Ben Holmes: Vikings called at "the most perfect time"

Vienna Vikings quarterback Ben Holmes recently joined the "ELF Live Show" with host Nick Alfieri and ELF expert Matt Bressington to reflect on his journey to Europe and how he found his place with the Vikings.  

A fresh start at the right time  

The quarterback position is often considered the most important in football, and every ELF franchise has chosen an American signal-caller to lead their team in the 2025 season. However, for quarterbacks playing in Europe for the first time, adapting to a new league and environment can be challenging. Holmes, however, proved last season that he could thrive in the ELF. Not only did he lead the Vienna Vikings to the Championship Game against Rhein Fire, but he was also named a 1st Team All-Star.  

For Holmes, the opportunity to join the Vikings came at exactly the right moment. Reflecting on his career before coming to Vienna, he shared: "I needed a fresh start. I was in a rat race as a journeyman quarterback, going from the USFL to the Arena League, then to other lower-tier leagues, and then finally to the CFL. I was just trying to stay above water, moving from being a starter to second string, third string, practice squad, and back again. At some point, I just wanted to be ‘the guy’ again."  

The Vikings gave Holmes a new opportunity  

That’s when Vienna Vikings head coach Chris Calaycay reached out. For Holmes, it was a turning point: "Coach Calaycay reached out at probably the most perfect time anybody could have reached out.”

The move to Europe gave Holmes a chance to establish himself as a leader once again, and he made the most of it. With the Vikings, he found a team that trusted him, and he delivered, leading them to the ELF Championship Game.  

Tune in to ELF Live  

Every Friday at 12 PM CET, host Nick Alfieri and ELF expert Matt Bressington go live to discuss everything ELF-related. Join the conversation on YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook and interact with the hosts in real time!