Poland: Bialystok Lowlanders sign former All-American QB Nick Rooney
The Bialystok Lowlanders of the Polish Football League have found their signal-caller for the 2022 season agreeing to terms with quarterback Nick Rooney.
For Rooney the chance to play football in a new country and culture was one he wasn’t going to miss:
“I wanted to get to know Eastern European culture and live in this part of Europe. I admire the agility of Poles, whose country has repeatedly disappeared from the map, but still managed to preserve their culture. When it comes to American football, the Lowlanders give me a chance to win the Polish Championship. I gained trust in president Morko and coach Baker, and this is very important to me, especially during recruitment, where you can meet really very different people. I hope the fans will not be disappointed when watching us play in the new season. “
The 6’2,” 210 pound Minnetonka, Minnesota native last played for the Bologna Warriors in Italy throwing for 1,128 yards and 11 touchdowns in eight games during the 2021 season. In 2020 Rooney was signed and ready to lead the Warriors on the field before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the season. In 2019, the 26-year-old played his first international season for the Søllerød Gold Diggers in Denmark. Rooney led the Gold Diggers to the league’s semifinals throwing for 2,721 yards and 36 touchdowns in the eight-game regular season.
Prior to heading to Europe, Rooney was a junior college All-American at Rochester Community and Technical College where he held the NJCAA records for total passing touchdowns of 105, career passing yards of 7,884, and single-season passing touchdowns with 57 scoring tosses. Rooney then moved on to Adams State University (NCAA D2) where he threw for 6,023 yards and 59 touchdowns in his two seasons.
Rooney joins a Troy Baker-led team that aims to get back to the postseason in a Polish Football League that’s still looking for a favorite to hoist the title this summer.
Watch Rooney’s highlights here: