BERLIN (AP) \u2014 Bj\u00f6rn Werner signed everything thrust in front of him by NFL fans who packed a Berlin plaza Saturday.<\/p>\n
His old Indianapolis Colts jersey \u2014 it\u2019s a best-seller in Germany \u2014 footballs, scarves, miniature helmets. Even a cleat.<\/p>\n
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Werner’s NFL career ended after three seasons because of injuries, but he’s become a star in his home country as a TV commentator and media personality. He co-hosts a popular podcast, has a big social media presence and is credited with helping popularize the sport in Germany.<\/p>\n
As the former first-round draft pick waded through throngs of fans, he looked around and took stock of the NFL’s growth in Germany.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re in the biggest city in Germany, and we’re surrounded by football fans,\u201d he told The Associated Press as he continued to sign items and pose for selfies. “I\u2019m just thankful to be here.”<\/p>\n
Saturday’s event was a Colts rally in Potsdamer Platz a day before Indianapolis faces the Atlanta Falcons at the Olympiastadion for the NFL\u2019s first regular-season game in the German capital.<\/p>\n
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Colts great and Hall of Fame running back Edgerrin James<\/a> was also featured and drew a long line for autographs, but nothing like the Werner frenzy \u2014 with security guards creating space for the former Florida State star to shuffle along.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the Colts can be very proud of what they\u2019ve built there \u2014 and the game hasn\u2019t even been played yet,\u201d he told the AP. \u201cSunday\u2019s going to be fun.\u201d<\/p>\n On Friday night, the 35-year-old Berlin native co-hosted a raucous \u201cBromania\u201d love-in for German fans of the American version of football.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s turned into the German Pat McAfee<\/a> over here. He\u2019s awesome,\u201d Colts offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann said Friday.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n First-round draft pick in 2013<\/p>\n At Florida State, Werner was the ACC\u2019s Defensive Player of the Year in 2012 as a defensive end. He skipped his senior year to enter the NFL draft, and the Colts selected him 24th overall in 2013.<\/p>\n The Colts also tried him at outside linebacker<\/a>. He had four sacks in 2014 but ultimately only played three seasons because of knee and back injuries.<\/p>\n Werner told the Pat McAfee Show in 2021 that the Colts’ fan base was \u201cnot happy about it.\u201d But he also noted his pride in overcoming external doubts at each level.<\/p>\n \u201cI lived my dream. It was amazing. I had a great time,” he told his former teammate<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Spreading the word in Germany<\/p>\n Werner and Patrick \u201cCoach\u201d Esume<\/a> started the Football Bromance podcast before the 2019 NFL season, and it’s grown into a full sports media and promotions company, Bromance Sports. They also co-host an NFL show for RTL, the league’s broadcast partner in Germany.<\/p>\n On Friday night, Werner fought tears as he addressed fans at \u201cBromania,” which has become an annual event with the NFL staging games in Germany.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve reached a point where this atmosphere, and the Bromanias, have really started to get NFL teams talking about it.\u201d Werner said. \u201cNFL teams are saying, wait a minute, we have to go there.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Germany is a big part of the NFL’s international growth plan, so having local media personalities spur the growth is key.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of work in the field of growing the game. That\u2019s why it\u2019s really helpful to have him and others like Sebastian Vollmer<\/a> being public faces for the sport and the league over here,” NFL Germany general manager Alexander Steinforth told the AP in an interview this week.<\/p>\n Football is full of rules that can be hard to grasp.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s even more important to have faces and names that speak your language, that maybe share some of your cultural heritage and that you can relate to,\u201d Steinforth said.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cIf that then comes together with a personality that is really outgoing, is entertaining and can explain the sport, that\u2019s kind of the best-in-class combination that we could hope for. He\u2019s definitely one who is really good at it.\u201d<\/p>\n Reuniting with the Colts<\/p>\n Eleven years after drafting Werner as a player, the Colts came calling again. In 2024, the team enlisted Werner as a \u201cColts ambassador\u201d in Germany and Austria.<\/p>\n This time, the partnership looks more rewarding for both sides.<\/p>\n Colts co-owner Kalen Jackson was a guest on stage Friday<\/a> and heaped praise on Werner.<\/p>\n \u201cHe genuinely, though, is so instrumental to the impact we\u2019ve been able to make here,” Jackson said.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n