising the level of the entire league: coaching standards, player development, franchise operations and the experience of fans on matchday. The tour he is currently on is the first step in that process. To make something better, you first have to understand what it is. Jim Tomsula is doing exactly that.
