FORMER FIRE GM JOINS VIKINGS
The Vienna Vikings have officially confirmed rumours surrounding the appointment of Max Paatz as their new general manager ahead of the 2026 European season, securing vital experience for the front office.
Paatz will assume operational leadership of the Vikings under the joint titles of CEO and managing director, and brings extensive and long-standing experience in international football organisation to the Austrian capital. Following his active playing and coaching career in Germany, he gained early — and detailed — insights into the professional structures of the NFL, having worked in football operations at the original Rhein Fire within NFL Europe from 2000-02.
In recent years, Paatz has proven his success as a general manager, both with the Hamburg Sea Devils and back in Düsseldorf, where he led the modern-day Fire to the European League of Football title in 2024. He was also instrumental in organising the best-attended ELF games to date, with the matchup between the Sea Devils and Fire at Hamburger SV’s Volksparkstadion holding the attendance record for a regular season game with 32,500 spectators.
“Max was our preferred candidate for this position,” Vikings owner Robin Lumsden revealed. “With him, we gain a leader and business professional. He will make a significant contribution to the ongoing professionalisation of the club and has close and valuable relationships with the NFL and various NFL teams. Max knows how to communicate the positive aspects of our team sport. His strategic vision, his network and his years of experience will give us a significant advantage.”
In his new role, Paatz will be primarily responsible for the further development of essential business processes, the optimisation of structures, the expansion of partnerships and sponsorships and the strengthening of the brand in the regional, national, and international arenas.
“I am extremely excited to become part of one of the most traditional and successful organisations in European American football, and to take the next steps together with the entire team, the coaches, our staff, and especially our fans,” he explained.
Paatz is currently relocating to Vienna, having formally assumed his new position with the Vikings on November 1st. His first two weeks in office have already been intense and eventful as, amidst the move and setting up his office, he has already held kickoff meetings with the staff, made appearances at the Sports Business Breakfast Club and attended numerous events in Berlin in connection with the NFL International Game – including a visit to the Seattle Seahawks House in Berlin.
Paatz maintains close and personal ties with the Seahawks from his time with Rhein and was able to bring back many new insights and perspectives from the Seahawks during a two-week stay in Seattle in October.
(Photo courtesy of Vienna Vikings/Hannes Jirgdal)