Austrian offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann lines up for the Indianapolis Colts against the New England Patriots at Frankfurt Stadium in Germany on Sunday. The former Vienna Vikings and Austrian U19 national team standout was selected 77th overall by the Colts out of Central Michigan in the 2022 NFL Draft. The 26-year-old native of Steinbrunn, who helped Austria to a fourth place finish in the 2014 IFAF U19 World Championship, answered questions from the international media corps, along with Colts head coach Shane Steichen ahead of Sunday’s game.
Bernhard Raimann
(On his anticipation in the NFL International Series game) “I can’t wait to play here on Sunday. I’ll try to soak it all in. I got a total of 18 tickets, all of which I gave to my family. So, my grandmother, who couldn’t come to America, can also be there.”
(On the difference between protecting quarterbacks Anthony Richardson and Gardner Minshew) “The playbook looks a little different – the plays that are played are different. At the end of the day, however, your task remains the same: you have to implement what the coach specifies. You protect until the whistle blows, block for your teammates.”
(On if he prefers run-blocking or pass-blocking) “Most offensive linemen prefer run-blocking over pass-blocking because it allows you to attack the opponent instead of moving back and stopping the opponent. But I like both tasks.”
(On if he has a special relationship with German practice squad safety Marcel Dabo) “Since we were both rookies last year, we developed a really good friendship. He is also the only person I can speak German with in the facility. That’s always funny. Of course, we speak English when teammates are there, but when there are only two of us, we speak German. We talk about our experiences - what it was like to have played football in Europe. He played for several teams in the German league, I was with the Vienna Vikings in Austria the whole time, but it’s always exciting to hear what steps we both took in the end to the Colts especially because they were two very different paths.”
(On what he misses most about Austria) “The family, the food and of course the Viennese humor – you just can’t copy that. I try to stay in touch with family and friends from Austria as much as possible. It’s a bit difficult sometimes with the time difference, but I do my best. Sometimes we make bread dumplings at home, my wife has already learned some Austrian dishes. If you get a little homesick and then eat something Austrian, it tastes particularly good and it reminds you of home.”
(On his view of the football hype in Europe) “It’s great to see how much the sport has grown, in Europe and worldwide. I know how much it means to me because I have this special background. But I also know that for the players who grew up in the U.S., it’s extraordinary to see that it’s not just Americans who follow this sport.”
(On how he would sum up his first 18 months in the NFL) “The 1.5 years flew by. Of course, the first year was a bit bumpy, there were a lot of ups and downs, personally and also as a team with a change of coach and the like. Coming into the NFL as a rookie came with its own set of challenges. I have a great support system with my wife, family, friends and former coaches in Austria (pointing to Team Austria Head Coach Max Sommer, who is also present in Frankfurt and has known Raimann since the U19 IFAF World Championship in Kuwait in 2014) who support me every step of the way. This then makes the whole thing feasible. You try to do your best every week and improve your mistakes. Before you can look around, 1.5 years have passed, you have gotten used to it more. The game slows down a little bit and everything feels a little easier.”
Colts Head Coach Shane Steichen
(On Bernhard Raimann’s development) “Bernhard is developing superbly. He’s improving every week and showing that he’s growing with every game. This is very good to see. I also know that his whole family comes to the game, which is brilliant for him. Bernhard is a great person; he has a great character. He does everything right and works hard. He’s playing very good football for us and has a good future ahead of him in the league.”
Photo and quotes ©AFBÖ
