It’s official: rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit will play in the NFL. The Welsh rugby winger has long been open about the transition to the gridiron, telling CNN that his father played American football in his youth. And now, he’s a dynastic powerhouse for his first team, Stateside.
Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz reported Wednesday that the Kansas City Chiefs have reached an agreement with Rees-Zammit, who also visited the Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos and New York Jets.
Although terms of the deal were not disclosed, Rees-Zammit is expected to sign Friday and play running back/wide receiver.
If Louis Rees-Zammit is activated before Week 1, he will be the sixth international player to do so. The other five are Jordan Mailata, Jakob Johnson, Efe Obada, Sammis Reyes and David Bada.
What does Louis Rees-Zammit bring to the Kansas City Chiefs?
It’s no secret that the Kansas City Chiefs were hit hard by their defense in the 2023-24 season.
Dropped passes were a major talking point in their opening loss against the Detroit Lions. The notion of an offensive regression continued to be discussed even as the team regained its bearings, clinched the AFC West for the eighth straight time, and made it all the way to Super Bowl LVIII.
So where does Louis Rees-Zammit fit into Andy Reid’s system?
On offense, he could be deployed as an Austin Ekeler-type player — a dual threat who could carry and catch the ball. And both are tall enough (six-foot-three, 19-inch vertical leap) to beat cornerbacks when scrambling for passes and quick enough (4.43 40-yard dash) to avoid tackles.
However, his biggest upside might still be on special teams. The NFL recently reworked its kickoff rules in an attempt to increase return rates. Rees-Zammit is mobile and agile enough to shake off tackles on returns, not surprising considering his NFL idol is DeSean Jackson, one of the most prolific returners of all time.
He could also be deployed on the other side as a gunner, as rugby requires players to be skilled in both attack and defense.
