With only a few weeks left to go, the Raiders Tirol might have singed the best homegrown football player the league has seen since its inaugural season. The former New York Giants running back Sandro Platzgummer will join the Raiders for the 2023 season, as the Austrian franchise announced.

The 26-year-old running back started his football career with the Raiders back in 2003. After 16 years, he earned himself a spot on the International Pathway Program of the NFL. Shortly after, he was allocated to the New York Giants where he spent three seasons on the practice squad.

Platzgummer: “I’m excited for this new challenge”

The Austrian running back is excited to finally be back with his older brother Adrian Platzgummer and former teammates and coaches. “I am super excited for this new challenge. It is a league that is new for me but there are a lot of old teammates and coaches I would love to work with,” Platzgummer commented via the team’s press release.

In his three years with the Giants, the 182cm tall and 95kg heavy playmaker only appeared in pre-season games. However, Platzgummer was the first-ever Austrian outfield player to have signed a contract with an NFL team. Now, the talented player returns to Europe.

The coming home party

“I am more than excited that Sandro [Platzgummer] will be back in silver and black. He is a Raider, and this is his home,” Raiders Tirol head coach Kevin Herron commented via the team’s press release. “Our offense has gotten a lot more dangerous with Sandro. He cannot wait to show the league what he has learned in his three years with the Giants!”

Signing Platzgummer to their team is more than an upgrade for their offense. The Raiders now could have the best homegrown player on their roster the league has seen in its first three years.

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