The crowd erupted and the New York Giants sideline, led by team captain Saquon Barkley, went absolutely wild as Austrian running back Sandro Platzgummer broke outside and scampered for a 48-yard gain on Saturday night.
Platzgummer, who joined the Giants last season as part of the NFL’s International Players Pathway program, nearly had his dreams crushed due to a late-season knee injury. That came on the heels of the cancelation of the preseason due to COVID-19, meaning Platzgummer never had the opportunity to do anything other than practice and rehab.
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But 2021 brought revived hope for the 24-year-old.
Platzgummer returned to the Giants this offseason and not only did the league change its international rules, potentially allowing Austria’s “Rudy” to appear on the active roster this year, but he realized his dream on Saturday night by playing in an actual game.
And by golly, he made the most of it.
Sandro Platzgummer from Austria breaks free for a 48-yard run! #NYJvsNYG #NFLPreseason pic.twitter.com/V4qwBPyOto
— NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2021
“I’ve been here for a year now and I haven’t really gotten a chance to get on the field at all,” he said. “It’s going to be a blast, for sure,” Platzgummer told Newsday last week. “It’s insane thinking that the decision I made 18 years ago to start playing football would eventually take me here so far away from home. It’s incredible. I’m very glad I’m here for a second year now because it’s a new year and new opportunities for me. New challenges. And I’m ready for it.”
Platzgummer finished the game with a team-leading 51 yards on four carries. And that means new dreams, new goals and new heights to reach.
Whatever the future now holds for Platzgummer, no one can ever tell him he couldn’t make it to the NFL or achieve a highlight-reel run. He has, but it feels like that may be just the tip of the iceberg.
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