Bernhard Seikovits Bio
Bernhard “Seiko” Seikovits is an Austrian professional football tight end whose career has bridged European American football and the National Football League. Born in Vienna, he first made his name with the Vienna Vikings of the Austrian Football League before earning an opportunity with the Arizona Cardinals through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. Standing 6 ft 5 in and listed at 262 lb, Seikovits combines the size of a traditional tight end with the route-running background of a former quarterback, a rare blend that has defined his journey from Austrian youth football to an NFL practice squad.
Early Life and Background
Bernhard Seikovits was born on 24 July 1997 in Vienna, Austria. He grew up in the Austrian capital, where American football has long had a small but dedicated community. From an early age, he gravitated toward the sport, joining the youth program of the Vienna Vikings, one of the country’s most established American football clubs. By the time he was ten years old, Seikovits was already working his way through the Vikings’ junior teams, learning the fundamentals of blocking, route running, and pass catching in a league that often demands versatility from its players.
His upbringing in Vienna exposed him to a wide range of athletic influences, but it was the structure and discipline of the Vikings organization that shaped his development. The club’s youth system provided him with consistent coaching, organized competition, and a clear pathway toward senior-level football. That early immersion in the game laid the foundation for the technical skills and football IQ that would later catch the attention of scouts from the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.
Path to American Football
Seikovits progressed steadily through the Vikings’ junior ranks before being promoted to the senior team ahead of the 2017 season. With the Vienna Vikings competing in the Austrian Football League, he quickly established himself as one of the top receivers in the league, demonstrating the hands, body control, and field awareness that had marked him as a standout in the youth system. His production at the senior level confirmed that his trajectory was pointing toward something larger than domestic competition.
Alongside his club career, Seikovits represented Austria on the international stage. He served as captain of the Austria national American football team and also led the country’s Under-19 squad as a quarterback, winning two European Championships at the youth level. Those experiences against varied European competition sharpened his understanding of offensive schemes and prepared him for the tactical demands of higher-level football. By 2020, his combination of size, athleticism, and international pedigree had placed him on the radar of the NFL’s international development efforts.
Bernhard Seikovits Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Seikovits began his senior career with the Vienna Vikings in 2017, joining a competitive Austrian Football League program that had produced several players of note. Over four seasons with the club, he developed into one of the league’s most reliable pass catchers, earning recognition as a top receiver and helping the Vikings compete consistently near the top of the standings. His size and athleticism allowed him to dominate smaller defensive backs, while his background as a quarterback gave him a nuanced understanding of coverages and timing.
During this period, Seikovits also continued his international career with Austria, balancing club and country duties. His leadership as captain of the senior national team, paired with his earlier European success at the Under-19 level, helped raise his profile beyond Austria. By the end of the 2020 season, his résumé included domestic production, international titles, and captaincy experience, a combination that would soon attract the attention of the NFL.
NFL Breakthrough with the Arizona Cardinals (2021–Present)
Seikovits’ transition to American football’s highest level came in 2021 when he was assigned to the Arizona Cardinals as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. The program is designed to give elite international players a chance to develop within an NFL organization, and the Cardinals welcomed Seikovits into training camp with the option to carry him on the practice squad under an exemption. He was waived on 31 August 2021 and re-signed to the practice squad the following day, beginning his NFL tenure in a developmental role.
In 2022, Seikovits showed visible progress during the pre-season, catching four passes for 26 yards and demonstrating the reliability that had defined his Austrian career. He was waived again on 30 August 2022 and returned to the practice squad the next day, then signed a reserve/future contract on 11 January 2023 to remain with the organization long-term. The pattern continued in 2023, when he was released on 29 August and immediately re-signed to the practice squad before signing another reserve/future deal on 8 January 2024.
The 2024 season followed a similar rhythm. Seikovits was waived by the Cardinals on 27 August 2024 and quickly re-signed to the practice squad, before putting pen to paper on a reserve/future contract on 6 January 2025. On 29 April 2025, however, Seikovits was released by the Cardinals, bringing a pause to his tenure with the franchise. Throughout his time in Arizona, he remained a developmental prospect whose size and route-running background kept him firmly in the team’s international pipeline.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 ft 5 in and 262 lb, Seikovits fits the modern mold of an in-line tight end with the frame to block defensive ends and the soft hands to threaten the seam. His background as a quarterback in Austria gives him an unusually advanced understanding of offensive concepts, allowing him to recognize coverages pre-snap and adjust routes on the fly. Those traits, combined with his experience leading a national team program, have made him a dependable practice squad contributor focused on long-term development.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Seikovits’ career are his two European Championships with Austria’s Under-19 national team, his captaincy of the senior Austrian squad, and his selection for the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program in 2021. Each of those milestones marked a transition, from youth standout to senior professional, from domestic star to international representative, and from European prospect to NFL developmental player. Together they tell the story of a player who has consistently converted opportunity into the next level of competition.
Bernhard Seikovits Career Wins
Seikovits’ competitive résumé is anchored by his team accomplishments in Austria and his individual trajectory in the NFL. With the Vienna Vikings he became one of the Austrian Football League’s top receivers, and at the international level he added two European Championships as a quarterback for Austria’s Under-19 team. His NFL career, while still developing, has included repeated practice squad promotions and reserve/future contracts that reflect sustained organizational belief in his long-term potential.
Austrian Football League and International Highlights
Across his four seasons with the Vienna Vikings from 2017 to 2020, Seikovits established himself as one of the premier receiving threats in the Austrian Football League, earning consistent recognition as a top pass catcher in the domestic game. His most recent senior-level production came at the close of the 2020 season, after which he transitioned to the NFL pathway. On the international stage, his two European titles with Austria’s Under-19 squad remain the crown jewel achievements of his early playing days.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his club and youth international success, Seikovits served as captain of the Austria senior national American football team, a leadership role that underscored his standing within the country’s football community. His continued movement between the Cardinals’ active roster and practice squad across four consecutive seasons also represents a notable measure of durability and organizational commitment, even in the absence of confirmed regular-season statistical totals.
Bernhard Seikovits Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Seikovits was raised in Vienna, Austria, where he first encountered American football through the youth programs of the Vienna Vikings. Specific details about his parents and broader family background have not been publicly confirmed in available sources.
Personal Life
Seikovits is known professionally by the nickname “Seiko,” a shortened form of his surname that has followed him from Austrian youth football through his time in the NFL. Publicly verified details about his marital status, spouse, or children have not been confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 offseason brought a turning point in Seikovits’ NFL journey. After spending the 2024 campaign between the Cardinals’ active roster and practice squad, he signed a reserve/future contract on 6 January 2025 to remain with the organization. That continuity was short-lived, however, as the Cardinals released him on 29 April 2025, ending his immediate tenure with the franchise.
Despite the release, Seikovits’ overall standing within the NFL’s international development ecosystem remains intact. His repeated practice squad promotions and reserve/future signings across multiple seasons demonstrate that he has remained a respected developmental prospect, even as he has yet to secure a permanent spot on an active 53-man roster. The coming months will likely determine whether he catches on with another organization or continues his career through another developmental pathway.
For Seikovits, the 2025 storyline is one of transition rather than decline. His combination of size, quarterback background, and international experience continues to make him an intriguing project for teams seeking tight end depth with upside. Whether he re-enters the NFL through another practice squad opportunity or explores options back in Europe, his trajectory from Vienna Vikings youth standout to multi-season NFL developmental player remains a notable story in international American football.