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Bernhard Raimann selected as the first Austrian in the NFL draft

Bernhard Raimann selected as the first Austrian in the NFL draft

Raimann thus supports the team of experienced quarterback Matt Ryan as an offensive tackle. Never before had an Austrian gotten a place on an NFL team via draft.

This beckons Raimann with a contract worth around five million euros. In autumn, Raimann, 2.01 m tall and weighing 138 kilograms, could become the first outfield player from the Alpine Republic to play a game in the National Football League. The native of Vienna previously played for the Central Michigan Chippewas as a student at Central Michigan University.

“We can play football. It’s an incredibly historic moment for Austrian football,” said AFBÖ President Michael Eschlböck full of euphoria on Puls24: “Good team, good station, a real load fell off my heart.” Raimann showed that “with hard work and the right will in the land of unlimited opportunities, you can become an NFL player as a ‘little’ Austrian”. “I’m happy for Bernhard Raimann and his family.” Raimann witnessed the historic moment with his parents and his girlfriend Calli at their family home near Detroit, Michigan.

Fourth Austrian in the NFL

However, they had to wait a little longer than expected, many experts had already expected the Austrian talent in the first or second round. With the Colts, Raimann fits perfectly into the prey scheme, as the team around head coach Frank Reich has a need for the left tackle position after the departure of Pro Bowler Eric Fisher. Raimann will probably fight 27-year-old Matt Pryor for a place in the starting lineup.

The top star in the two-time Super Bowl winner (1971, 2007) is quarterback Ryan. The 36-year-old only joined in March from the Atlanta Falcons, with whom he reached the Super Bowl in 2016 but lost in a memorable game to the New England Patriots. Running back Jonathan Taylor is considered one of the most explosive players in his position.

So far, three kickers from Austria have worked in the NFL in the 1970s and 1980s. Former national soccer player Toni Fritsch won the Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys in 1972, Raimund “Ray” Wersching was successful in 1982 and 1985 with the San Francisco 49ers. The emigrant son from Mondsee also played the last NFL game by an Austrian in 1987. Third in the group was Toni Linhart, who was born in Styria.

Source: Nachrichten

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