AUSTRIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
SportAmerican football
Founded1982 (1982)
Inaugural season1982
No. of teams10 in top league AFL
CountryAustria
Czech Republic
Most recent
champion(s)
Danube Dragons
Most titlesVienna Vikings (15)
QualificationPyramid Tier
TV partner(s)ORF Sport
Official websitehttps://football.at/afl/ AFL

The Austrian Football League (AFL) is the highest level of American football in Austria founded in 1982. The Austrian Football League (AFL) has always been considered among the best and strongest leagues in Europe. The league plays by rules based on those of the NCAA.

The Austrian Football League is the highest tier level and below that is a tier pyramid system consisting of teams playing in divisions I through division IV. Winners of each division move up to the next level of play. The Tyrol Raiders and Vienna Vikings which had dominated the league for much of the preceding decade announced their intention to leave for the European League of Football for the upcoming 2022 season. However, unlike teams in other countries that have made this move, the reserve team of both will remain a participant in the Austrian Football League.

History

The AFL was founded in 1982 by the teams such as the Salzburg Lions, Graz Giants, Vienna Ducks and Vienna Ramblocks.

The AFL is commonly considered as one of the best American football leagues in Europe. This was especially so in the period from 2004 to 2011, when the European Football League final game the Eurobowl, was won seven out of eight times by an Austrian league AFL team.[1]

In 2010, the Prague Panthers from the Czech Republic joined the league as the first team from outside of Austria. The Panthers were a member of the AFL until the 2016 season. In 2016, the Ljubljana Silverhawks from Slovenia joined, and in 2018, the Bratislava Monarchs from Slovakia entered the league.

The regular season currently consists of ten games and starts in mid-March; the playoffs continue through July. The final game, the Austrian Bowl, was held for the first time in 1984 in Salzburg, Austria. Because homegrown players are one of the main focus points of the league, there are rule limitations for the numbers of foreigners. The rule has changed several times over the years and currently each roster can have a maximum of 6 American, Canadian, Mexican or Japanese professional import players, with two allowed on the field at the same time.

Teams

"Blue River Bowl III": Danube Dragons vs. Vikings at Rattenfängerstadion in Korneuburg, 2010

In 2023, the AFL will consist of:

Austrian Bowl

All games

BowlDateChampionsRunners-upScoreLocation
IOctober 20, 1984 Salzburg LionsGraz Giants27–10Salzburg
IIJune 28, 1986 Graz GiantsVienna Vikings31–12Salzburg
IIIJuly 5, 1987 Graz GiantsSalzburg Lions20–0ASKÖ Schmelz, Vienna
IVJuly 3, 1988 Graz GiantsVienna Vikings33–15ASKÖ Schmelz, Vienna
VJuly 1, 1989 Salzburg LionsGraz Giants34–0Salzburg
VIJuly 1, 1990 Graz GiantsKlosterneuburg Mercenaries59–7Linzer Stadion, Linz
VIIJuly 7, 1991 Graz GiantsVienna Vikings38–7ASKÖ Stadium Eggenberg, Graz
VIIIJuly 5, 1992 Graz GiantsSchwarzenau Rangers28–13ASKÖ Schmelz, Vienna
IXJuly 4, 1993 Feldkirch Oscar DinosSalzburg Bulls45–10BSZ Südstadt, Maria Enzersdorf
XJuly 4, 1994 Vienna VikingsLevi's Graz Giants45–23Rudolf-Tonn-Stadion, Schwechat
XIJuly 15, 1995 Levi's Graz GiantsVienna Vikings26–20Rudolf-Tonn-Stadion
XIIJuly 13, 1996 Vienna VikingsLevi's Graz Giants41–35Rudolf-Tonn-Stadion
XIIIJuly 12, 1997 Levi's Graz GiantsKlosterneuburg Mercenaries35–14Rudolf-Tonn-Stadion
XIVJuly 18, 1998 Levi's Graz GiantsVienna Vikings43–3BSZ Südstadt, Maria Enzersdorf
XVJuly 20, 1999 Chrysler VikingsLevi's Graz Giants37–35Rudolf-Tonn-Stadion
XVIJuly 22, 2000 Chrysler VikingsPapa Joe's Tyrolean Raiders34–28 Hohe Warte Stadium, Vienna
XVIIJuly 21, 2001 Chrysler VikingsPapa Joe's Tyrolean Raiders24–14 Lindenstadion, Eisenstadt
XVIIIJuly 20, 2002 Chrysler VikingsÖko-Box Graz Giants52–21Hohe Warte Stadium, Vienna
XIXJuly 12, 2003 Chrysler VikingsÖko-Box Graz Giants56–42Hohe Warte Stadium, Vienna
XXJuly 17, 2004 Papa Joe's Tyrolean RaidersChrysler Vikings28–20EM-Stadion Wals-Siezenheim, Salzburg
XXIJuly 16, 2005 Chrysler VikingsPapa Joe's Tyrolean Raiders43–14Südstadt, Maria Enzersdorf
XXIIJuly 14, 2006 Swarco Raiders TirolDodge Vikings43–19Hohe Warte, Vienna
XXIIIJuly 14, 2007 Dodge VikingsTurek Graz Giants42–14Hohe Warte, Vienna
XXIVJune 27, 2008 Turek Graz GiantsSwarco Raiders Tirol31–21Lavanttal-Arena, Wolfsberg
XXVJuly 18, 2009 Raiffeisen VikingsTurek Graz Giants22–19Asko Stadium Eggenberg, Graz
XXVIJuly 9, 2010 Danube DragonsSwarco Raiders Tirol28–21Tivoli-Neu, Innsbruck
XXVIIJune 23, 2011 Swarco Raiders TirolRaiffeisen Vikings23–13Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna
XXVIIIJuly 28, 2012 Raiffeisen VikingsSwarco Raiders Tirol48–34Hohe Warte, Vienna
XXIXJuly 27, 2013 Raiffeisen VikingsSwarco Raiders Tirol48–31NV Arena, Sankt Pölten
XXXJuly 26, 2014 Raiffeisen VikingsSwarco Raiders Tirol24–17NV Arena, Sankt Pölten
XXXIJuly 11, 2015 Swarco Raiders TirolVienna Vikings38–0Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt
XXXIIJuly 23, 2016 Swarco Raiders TirolGraz Giants51–7Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt
XXXIIIJuly 29, 2017 Dacia Vienna VikingsSwarco Raiders Tirol45–26Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt
XXXIVJuly 21, 2018 Swarco Raiders TirolDacia Vienna Vikings51–48NV Arena, Sankt Pölten
XXXVJuly 27, 2019 Swarco Raiders TirolDacia Vienna Vikings42–34 NV Arena, Sankt Pölten
September, 2020 Dacia Vienna VikingsGraz Giants3–0[lower-alpha 1]ASKÖ Eggenberg, Graz
Footballzentrum Ravelin, Wien
XXXVIJuly 31, 2021 Swarco Raiders TirolDacia Vienna Vikings35–14 Tivoli Stadion Tirol, Innsbruck
XXXVIIJuly 30, 2022 Danube DragonsVienna Vikings51–29 NV Arena, Sankt Pölten
XXXVIIIJuly 29, 2023 Danube DragonsVienna Vikings14–13 NV Arena, Sankt Pölten
  1. Due to the coronavirus pandemic the Vikings and the Giants were the only teams entering the competition. Instead of a bowl game, the two teams played a best of five series.

By Team

RankTeamsChampionsRunners-up
1Vienna Vikings1514
2Graz Giants1011
3Tirol Raiders89
4Danube Dragons[1]32
5Salzburg Bulls22
6Feldkirch Oscar Dinos10
7AFC Rangers01

^ 1: Formerly known as Klosterneuburg Mercenaries

Notable Import Players & Coaches

  • Anthony Thompson, 1993 AFL League MVP, Bulls 1993-94 & Mercenaries 1995 RB/LB, Played in NFL for Denver Broncos
  • Eric Beavers, 1992 AFL League MVP, Graz Giants QB 1991-1993. Nevada Wolfpack
  • Doug Wilkerson, Graz Giants OL/DL 1987, was NFL All Pro player for the San Diego Chargers
  • Tony Hunt, Former Vienna Viking RB & NFL player for the Eagles.
  • Darvin Lewis, Former Graz Giants LB/RB, 2008 AFL defense player of the year
  • Todd Hendricks, 1995 AFL League MVP, AFC Rangers WR/RB 1993, 1995-97, 2000, 2002, Vienna Knights 2008
  • Mark Helfrich, Former Vienna Viking QB 1997, former Oregon Ducks head coach
  • Thomas Smythe, AFL Coach of the year, 1994-2006 Head coach Vienna Vikings, 8 AFL championships, 3 Eurobowl titles
  • Hugh Mendez, 1993 AFL Coach of the year, AFL Champion 1993, Head coach Feldkich Dinos 1993-94, Klosterneuburg Mercenaries 1995
  • Rick Rhoades, 2008 AFL Coach of the year, 2007-2011 Head coach Graz Giants, Austrian National team head coach
  • Emmanuel Moody, Vienna Viking RB, Florida Gators
  • Chris Gunn, AFL League MVP, Graz Giants QB
  • Jason Johnson (quarterback), Swarco Raiders QB 2009.
  • Bill Christensen, Graz Giants DB 1996-98
  • Jaime Kimbrough, Carinthian Cowboys and Lions 1999-2001. Fresno State Bulldogs
  • George Paton, Vienna Vikings DB/RB 1993. Current GM for Denver Broncos
  • Sean Shelton, 3 X AFL League MVP, Swarco Raiders QB
  • Shuan Fatah, AFL Coach of the year, AFL Champion, Eurobowl Champion, Head coach Swarco Raiders
  • Kevin Burke, (American Football) 2017 Austrian Bowl Game MVP, Vienna Vikings QB
  • Chris Calaycay, AFL Coach of year & Former Vienna Viking DB, AFL Champions and Eurobowl Champion
  • Cameron Frickey, 1999 AFL offense POY, 1998-2003 Vienna Vikings WR & current Woman's National team coach
  • Clinton Graham, AFL Offense POY, Vienna Vikings, Prague Panthers and AFC Rangers RB.
  • Eric Marty, 2010 Austrian Bowl game MVP, Danube Dragons QB
  • Germaine Race, 2010 AFL Offense POY, St. Polten Invaders RB. Former NFL player
  • Kyle Newhall-Caballero, 2012 AFL League MVP, Prague Panthers QB, NFL player & Scout
  • Darius Robinson, Swarco Raiders DB & former NFL player, Clemson Tigers football
  • Chris Rosier, AFL League MVP, Swarco Raiders, Vienna Vikings WR
  • Lance Gustafson, AFL League MVP, Vienna Vikings LB/RB
  • Paul Kujawa, AFL League MVP 1994, Graz Giants RB/LB 1994-96, Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Talib Wise, 2011 Austrian Bowl Game MVP, Swarco Raiders RB
  • Kyle Callahan, Swarco Raiders QB/WR
  • D.J. Hernandez, AFL offense POY, Carinthian Lions QB, Brother of Aaron Hernandez
  • Luke Atwood, Vienna Vikings QB/WR
  • Reece Horn, Vienna Vikings WR
  • Geoff Stults, Mercenaries player WR, (now Dragons)
  • Jonathan Dally, former Dragons QB
  • Brad Strohm, AFC Rangers QB 1995-96, 1998, LSU Tigers / Mississippi College
  • Matt Sayre, 1996 AFL league MVP, Graz Giants QB 1994-96
  • Mike McLaury, Graz Giants DL 1997-2002
  • Cameron Reynolds, Vienna Vikings RB 1997-98, Oregon State
  • Tim Nielson, AFL league MVP 1989, Graz Giants QB/RB 1989-1990, 1992

Austrian teams in international competitions

Despite the relatively small size of Austria, both the Austrian national American Football team and individual club teams of the AFL have enjoyed remarkable success in European competitions. The Austrian national team, whose players mostly play in the AFL (with a few also playing in the German Football League), won the final 28-0 over team Finland 2023 European Championship of American football to win the championship title. The National team also has placed third at the 1995 European Championship of American football (hosted in Austria) and third at the 2010 European Championship, second at the 2014 European Championship (hosted in Austria), losing the final in double overtime to Germany in front of 27000 spectators at Vienna's Ernst-Happel-Stadion[2] and placed second again in 2018.

The Vienna Vikings have won the Eurobowl five times and reached the final ten times overall while the Tyrol Raiders have won it three times in five appearances in the final. Furthermore the Central European Football League has been won five times by Austrian teams both before and after it became a premier European competition.

The AFL Graz Giants own the first known European victory against a US college team in 1991. The Giants won the exhibition game 32–23 against Albany State University. The game was played in the United States on August 31, 1991.

References

  1. "Eurobowl.info".
  2. "American Football EM Finale 2014 - Bittersweet Glory". 22 June 2014.
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