European League of Football: Raiders Tirol sign national team WR Yannick Mayr

| American Football | 03/07/2022

The Raiders Tirol of the European League of Football make a splash signing adding receiver Yannick Mayr.

Mayr a homegrown Austrian player spent four seasons competing against the Raiders as a member of the rival Vienna Vikings. Now, after spending a year playing in the German Football League with the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, Mayr is ready to join the black and silver.

Mayr on his decision:

 “I always try to compete at the highest level. Hence the change to the ELF. The RAIDERS Tirol offer me the perfect environment to bring myself to a new level, both athletically and personally. Their professionalism and warmth convinced me to go to Innsbruck. So I’m also happy to be on the field with old friends from the national team.”

The 6’0″, 190-pound receiver has been playing for the arch-rival of the Raiders Tirol in the Vienna Vikings for the last four seasons before transferring to the Unicorns in 2021. The 25-year-old pass-catcher hauled in 27 passes for 538 yards and eight scores, as the Unicorns made it to the German Bowl and won the CEFL championship. The first-year GFL player racked up 966 all-purpose yards, seeing the field as a kick returner on special teams often.

Raiders head coach Kevin Herron on adding Mayr to his squad:

““Yannick is one of the best deep ball receivers in all of Europe. He has already proven that over many years. A player like him will command a lot of respect from opposing pass defenders. We know him very well and are happy that he’s finally playing for us instead of against us.”

In 2019, Mayr caught 30 passes for 571 yards and seven touchdowns, while also adding three touchdowns on the ground for the Vienna Vikings. After Mayr’s 2019 season helping the Vikings make the Austrian Bowl, the versatile receiver was invited to the 2019 NFL International Pathway Program Combine in Cologne, Germany.

During the pandemic-shortened three-game series with the Graz Giants in 2020, Mayr was the focal point of Vienna’s offense finishing with 291 yards and five touchdowns in three games. As a member of the Vikings, Mayr has been a part of three straight Austrian Bowl appearances leading to some of his favorite football memories. He has also been a mainstay on the Austrian national team over the past few seasons.

The road to get to this point was not exactly straight. Before joining three of the best programs in Europe, 14-year-old Mayr was a dynamic running quarterback for his hometown team the Salzburg Ducks. Mayr switched to wide receiver after the junior national team coaches noticed his speed and saw his potential on the outside. After moving to Vienna, Mayr knew his best chance to contribute to the Vikings was at receiver. The versatile former Salzburg Duck has been known to throw the ball every now then, tossing three touchdown passes as a member of the Vikings.

The Raiders have now added two of Austria’s top pass catchers signing boh Phillip Haun and Yannick Mayr from rival teams. Expect veteran passer Sean Shelton to target Haun, the young speedster Mayr, Marco Schneider, and his favorite target through the last few seasons Adrian Platzgummer.

Watch Mayr’s highlights here:

Alex is a former NCAA and semi-pro American football player who is now located in London, where he works in digital marketing. His goal in writing for AFI is to stay involved with the game that has given him so much. Alex enjoys covering leagues and