Rees-Zammit seals shock Chiefs deal
Former Wales wing set to sign training contract with Super Bowl champions
LOUIS REES-ZAMMIT will today prove his doubters wrong by signing an NFL training contract which could see him help Kansas City Chiefs to yet another Super Bowl title.
After dramatically quitting rugby to try to crack America, the former Wales wing will seal a stunning move to the Chiefs and play alongside superstars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Rees-Zammit’s rise in the USA has been remarkable. He had not played American Football properly before earning a place on the NFL’s International Player Pathway earlier this year.
After impressing scouts on the programme, he had interest from more than 12 teams, including New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos. But his decision to opt for the Chiefs is unsurprising given they have won three of the last five Super Bowls.
Kimberly Miale is an NFL agent at Roc Nation Sports — founded by rapper Jay-Z — who brokered the Welshman’s Chiefs move.
‘Louis has impressed the dozens of coaches and scouts who have met with him over the past few weeks,’ she told Mail Sport.
‘His athleticism and versatility make him a stand-out in the IPP programme. Louis has such an exciting trajectory right now. He’s an amazing athlete and great person. I can’t wait to watch him develop and excel over the upcoming NFL season.
‘The goal is to play on an NFL team and help win a Super Bowl.’
Bookmakers yesterday priced Rees-Zammit winning next season’s Super Bowl at 25-1. His training contract with the Chiefs is understood to be worth in the region of £700,000. ‘Everyone’s goal is obviously to win a Super Bowl,’ he told Mail Sport this month. ‘But I need to find a team that’s right for myself and for the franchise. As long as the team has a good plan and we’re on the same page, that’s all that matters.
‘I need an opportunity to show what I can do. I feel ready. I know what I’ve got to focus on and that’s training hard and learning everything I can in the classroom.’
Rees-Zammit’s first goal will be to make head coach Andy Reid’s final 53-man roster for the new season. That is not guaranteed and he will effectively be on trial.
But while the 23-year-old still has work to do, new NFL rules make it easier for foreigners to forge a career in America. This season, for the first time, all 32 teams have an extra place on their practice squads for an international star, with several Gaelic footballers bidding for a slot, including Monaghan’s Rory Beggan. NFL teams can carry 90 players during the off-season.
Rees-Zammit could play as a running back, wide receiver or on special teams, where he might be used as a kick returner. He left rugby in January, on the eve of the Six Nations, but the youngest member of the British & Irish Lions squad in 2021 has adapted well.
Remarkable speed is his outstanding attribute. And it looks like this astonishing US journey is only just gathering pace.