Bernhard Raimann, Austria's NFL export. © APA / EVA MANHART

NFL: Austrian gets mega contract

Bernhard Raimann becomes the top earner at the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL.

July 29, 2025

From: dpa/det

According to NFL Network and consistent media reports, Austria's American football export and his club agreed on a new four-year, $100 million contract. $60 million of that is reportedly guaranteed. At $25 million per year, Raimann is now among the top five highest-paid left tackles in the world's strongest football league and the most expensive Colts player.

Raimann became the first Austrian football player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft and was picked by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round, 77th overall, as part of the US professional league's talent draw. In his first three years, the Viennese native steadily improved as a quarterback protector. According to the statistics website Pro Football Focus (PFF), Raimann was the eighth-best left tackle in the league in 2024 with an overall grade of 85,1.

25 million per year

The 2,01m giant, who is currently in training camp with the Colts preparing for the new season, was in the fourth and final year of his contract. This would have given him a base salary of $3,65 million, but with the new contract, Raimann can now look forward to a substantial raise. At $25 million per year, the football player ranks just behind basketball star Jakob Pöltl, who earns around $28 million annually as a center for the Toronto Raptors in the NBA. By comparison, football player David Alaba is reportedly earning just under €22,5 million (just under $26 million) annually at Real Madrid.