The NFL is booming and the Cincinnati Bengals are part of the boom.
In 2026, a record nine international games will be played outside the United States — the highest number the league has ever staged abroad. Nowhere is that expansion more visible than in Europe: London, Germany, Spain, France — all stepping onto the field as the NFL’s global push hits full throttle.
But American football isn’t just the NFL. Across Europe, leagues are rising, stadium lights are coming on, and the game is growing louder every season. And those leagues? They’re starting to catch the attention of NFL players themselves.
Take former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Reece Horn. He spent three seasons in Vienna, suiting up for the Vienna Vikings and bringing NFL-caliber talent to Austria’s capital.
And now another familiar face from Bengals territory is making the jump. Today, the Dresden Monarchs, a powerhouse in the effect®️ ENERGY German Football League, announced that quarterback Rocky Lombardi will take the reins under center for the 2026 season.
European football isn’t just growing. It’s loading up. And the next chapter is already kicking off.
Rocky Lombardi is Heading to Dresden
Rocky Lombardi is heading to Germany, and he’ll be on a mission: push the Dresden Monarchs over the top.
Last season, the Monarchs reached the GFL-Bowl — the championship game of the league. They played the so-called “Finale Daheeme,” which took place in Dresden, but came up just short.
Now, in 2026, Lombardi arrives with one goal: finish the job and bring the title to the capital of Saxony.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to play for the Dresden Monarchs next season. The two championship appearances over the past two years show that outstanding work is being done there. I know the desire for a second title is huge, and that is exactly my goal. I want to give the fans at home in Dresden the championship,” says Rocky Lombardi.
Before turning pro, Lombardi made his name at the college level, suiting up for the Michigan State Spartans football and later the Northern Illinois Huskies football.
On April 27, 2024, he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent. His stint with the team, however, was short-lived — he was waived on August 23.
A True Synergy Effect
GettyLombardi played in a preseason game against the Chicago Bears on August 17, 2024.
Behind starting quarterback Joe Burrow, Lombardi saw action in the preseason. Later that same year, he was drafted by the Michigan Panthers in the United Football League. On January 30, 2026, Lombardi signed onto the Negotiation List with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
Now, the son of longtime coach and scout Tony Lombardi, who brings more than 30 years of football experience, and the grandson of Bob Lombardi, is looking to make his mark in Dresden. With the Monarchs, Lombardi hopes to step into the footsteps of former quarterback Justin Miller and lead the team to a championship.
Even though the signal-caller ultimately never appeared in a regular-season NFL game, he still carries the profile of a former NFL prospect. As a former member of the Bengals organization, he brings fresh attention not only to the Dresden Monarchs and the effect®️ ENERGY German Football League, but also back toward the National Football League itself — a true synergy effect as the sport continues to grow internationally.
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