New York Giants sign Austrian RB Sandro Platzgummer
One of the top running backs in Europe and a member of the defending Austrian champion Swarco Raiders, Sandro Platzgummer has been signed by the New York Giants as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.
The program, instituted in 2017, aims to provide international athletes the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills, and ultimately earn a spot on an NFL roster. After the NFL conducted an International Combine in Germany last October, Platzgummer received additional training and development alongside NFL players and draft hopefuls in Florida at IMG Academy this winter.
The NFC East was chosen to receive these players in a random draw, making the Giants one of four teams able to carry an additional overseas player on their practice squads in 2020.
The 6′, 198 pound 23-year-old Platzgummer from Innsbruck, Austria has been the starting running back for the Raiders since 2015 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.
Check out highlights from 2019
