Four New Members Inducted into the Finnish Football Hall of Fame

The Finnish American Football Hall of Fame has welcomed four new members. Max Ehlert, Karri Kuuttila, Tuomas Leinonen and Arttu Tennberg were inducted during a ceremony at halftime of Maple Bowl XLVII.

Hall of Fame membership is the Finnish American Football Association’s highest honour. It recognises individuals whose contributions, on or off the field, have had a particularly significant, exemplary and unique impact on the sport or its development in their era. The road to induction is a long one, requiring both exceptional achievements in the sport and broad support among existing Hall of Fame members.

The Finnish American Football Hall of Fame inducts up to four distinguished new members each year.

Meet the New Hall of Fame Members

Videos introducing the Class of 2026 and a message from Max Ehlert

#48 Max Ehlert (LB)

Max Ehlert’s playing career stands out above all for the level at which he competed and the significant role he earned. A key player for Finland’s youth national teams and the Helsinki Roosters, Ehlert progressed through Chabot College to NCAA Division I football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He was only the second Finnish player to receive a full scholarship to a Division I university.

Ehlert played two seasons at linebacker for UNLV. His role grew during his first season, and by his senior year he had earned a place in the Rebels’ starting defence. He became a key contributor in an environment where competition for roster spots and the standard of opposition were substantially tougher than in European league football.

Ehlert’s leadership was evident even before his Division I career. At Chabot College, he was named team captain and earned first-team all-conference honours in 2011. According to SAJL’s historical records, he recorded 25 solo tackles, 30 assisted tackles and a forced fumble over two seasons. SAJL’s account describes how he earned the trust of the new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, receiving the defensive signals on the field. (jenkkifutis.fi)

In Finland, Ehlert earned Maple League All-Star honours in 2009 and was named Young Football Player of the Year. In 2012, SAJL named him Finnish Football Player of the Year. A product of Finland’s player development system, Ehlert reached a high level of international competition and established himself there as both a starter and a leader.

#49 Karri Kuuttila (OL)

Karri Kuuttila was one of the dominant offensive linemen in Finnish football during the 2010s. His standing among the elite at his position is reflected in a remarkable run: he earned Maple League All-Star honours in five consecutive seasons from 2012 to 2016 and was named Lineman of the Year in his very first Maple League season. In Finland, he played for the Helsinki Wolverines and Turku Trojans and represented the men’s national team from 2012 to 2016.

Kuuttila also brought extensive North American experience to Finnish football. Before moving to Finland, he spent four years playing left tackle at Lock Haven University in NCAA Division II. His consecutive All-Star selections in the Maple League demonstrate his exceptional consistency at the top of his position domestically. He also represented Finland at the 2014 European Championships, where the team finished fourth.

Following his college career, Kuuttila signed with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams but was released during training camp. His career in the United States continued in the autumn of 2011 with the Maryland Blizzard in semi-professional football.

Kuuttila’s leadership extended beyond the field. During a break from playing in 2017, he served as head coach of the Turku Trojans before returning to play for the Wolverines. His career combines an international playing background, sustained dominance at his position in Finland, national team service and responsibility for an entire team as head coach.

#50 Tuomas Leinonen (DB)

Tuomas Leinonen’s career is a testament to sustained excellence and his exceptional standing among Finnish defensive players. He competed in Finland’s top division for nearly two decades, representing the Seinäjoki Crocodiles at several positions. His 11 Maple League All-Star selections between 2003 and 2016 underline his status as one of the elite players of his era. In 2014, he also received the Matti Lindholm Trophy as Defensive Player of the Year.

Leinonen was a key figure in one of Finnish football’s consistently successful teams. Although a Maple Bowl title eluded him, his career with the Crocodiles yielded an impressive 12 Finnish championship medals: six silvers and six bronzes. He also competed with the Crocodiles in the Eurobowl and the EFL.

His greatest team achievement with the national side came in 2000, when Finland won the European Championship. He later returned to the national team’s defensive backfield in 2010 and 2014.

Leinonen’s contribution to his teams continued after his playing career. From 2019 to 2022, he served as the Crocodiles’ defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. His Hall of Fame credentials rest above all on his exceptional longevity among the country’s best at his position, his leadership within a successful team and his continued contribution as a coach.

#51 Arttu Tennberg (OL)

Arttu Tennberg is one of the most successful and longest-serving offensive linemen in Finnish football. His individual honours provide compelling evidence of his standing among the elite at his position.

Tennberg earned SAJL All-Star honours in ten seasons and was named Lineman of the Year in 2017 and 2018. He was already contributing to the Porvoo Butchers’ success as a young player, helping the team win three consecutive Finnish championships in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Tennberg also made a significant contribution to the national team. He represented Finland’s men’s team from 2008 to 2019, an exceptionally long international career for an offensive lineman. His national team career culminated in a bronze medal at the 2018 European Championships. More than a decade of continuous national team service, alongside ten All-Star selections, demonstrates his ability to remain at the top of his position year after year.

His international club career further strengthens his record. Tennberg played for the Dresden Monarchs in Germany’s GFL in 2013 and 2015, finishing as German championship runner-up in 2013. In 2016, he played for the Innsbruck Raiders and reached the Eurobowl final.

Tennberg’s Hall of Fame career combines sustained dominance at his position, a crucial role in a championship-winning team, more than a decade of national team service and success beyond Finland.