The Vienna Vikings have signed veteran Shelton Eppler as their new quarterback to replace the injured Ben Holmes as the European League of Football heads into Week 4.
The Vikings are currently undefeated and sit atop the ELF Eastern Conference standings with a 3-0 record.
The 6’1″, 205 pound 26 year old native of Navasota, Texas is returning to Europe following three highly successful seasons with the Fundidores de Monterrey in Mexico’s Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional.
In 2022, Eppler threw for 1,677 yards and 15 touchdowns leading the Fundidores to their first LFA championship beating the Gallos Negros de Querétaro, and became the first non-Mexican to win a Tazón México and was named the LFA MVP. He followed that up in 2023, by being named the LFA Offensive Player of the Year. In 2024, Eppler completed 193 of 252 passes (77%) for 2,480 yards, 31 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 22 carries for 86 yards, and two touchdowns.
Before arriving in Mexico, he began his professional career in 2021 in Demark playing for the Aalborg 89ers, guiding them to the Danish semifinals in his first season in international football after throwing for 1,723 yards and 17 touchdowns during the regular season.
Eppler played his college football at Northwestern State (NCAA Div. 1) after transferring from Trinity Valley Community College. In his junior and senior seasons at Northwestern State, he threw for 6,226 yards and 54 touchdowns while breaking numerous single-game and single season records. In his freshman and sophomore years with Trinity Valley Community College, in 14 games he threw for 2,656 yards and 28 touchdowns, winning the Heart of Texas Bowl in his second year.
