Vikings celebrate Maierhofer-Debüt: Clear 41: 7 victory against Raiders Tyrol!

Vikings celebrate Maierhofer-Debüt: Clear 41: 7 victory against Raiders Tyrol!

On June 7, 2025, the "Battle of Austria", which was eagerly awaited in the Generali-Arena in Vienna, took place between the Vienna Vikings and the Raiders Tyrol. In a clear victory for the Vikings, the game ended 41: 7. In front of 10,275 spectators, Stefan Maierhofer made his debut as a kicker for the Vikings, which caused a sensation in the Austrian media. Maierhofer, a former professional football player who played for clubs such as Rapid Vienna, Bayern Munich and Red Bull Salzburg, received the role of kicker after the Vikings had decided to strengthen their kicking unit at the end of 2024 by leaving a former football professional. The team copied the increasing trend that American football experiences in Germany and Europe. According to American Football 100 , about 19 million people in Germany enjoy the American football, which leads to a significant increase in the popularity of this sport.

In the game itself, the quarterback of the Vikings, Ben Holmes, was the decisive player. He threw five touchdown passes, including three on Noah Touré, and achieved a touchdown himself. The Vikings dominated the game right from the start by taking the lead early through TouchDowns from Touré, Nils Keimel, Florian Bierbaumer and Ben Holmes. However, the Raiders Tyrol, who had to accept their second defeat in the fourth game of the season, could not put pressure on them. The quarterback N’Kosi Perry failed due to his comeback, and the course of the game was shaped by the domination of the Vikings.

Maierhofer's role as a kicker

Stefan Maierhofer had already attracted a lot of attention in advance. He opened the game with a kick-off over 63 yards, but he was not used in relation to Field Goals or extra points, as these activities took over Oskar Herz. During his debut, Maierhofer kicked football three times; However, an attempt was just too short. The decision to integrate Maierhofer with the Vikings was not easy. The owner of the Vikings, Robin Lumsden, emphasized that the suitability and setting of the athlete were decisive. After discussions with several renowned footballers, the choice finally fell on Maierhofer, which aroused great hopes.

The challenge of switching from football to American football was clearly recognized by Maierhofer. Giorgio Tavecchio, a former NFL kicker, was hired as a kicking coach to support him in this change. Head Coach Chris Calaycay expressed that the transition is challenging, but is good and Maierhofer already feels comfortable in the team. His goal is to play in the home game in front of 50,000 fans at the eleven Championship Game 2025 in Stuttgart.

The background of American football in Europe

Although Maierhofer's debut in American football was a highlight in the Vikings, sport itself in Europe, especially in Germany, is on the rise. The European League of Football, which was founded in 2021, now comprises 17 teams from 9 countries. According to American Football 100 , the NFL 2022 was popular in Germany, which is evident, among other things, through the first regular game of the season in Munich, which had an enormous economic effect. The Vikings who want to remain competitive rely on innovative players like Maierhofer to keep up with the best teams in European football.