OPENING GAMBIT
In poker, the most valuable asset isn't the cards you hold—it's the relationships you've built with players at other tables. The confidant who whispers "fold" when you're about to go all-in on a losing hand can save your entire stack.
In my journey through German football's complex landscape, no relationship proved more valuable than my connection with Patrick Esume. As I mentioned in my November 2024 podcast, Patrick represents a rare bridge between American and German football cultures—someone who truly "understands both sides of the football world." What I couldn't share then, but can reveal now, is how profoundly this relationship would influence my coaching journey.
THE NFL EUROPE FOUNDATION
My podcast touched briefly on Patrick Esume's unique position in German football, but my book reveals the deeper connection we shared:
"Patrick Esume and I shared a bond that went back to our days in NFL Europe. A German of Nigerian descent from Hamburg, Patrick had worked his way up from player to coach in European football circles. We had first connected in 2005 with the Hamburg Sea Devils after I had coached with the Barcelona Dragons in 2003 and the Scottish Claymores in 2004. Our paths crossed again when we were roommates during Cleveland Browns training camp, where we had both earned NFL Minority Coaching Fellowships.
These shared experiences created a foundation of trust that transcended team boundaries and national borders. In European football, where professional structures were less rigid than in the NFL, these personal connections often meant more than formal credentials. Patrick understood both American football philosophy and European club politics—a rare combination that made his advice invaluable."
EARLY CONNECTIONS
The relationship with Patrick began even before my arrival in Bielefeld, as I shared the news of my appointment with him:
"'Pat I am the new HFC at Bielefeld,' I had texted Patrick Esume nearly a year earlier, in October 2013. 'Interesting how it all transpired but It sounds like an interesting and wonderful challenge… I'll will tell you all about it when I get to Germany. I would rather you hear it from me first but regardless I'm excited.'"
Little did I know then how prophetic Patrick's experience and insights would prove to be as my own journey through German football politics unfolded.
NAVIGATING CLUB POLITICS
In my podcast, I mentioned how the AFVD (the governing body of football in Germany) was "having beef with Patrick Esume." This brief reference hinted at the political complexities Patrick himself had navigated—experiences that would inform his advice to me when Bielefeld's club politics reached a breaking point:
"When the political situation in Bielefeld had reached its peak, I had reached out to Patrick. His response was immediate and direct: 'You gotta get out of there.' Coming from someone who had navigated European football politics at the highest levels—winning championships with the Frankfurt Galaxy, Hamburg Sea Devils, La Courneuve Flash in France, and most recently with the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes—this advice carried significant weight."
THE COMPETITIVE FEAR
My book reveals how club politics manifested in surprising ways—including resistance to opportunities Patrick had offered:
"This fear became even more apparent when I raised another opportunity. My friend and colleague Patrick Esume, who coached the powerhouse Kiel Baltic Hurricanes, had invited us to play a 'friendly' game—a controlled scrimmage where his GFL1 team would even agree not to tackle our quarterback to the ground. Kiel would cover our transportation costs, making it a risk-free opportunity to test ourselves against top competition."
The club's reaction to this opportunity revealed deeper truths about organizational culture:
"When Patrick Esume, coach of the powerhouse Kiel Baltic Hurricanes, had invited us to play a 'friendly' scrimmage against his GFL1 team, the board had reacted with near panic, as if the mere prospect of facing top-level competition threatened something fundamental about the club.
The contrast was stark – publicly criticizing my development focus for supposedly distracting from GFL1 ambitions while privately showing clear anxiety about actually competing at that level. This contradiction revealed that for many within the club structure, the stated ambition to reach GFL1 was a safe aspiration precisely because it seemed always just out of reach."
THE BAVARIAN VIEW
In European football, personal relationships often function as a parallel power structure alongside formal organizational hierarchies. The connection between Patrick Esume and myself exemplifies how these networks can provide both protection and opportunity in an environment where cultural misunderstandings between American coaches and European clubs are common.
German football culture tends to place high value on these trusted personal connections precisely because the democratic club structure can sometimes create political volatility. When navigating unfamiliar organizational terrain, having a guide who understands both your perspective and the local landscape becomes invaluable.
This reality explains why foreign coaches who succeed in European football typically do so through relationships rather than credentials alone—a pattern that applies equally in business, politics, and cultural endeavors across borders.
DISCUSSION POINT
How do personal relationships and professional networks function as safety nets when navigating unfamiliar organizational cultures? When does relying on these connections become essential rather than simply helpful?
THE HUDDLE
Join the conversation this week:
Have you experienced situations where a trusted colleague's advice helped you avoid organizational pitfalls? What made their insight particularly valuable?
How do you balance loyalty to personal relationships with professional opportunities when they come into conflict?
QUICK POLL:
FINAL COUNT
The connection with Patrick Esume represents more than a professional relationship—it embodies the invisible networks that sustain international careers. In a world where formal structures vary dramatically across cultures, these personal bonds often determine success or failure more profoundly than any official title or position. Next week, we'll return to our regular newsletter series with "The Jeffrey Decision" to explore how personnel choices reveal leadership philosophy.
CALL TO ACTION
Watch the full podcast on my Substack
to hear my thoughts on Patrick Esume and the state of German football organizations. Stay tuned for more information about my upcoming book "Peanuts & Egos" (launching October 9, 2025), which reveals how relationships like these shaped my journey through the phantom city of international football leadership.
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