New York Giants re-sign Austrian RB Sandro Platzgummer

The New York Giants have officially announced that running back Sandro Platzgummer, who spent the 2020 season on the Giants practice squad as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, has been re-signed.

The Giants were one of four teams chosen to carry an additional overseas player on their practice squad in 2020 as part of the program.

Although Platzgummer may be considered by some a little undersized, he was timed at a 4.50 in the 40-yard dash and posted a 39″ vertical, which convinced Giants running backs coach Burton Burns of his value to the team.

“I admit I am really excited and I know it’s a huge challenge, but I’m not intimidated. There’s guys in the NFL my size. I get inspiration from Christian McCaffrey (5-foot-11, 205 pounds) who is no bigger than I am. I am looking forward to it,” Platzgummer told American Football International last year.

The 6′, 198 pound 24-year-old Platzgummer from Innsbruck, Austria was the starting running back for the Swarco Raiders for five seasons (2015-2019) and helped lead the team to four Austrian titles in five years including a perfect season in 2019, winning the Austrian title, and the European club championship. He also was an anchor on the Austrian national team that captured silver in the European Championships in 2018. He was a mainstay on the Austrian U19 national team as well prior to that.