RAIMANN RETURNS ‘HOME’ TO LEAD COLTS CAMP
Few players have travelled further in American football than Bernhard Raimann. From learning the game with the Vienna Vikings to becoming one of the NFL’s premier offensive tackles with the Indianapolis Colts, the Austrian international has forged a remarkable career that has become a blueprint for aspiring European players.
Now, he is returning to where it all began after the Colts and Vikings announced they will jointly host the Bernhard Raimann Football and Cheerleading Camp in Vienna on July 10th, giving young athletes from across Austria the opportunity to learn directly from NFL and European football figures while reinforcing the growing links between the NFL and one of Europe’s most successful football organisations.
The event will be held at the Vikings’ training facility and marks another significant step in the Colts’ expanding presence across the DACH region following the franchise’s acquisition of international marketing rights in Germany, Austria and Switzerland through the NFL’s Global Markets Programme.
For Raimann, however, the camp represents something considerably more personal.
“I am thrilled about the opportunity to host this football camp,” he said. “Working with young people in Austria and teaching them the fundamentals of American football means a great deal to me and brings things full circle. I am deeply grateful that both of my teams are coming together to make this project possible. I look forward to creating an unforgettable day for everyone involved and continuing to foster enthusiasm for American football in Austria.”
Raimann’s story has become one of the flagship success stories for football development in Europe. After discovering the sport with the Vikings, he moved to the United States, developed into one of college football’s top offensive linemen at Central Michigan, and was selected by Indianapolis in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Since then, he has established himself as a cornerstone of the Colts’ offensive line while becoming one of Austria’s highest-profile sporting exports.
The camp will also feature former Indianapolis Colts defensive end Björn Werner, who now serves as one of the franchise’s global ambassadors. Werner, another pioneer for German-speaking football, has become one of Europe’s leading advocates for the sport since returning from the NFL, combining media work with efforts to grow participation throughout the continent.
Adding to the NFL flavour will be Blue, the Colts’ popular mascot, while members of both the Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders and Vienna Vikings Cheerleaders will help deliver the cheerleading programme.
Designed to accommodate participants of varying ages and experience levels, the approximately three-hour camp will place a strong emphasis on flag football, while introducing elements of tackle football through a series of coaching stations, competitions and athletic development drills. Cheerleaders will receive specialist instruction focused on technique, teamwork and confidence-building.
The partnership also reflects the NFL’s wider international strategy. Since being awarded Global Markets Programme rights in the German-speaking region, Indianapolis has consistently invested in grassroots initiatives, fan engagement events and youth participation programmes, with Raimann serving as perhaps the franchise’s most authentic connection to local communities.
For the Vienna Vikings, the collaboration further reinforces their reputation as one of Europe’s leading talent factories. Long regarded as Austrian football’s benchmark organisation, the club has produced numerous players who have progressed to the collegiate and professional ranks, with Raimann standing as perhaps the finest example of what can be achieved through the Vikings’ development pathway.
