| Nationality |  Austria |
|---|---|
| Past Teams | Paris Musketeers, Vienna Vikings |
| Age | 25 |
Maximilian Kössler is one of the most respected and successful Austrian coaches in European American Football, known for his ability to develop elite talent, particularly at the Wide Receiver and Tight End positions. With a career spanning over 15 years as a player and coach with the Vienna Vikings, Kössler has mentored some of Austria’s biggest NFL exports, including Bernhard Raimann (Colts) and Bernhard Seikovits (Cardinals). He was instrumental in the Vikings’ 2022 ELF Championship victory. After spending two years as the Offensive Coordinator for the expansion Paris Musketeers, he returned to the Vikings in 2025 as the Wide Receiver Coach, successfully guiding their receiving corps. For the 2026 season, Kössler has accepted the highly coveted role of Offensive Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach for the Raiders Tirol, becoming Head Coach Shuan Fatah’s “absolute wish candidate” and taking on the task of elevating the Raiders’ offense to a championship level.
Previous stations
- 2007–Approx. 2017: Vienna Vikings (AFL/Various) – Player (Played for over 15 years with the organization).
- Approx. 2010s: Vienna Vikings (AFL) – Offensive Coordinator (AFL Team).
- 2022: Vienna Vikings (ELF) – Assistant Head Coach & Wide Receiver/Tight Ends Coach (ELF Champion).
- 2023: Paris Musketeers (ELF) – Offensive Coordinator.
- 2024: Paris Musketeers (ELF) – Offensive Coordinator.
- 2025: Vienna Vikings (ELF) – Wide Receiver Coach & Pass Game Coordinator.
- 2026–Present: Raiders Tirol (ELF) – Offensive Coordinator & Wide Receivers Coach.
Credits
- Maximilian Kössler verstärkt das Raiders Tirol Coaching-Team – Raiders Tirol (Official 2026 Signing)
- Max Kössler – Wide Receiver Coach und Pass Game Coordinator – Vienna Vikings (2025 Return)
- Coach Kössler verlässt die Vikings – football-aktuell (2023 Departure)
- Coach Max Kössler verlässt die Vikings: „Es ist Zeit, für ein neues Kapitel in meinem Leben!“ – VIENNA VIKINGS Archiv
Achievements
Team Achievements
- 2022: European League of Football (ELF) Champion (Vienna Vikings) – *as Assistant Head Coach/WR Coach*
- Part of the Vienna Vikings coaching staff for numerous Austrian Football League (AFL) championships (Pre-ELF era).
- Helped lead the Paris Musketeers to a successful start as an expansion franchise in the ELF.
- 2025: Guided the Vienna Vikings to the ELF playoff semi-finals (Final placement N/A in context).
Personal Achievements
- Regarded by Vienna Vikings Head Coach Chris Calaycay as “the premiere WR coach on the continent.”
- Played a key role in the development of Austrian NFL players Bernhard Raimann and Bernhard Seikovits.
- Instrumental in the foundation and development of the Paris Musketeers franchise during their first two ELF seasons (2023–2024).
- Previously served as the Sports Director for the Vienna Vikings Academy.
Selected Statistics
- His Wide Receiver units consistently produced top European receiving talent (e.g., Yannick Mayr).
- As OC for Paris, his offense showed significant development and growth over the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
- His 2025 Vikings Receiving Corps was predicted by experts to be one of the best in the ELF.
Other
- **Full Name:** Maximilian Kössler (Often professionally listed as Max Kössler).
- **Departure from Vikings (2023):** Initially planned to take over as Vikings OC, but chose to leave for a “new chapter” in his career, accepting the OC role in Paris.
- **Homecoming (2025):** His return to the Vikings in 2025 was emotional, stating it was “an honor to return here and continue the journey where it all began 17 years ago.”
- **Raiders Quote (2026):** “I am very excited to become the new Offensive Coordinator for the Raiders Tirol! This organization stands for teamwork, development, family, and professionalism – values that are personally very important to me. I can’t wait to get started with the players and coaches and be a part of something special here in Innsbruck. Let’s go Raiders!”
- **Head Coach Fatah’s Comment (2026):** “I value him highly—as a coach and as a person—and I am pleased that he is now part of our team. He was clearly my dream candidate.”
