Former NFL TE Bernhard Seikovits: “Vienna is and was always my home”
Austrian American Football is set for a headline moment as Bernhard Seikovits has signed with the Vienna Vikings for the 2026 season, marking his return to European competition after four years in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals. The tight end’s homecoming is a major boost for the Vikings in the American Football League Europe and a story that resonates with fans across the continent.
From Vienna youth to NFL and back
Seikovits, 28, began his football journey with the Vienna Vikings’ youth program and quickly became one of Austria’s most promising talents. He progressed through the Vikings’ ranks before catching the attention of NFL scouts through the league’s International Player Pathway Program, which led to a contract with the Arizona Cardinals. Over four seasons in the NFL, Seikovits occupied an international spot on Arizona’s roster, gaining invaluable experience training at the highest level of the sport.
Despite not appearing in a regular season game, his time in the NFL practice squad helped refine his skills as a tight end and exposed him to elite competition which something he now brings back to Austria.
“Vienna is and was always my home”
In announcing the signing, Seikovits spoke openly about what returning to the Vikings means to him. “Wien is and was always my home. As it became clear that my time in the USA was coming to an end, this opportunity to live my dream again with the Vikings was something I just had to take,” he said. He added that, while he considered offers from other European teams, the Vikings provided “the most professional environment” for him as a player, underlining his enthusiasm for contributing to the team’s success in the AFLE.
Leadership and inspiration for the next generation
Head coach Chris Calaycay expressed excitement about Seikovits’ return, calling the signing “a homecoming” and highlighting both his impressive career and his inspiring journey.
Seikovits’s presence in Vienna will not only strengthen the Vikings’ tight end group but also serve as an example for younger Austrian players aspiring to elite levels of American Football. His story from local youth leagues to the NFL and back underscores the growing pathways for European talent in the sport.
A homecoming with high expectations
As the Vikings prepare for the 2026 AFLE campaign, Seikovits’s return adds experience, leadership and visibility to the roster. Especially with the departure of fellow standout tight end Florian Bierbaumer to the UFL, Seikovits is primed for a big season in yellow and purple. For fans in Vienna and beyond, his signing represents both a homecoming and a statement of intent as European American Football continues to evolve and grow.
