Max Pircher Bio
Maximilian Pircher is an Italian professional American football offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 7 in and competing at 320 lb, Pircher uses his size and development in European football to compete at the highest level of the sport. Since 2019, he has built a career that includes stops in Austria, multiple NFL practice squads, and a Super Bowl championship ring.
Pircher is widely recognized as one of the few Italian-born players to reach the NFL and is a graduate of the league’s International Player Pathway program, which helped him transition from the Austrian Football League to the American game.
Early Life and Background
Maximilian Pircher was born on September 7, 1999, in Brixen, a city in northern Italy. Growing up in a country where American football remains a niche sport, Pircher was drawn to the game at a young age and pursued the sport across borders. His path eventually led him to Germany, where he continued his athletic development.
Pircher attended school in Hildesheim, a city in Lower Saxony, and is associated with the Hildesheim Invaders, the local German football club where he first trained and competed at a competitive level. His time with the Invaders gave him early exposure to organized tackle football and prepared him for the next step in his career.
Standing well above six feet tall even as a teenager, Pircher quickly settled into the offensive tackle position, where his frame and movement skills fit the demands of the role. The combination of Italian roots and German football schooling shaped the early arc of his career.
Path to American Football
Pircher began his competitive football journey with the Hildesheim Invaders in Germany, where he developed the fundamentals required to play offensive line at a high level. The German Football League and its associated clubs offered him regular game experience and exposure to coaching at a serious level.
In 2019, Pircher made the jump to the Austrian Football League, joining the Swarco Raiders Tirol, one of the most decorated programs in European American football. The Raiders provided a top-tier environment that included European championships and a demanding schedule.
During his only season with the Swarco Raiders Tirol, Pircher played right tackle and was part of a championship roster. He contributed to the 2019 Austrian Bowl title and the 2019 CEFL Bowl championship, marking him as one of the top young linemen in European football and putting him on the radar of NFL International Player Pathway scouts.
Max Pircher Career
Early Career (2019)
Maximilian Pircher’s professional career began in 2019 with the Swarco Raiders Tirol of the Austrian Football League. He slotted in at right tackle, anchoring the edge of the Raiders’ offensive line. The Swarco Raiders Tirol were a powerhouse in European football at the time, and the experience accelerated Pircher’s development.
That single season produced two major pieces of silverware. The Raiders captured the 2019 Austrian Bowl, the AFL championship, and followed it with the 2019 CEFL Bowl, the title for the Central European Football League. For a young Italian lineman, the back-to-back championships were the foundation that would carry him toward the NFL.
Los Angeles Rams Breakthrough (2021–2022)
In May 2021, the Los Angeles Rams signed Maximilian Pircher as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, making him the second member of the Swarco Raiders Tirol to reach the NFL through the program after Sandro Platzgummer. The pathway was designed to give elite international players a structured route onto NFL rosters without going through the traditional college draft.
Pircher spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons on the Rams’ practice squad. Although he did not appear in a regular-season game during that stretch, he was a member of the organization during a championship run. The Rams won Super Bowl LVI, and Pircher earned a Super Bowl championship ring as part of the title-winning team.
Detroit Lions Era (2023)
On May 29, 2023, Pircher signed with the Detroit Lions as part of the 2023 International Player Pathway Program. The move gave him a fresh opportunity to compete for an NFL roster spot with a new franchise.
He was released on August 29 during final roster cuts and signed to the Lions’ practice squad the following day. After the season, Pircher was not signed to a reserve or future contract, and his practice squad deal expired, making him a free agent.
Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders Era (2024)
On April 9, 2024, the Seattle Seahawks signed Pircher, marking his third NFL organization. He was waived on August 27 and re-signed to the practice squad, but was released again a few days later as teams finalized their regular-season rosters.
On January 1, 2025, Pircher joined the Washington Commanders’ practice squad. He was released on January 7 and re-signed the following day, continuing his pattern of practice-squad movement between NFL franchises.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2025–Present)
Pircher signed with the Minnesota Vikings practice squad on August 27, 2025. The move brought him to his fifth NFL organization and his sixth professional team overall.
With the Vikings, Pircher continues to work toward a regular-season roster opportunity. His familiarity with multiple NFL systems and his championship experience make him a steady developmental piece for the Minnesota offensive line room.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pircher is a tall, long offensive tackle who relies on his 6 ft 7 in frame, reach, and footwork to handle edge rushers. His European football background gave him strong fundamentals in pass protection and run blocking angles. He continues to refine his technique under NFL coaching as he adapts to the speed and complexity of the professional American game.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining milestone of Pircher’s career came with the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl LVI victory, which made him a Super Bowl champion. He is also a 2019 Austrian Bowl champion and a 2019 CEFL Bowl champion with the Swarco Raiders Tirol, and one of the few Italian-born players ever to reach an NFL roster.
Max Pircher Career Wins
Maximilian Pircher’s verified championship résumé includes three team titles earned across European and American football. Two of those titles came during his 2019 season with the Swarco Raiders Tirol, and the third came as a member of the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl LVI roster.
Los Angeles Rams Highlights
Pircher was on the Rams’ practice squad for the 2021 and 2022 seasons and was part of the organization when Los Angeles won Super Bowl LVI. The championship earned him a Super Bowl ring and cemented his place in NFL history as a title-holder at the highest level of the sport.
Swarco Raiders Tirol Highlights
In his lone season with the Swarco Raiders Tirol, Pircher won both the 2019 Austrian Bowl and the 2019 CEFL Bowl. The double championship made him a champion in Austria and across the Central European Football League and gave him the résumé needed to attract NFL International Player Pathway interest.
Other Wins & Performances
Outside of his championship seasons, Pircher built his reputation through steady practice-squad work with the Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Commanders, and Minnesota Vikings. Each stop represented continued development at football’s highest level and reinforced his standing as a durable, professional offensive tackle.
Max Pircher Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Maximilian Pircher was raised in Brixen, in northern Italy, and developed his football career in Germany with the Hildesheim Invaders before moving to Austria and then the United States. Public information about his parents or wider family is limited.
Personal Life
Pircher keeps his personal life largely private. As of available verified sources, he is not publicly known to be married and has no publicly confirmed spouse or children. He splits his time between his professional base in the United States and his European roots in Italy.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season began with Pircher signing to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad on August 27, 2025, after a brief January 2025 stint with the Washington Commanders’ practice squad. The move gave him a fresh landing spot and a chance to compete within a new offensive line room.
Throughout the 2025 campaign, Pircher’s role has been defined by practice-squad development and readiness to step in when called upon. His experience across multiple NFL schemes, including those of the Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, and Washington Commanders, has made him a flexible addition for Minnesota.
Looking ahead, Pircher’s outlook centers on earning a spot on the Vikings’ active roster and continuing to build on his unique résumé as a Super Bowl champion from Italy. His story remains one of the most distinctive international journeys in modern NFL history.