Revenge, Redemption, or Reckoning? A Hero’s Journey

PROLOGUE

The European League of Football is a breeding ground for some of the most competitive athletes in the world—men who, for the simple love of the game, are willing to sacrifice their bodies without the need for large contracts, full stadiums, or sponsorship deals. Most of the homegrown talent in the ELF double as teachers, doctors, tradesmen, and other working professionals, while the A-imports often hold part-time jobs during the offseason and find ways to coach and stay connected to the game. Long story short, these gentlemen encapsulate American football in its purest form: playing for the love and obsession of the game.

Reilly Hennessey is one of these extreme competitors. Having won on multiple levels—including the highly touted Italian Football League, where he was crowned champion—he’s familiar with both winning and fostering a winning culture. Many forget that in 2022, Stuttgart posted a winless record and sat at the bottom of the league, which included the Istanbul Rams. The winless Surge brought in Hennessey, who helped turn their fortunes around, winning ten regular season games in 2023 and leading them to the championship after upsetting an undefeated Vienna Vikings squad.

In the 2023 Championship Game, Stuttgart fell short. Their defense struggled to stop anything the Rhein Fire threw their way. Despite the loss, Hennessey posted one hell of stat line: 343 yards and four touchdowns. But it was no match for Jadrian Clark’s monstrous 393 yards and six-touchdown performance. Hennessey walked away as the other team celebrated—a feeling no competitor enjoys.

Fast-forward to 2024, and Hennessey announced his retirement from football would be short-lived, rejoining Stuttgart for what he considered his “last ride.” The goal for the season was simple: championship or bust. The Surge notched eleven wins in the regular season and earned a first-round playoff bye, only to meet their dreaded rivals—the Rhein Fire—yet again in the playoffs. This time, the game was much closer but still saw Stuttgart fall 29-23 in overtime. Hennessey was not at his best, throwing an uncharacteristic three interceptions—matching his total from the entire regular season.

“It was heartbreak,” Hennessey said when reflecting on the loss. “Me personally, I feel like I lost that game.” Weather conditions were less than ideal, leading to some sloppy play, but Hennessey, who played college ball in the rainy Pacific Northwest, was quick to say the weather was “not an excuse” he wanted to lean on. “Football is football and weather is a part of it,” he summed up. “I was sick to my stomach how it ended.”

The veteran quarterback is an All-Star for a reason. Accountability is one of the most important traits any great leader can have, and Hennessey leans into it heavily. He praised the defense’s strong performance and focused entirely on his own mistakes, barely mentioning anyone else’s. He even brushed over a fumble from running back Nicolas Khandar to continue his self-examination. In short, Hennessey is the kind of captain guys love to play for—one who exudes leadership and humility.

When he got back home to Washington, Hennessey was prepared to enter the workforce full-time. But thanks to an understanding employer who’s been following his career, they left the door open for him to play another season. And what great competitor can walk away from the chance to compete?

Now, heading into the 2025 ELF season, Hennessey is back once again to lead the Surge in a league that continues to deepen its talent pool. Things will only get more competitive and difficult across the board—which leaves Hennessey facing one of three outcomes: revenge, redemption, or reckoning.

RECKONING

Reckoning would hurt the most—both for Hennessey and the fans following his career. As mentioned earlier, the ELF is improving rapidly, bringing in eight players with NFL or NFL practice squad experience this past offseason (including Surge wide receiver Jeff Cotton Jr.). Not to mention, homegrown players are improving, and the league is doing a better job of convincing talent to choose ELF over leagues like the IFL and GFL. In short, the league is on an upward trajectory, and winning is only going to get harder. Dropping Milan and Barcelona in favor of a more competitive team in the Nordic Storm is just one example of this growing parity.

Despite improvements to the defense, a stronger defensive line, and the addition of Cotton Jr., winning will be a grind for everyone this year. There’s a world in which the Surge simply don’t have the juice they once did, or they get upset by a hungry lower-seeded team. Maybe Paris and Frankfurt make life miserable for them in the Western Conference, and Stuttgart ends up on the outside looking in come playoff time.

There would be no excuses in this scenario–not that Hennessey or the Surge for that matter would point to any. The Surge arguably have an equal or better roster than the season prior. Hennessey himself has even joked, “I’m glad I have a red jersey in practice,” due to how fast and dynamic Stuttgart's new-look defensive line is. All the pieces are in place, and a collapse would be soul-crushing for the team, the organization, and the fans.

If this happens, Hennessey would have to reckon with the fact that not every athlete gets to ride off into the sunset. It's a harsh truth—one faced by countless competitors around the world. This outcome wouldn’t just dent his legacy. Knowing what I know about him, it would haunt him for a long time. No competitor wants to regress, but the longer you stick around, the greater that risk becomes.

REVENGE

Let me be the first to say: Reilly Hennessey is too kind and humble a person to be driven by revenge. If you’re hoping for an Anakin Skywalker-style arc where he dominates rookies on behalf of the Empire, this isn’t your movie. Revenge, for Hennessey, would look more like finally conquering the Rhein Fire and shaking off that boogeyman—or maybe toppling the duo of Clark and Toonga. 

The problem with revenge is that it’s shortsighted. Those seeking it tend to fixate on one target instead of the bigger picture. I don’t think Hennessey will take that path. He’s already stated his main focus going into the season is: “How do we win that first game?” That’s not just his mindset—it’s the entire team’s. And it’s a winning one. Sure, revenge would be sweet, but the greater priority has to be treating every game like it’s your last.

Also, intentional revenge can lead to unintentional mistakes. Confucius once said, “He who seeks revenge digs two graves.” If your only focus is vengeance—sticking it to your nemesis—it can blind you and cause you to forget the fundamentals. For example, if Hennessey is dead set on torching Rhein’s defense, he might overlook an audible that could’ve led to a better play. That said, Reilly Hennessey isn’t just a student of the game—he’s a savant. I don’t think revenge is what drives him, but for the sake of argument, the possibility deserves consideration.

REDEMPTION

This is the outcome fans are hoping for—the one where the hero rides off into the sunset after one final, exhausting battle. In a perfect world for Surge fans, Hennessey and company head into the playoffs hot and healthy, armed with a well-balanced game plan tailored for each opponent. With upgrades to the defensive line and the core of the defensive backfield still intact, this Surge defense can hold their own against the most formidable offenses the ELF has to offer. The hard part is getting both sides of the ball to click in the postseason. We’ve seen heartbreak two years in a row, with one side outperforming the other. 

With the championship game being hosted in Stuttgart, fans are already chomping at the bit at the thought of home-field advantage. The team’s motto this year is "Bring it Home," and it genuinely feels like championship or bust. Several players—not just Hennessey—may potentially be moving on after this season. Whether that’s auditioning for other leagues (à la Louis Geyer), switching teams, or simply deciding it’s time to hang it up.

EPILOGUE

It would be a great story to see one of the ELF’s brightest stars get the opportunity of a lifetime—and ride off victorious on Europe’s biggest stage. I can’t help but think of the words of country legend George Strait, who once sang, “Oh, the last goodbye's the hardest one to say, this is where the cowboy rides away.”

We’ve already seen how hard it is for a competitor like Reilly Hennessey to walk away from the game. He could have done it two years ago. He could have done it last year. But instead, he chose to return and risk his legacy—gambling on one final season. But if it pays off, it could cement him in the halls of ELF greatness forever.

Godspeed, Reilly Hennesey.