Former Wales and Gloucester winger Louis Rees-Zammit has signed with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs after stepping away from rugby to pursue the NFL’s International Player Pathway program; he will now spend the offseason aiming for a spot on the practice squad.
Louis Rees-Zammit, a former Wales rugby player, has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as he pursues an unusual NFL career.
Rees-Zammit will join the defending Super Bowl champions this summer after spending ten weeks training in Florida as part of the league’s International Player Pathway program.
His opportunity at Arrowhead comes three months after the former Gloucester winger revealed his decision to leave rugby and pursue football on the eve of the Six Nations.
His opportunity at Arrowhead comes three months after the former Gloucester winger revealed his decision to leave rugby and pursue football on the eve of the Six Nations.
The 23-year-old demonstrated his physical qualities in front of NFL scouts during a Pro Day last Wednesday, clocking a 4.43 in the 40-yard sprint, which would have ranked fifth among running back prospects and tied-10th among wide receiver prospects at this year’s NFL Combine.
He has since visited other organizations, including the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, and Denver Broncos, but will now focus on honing his craft with Andy Reid’s Chiefs.
The International Player Pathway program, formerly known as NFL Undiscovered, began in 2016 with the goal of providing athletes from all over the world with the opportunity to earn a spot on an NFL roster. Former England rugby sevens player Alex Jenkins, former Worcester and Harlequins lock Christian Scotland-Williamson, and Racing 92 wing Christian Wade were among the rugby players who attempted the transition.
What happens now?
Rees-Zammit will now join the Chiefs to continue his development in the coming months, with the team able to begin its offseason exercise routines on April 15.
It marks the first time that teams will be allowed a 17th roster spot on their practice spot specifically designated to an international player, meaning he will not count against the 90-man roster that the Chiefs must chisel down into a final group of 53 by the end of the summer.
Training camp in July is set to represent the first real opportunity for the Chiefs to assess Rees-Zammit in pads and contact situations, while preseason in August could offer him his first non-competitive outings as the defending champions gear up for the start of the regular season in September.
Should Rees-Zammit earn a spot on the practice squad, the Chiefs will be able to elevate him to the active roster a maximum of three times during the season.
Where will he play?
Rees-Zammit arrives championed for the blistering speed that lifted him to success within international rugby, but, perhaps contrary to his experiences in rugby, will find himself encountered by defenders capable of matching him and competing for opportunities against some of the quickest players in the nation.
Arguably the most taxing obstacle facing him, though, will be the speed at which he can understand and absorb the complexities of an NFL playbook, which typically contains hundreds of different offensive concepts and play designs.
During his 10-week camp, he has worked out at both running back and wide receiver, and his straight line speed has led to speculation that he could take on kick return responsibilities, which could create an opportunity given the NFL’s new hybrid kickoff arrangement.
Andy Reid will have one of the league’s most imaginative offensive minds to collaborate with, not to mention a genius screenwriter who may already be brainstorming ways to get Rees-Zammit and his rugby-cultivated power through contract running in space behind a sea of red blockers.
For the time being, the most pressing job is likely to secure the 17th slot on the Chiefs practice squad.
“Rees-Zammit’s brave move is paying off.”
Neil Reynolds, a Sky Sports NFL presenter…
“I’m happy for Louis, but I’m not shocked he was picked up by an NFL team so quickly. Louis’ progress and growth through the International Player Pathway program have been significant, and he now has all of the tools he needs to be an impact weapon as soon as he enters the league.
“There was a strong market for Louis’ talents, and I’m really interested in seeing how the Kansas City Chiefs develop and deploy him. Head coach Andy Reid enjoys explosive chess pieces that he can employ to great effect, and I believe Louis will continue to grow and flourish in Kansas City, particularly with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback.
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