Norm Chow returns to the European League of Football as Vienna Vikings add coaching icon
The Vienna Vikings have made a seismic addition to their 2025 coaching staff, appointing 77-year-old Norm Chow as offensive analyst in a return to the European League of Football (ELF). The Hawaii native, who coached the now-defunct Helvetic Guards during the Swiss franchise’s only ELF season (2023), brings 45 years of gridiron expertise to last year’s Championship Game finalists. Chow’s hiring marks both a reunion with the ELF and one of the league’s most prestigious coaching acquisitions.
Architect of Quarterback Greatness
Chow’s reputation as a quarterback whisperer precedes him. He developed three Heisman Trophy winners (Ty Detmer, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart) and NFL legends including Hall of Famer Steve Young and Pro Bowler Philip Rivers. His schematic innovations at BYU and USC revolutionized West Coast offensive philosophies, earning him the 2002 Broyles Award as college football’s top assistant and NCAA Offensive Coordinator of the Year honors.
ELF Experience Meets NFL Pedigree
After serving as Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator (2005-2007) and head coaching stints at Hawaii (2012-2015) and the XFL’s Los Angeles Wildcats (2020), Chow transitioned to Europe in 2023 to helm the Helvetic Guards. Though the Swiss team finished 2-10, his ELF debut provided critical insights into European player development—knowledge he’ll now deploy to elevate a Vikings offense that averaged 32.8 points per game in 2023.
Reunion With Calaycay Seals Move
The hiring culminated Vikings HC Chris Calaycay’s 20-year pursuit of his mentor. “Norm’s expertise in defensive tendency recognition will give our play-calling razor-sharp precision,” said Calaycay, who first collaborated with Chow during UCLA’s 2003 recruiting cycle.
Chow’s analytical role will focus on defensive pattern breakdowns and red-zone efficiency improvements.
As Vienna seeks its second ELF championship following their 2022 triumph, Chow’s return underscores the competition’s growing appeal. His transatlantic comeback highlights the ELF’s rising prestige in attracting gridiron icons to cultivate homegrown talent, while reigniting his mission to shape European football’s offensive future.
