Austria: Atrium Steelsharks Traun sign former ELF defensive end Mike Taylor

AFI | American Football | 12/19/2021

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Atrium Steelsharks Traun of the Austrian Football League have signed former division one and European League of Football defender Mike Taylor.

For Taylor, the Steelsharks offered a unique combination of personal and professional opportunities he is excited to pursue:

“I chose the Steelsharks for several reasons. First of all, it is Austria and Austria is beautiful! Second, The Steelsharks are building something and I want to help that program compete for a championship. Finally, The location put me closer to my girlfriend in Bielsko-Bilała, Poland. Now it’s possible for me to see her volleyball games and for her to see my football games.”

The 6’2″, 265-pound Taylor from Shreveport, Louisiana is coming off of a strong year playing this spring with Spain’s Badalona Dracs before moving on to the Cologne Centurions of the European League of Football. In Spain he quickly emerged as one of the country’s top pass rushers, helping the Dracs win the Spanish title. After winning the championship, Taylor joined the Cologne Centurions midway through their season. In seven games and a playoff appearance, Taylor made 19 tackles, five tackles for a loss, and three sacks.

Taylor spent four years playing for the Georgetown University Hoyas (NCAA Div. 1 FCS, Patriot League Conference). In his senior year, 2018, he started all 11 games and finished with 36 total tackles, 1.5 TFL, and one sack.

Since arriving on the international scene, Taylor has been on a whirlwind ride as he initially signed with the Berlin Adler of the GFL2 in 2020 only to have COVID-19 cancel the season. The Georgetown product then joined the Tychy Falcons in Poland. Unfortunately, because of limited import spots, Taylor served only as a practice player for the team. The Louisiana native finally made his European debut in Spain with Badalona.