ELF: Vienna Vikings add former CFL WR Kimi Linnainmaa

AFI | 2020 CFL Global Draft | 01/24/2022

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Vienna Vikings of the European League of Football have signed former CFL pass-catcher Kimi Linnainmaa.

The Finnish wideout with plenty of international experience looks forward to wearing purple in Vienna:

“I’ve been aware that the Vikings are a top organization for a while and after hearing the coach’s vision for the upcoming European League of Football season, it was actually a pretty easy decision for me to choose the Vikings”

The 5’10” 195-pound receiver suited up last season for the Potsdam Royals of the German Football League making 15 catches for 226 yards and one touchdown in the semi-finalist’s run-heavy offense.

The Helsinki Roosters product played for the Finnish powerhouse until 2019 when he was picked up by the Toronto Argonauts as part of the Canadian Football League’s Global initiative. The Espoo, Finland native appeared in 10 games for the Argonauts during the 2019 season, giving him a taste of his pro football dreams:

“It’s exciting. It’s a dream come true. Even as I look back to last fall, I couldn’t even think about it or dream about it before this happened (global initiative).”

Roosters got their own flying circus. We proudly present The Greatest Showman WR Kimi Linnainmaa 🏈#jefu #jenkkifutis #Vaahteraliiga #7up @Vaahteraliiga @SAJLfootball @RuutuUrheilu @Hartwall pic.twitter.com/oxqDOl8gOW

— HelsinkiRoosters1979 (@Roosters1979) July 4, 2018

After the CFL canceled its 2020 season, Linnainmaa returned to Helsinki suiting up for the Roosters once again. The 27-year-old has been a key part of the Roosters receiving core and a member of the Finnish national team since 2013. In his last full season with the Roosters, he had 36 receptions for 737 yards and 12 touchdowns during the 2018 campaign.

The former Argonauts pass-catchers joins a talented receiving core in Vienna that features All-Europe tight end Aria Botella Moreno, former Clemson receiver Diondre Overton, and Austrian talents Raoul Hrouda and Anton Wegen. Needless to say, newly signed quarterback Jackson Erdmann will have options in a potentially explosive offense.