Björn Werner

Björn Werner (German pronunciation: [bjœʁn ˈvɛʁnɐ]; born August 30, 1990) is a German former professional player of American football who was a defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2012. Werner was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He is co-owner and sports director of the Berlin Thunder of the European League of Football (ELF).

Early life

Werner grew up in the Berlin neighborhoods of Wedding and Reinickendorf. He originally played for the Berlin Adler, before attending Salisbury School in Salisbury, Connecticut, as an exchange student in 2007, as part of an exchange program organized by Pat Steenberge. He had 54 tackles, including 24 for losses, 12 sacks and two fumble recoveries in just eight games, but returned to Germany for his junior year. In 2008, he played on the U-19 Germany national team against the Poland U-19 squad in Będzin, winning 67–0. In 2009, Werner returned to Salisbury, and logged 57 tackles in seven games with three sacks, four forced fumbles and two blocked field goals as a senior.

Despite having played high school football for only two years, Werner was regarded a three-star recruit and ranked the fifth overall prospect in the state of Connecticut by Rivals.com. Werner chose FSU over Oregon, University of Miami, and California, during a National Signing Day telecast on ESPN.

Over spring break 2010, Werner married his girlfriend Denise, whom he had met in tenth grade in Berlin.