Rees-Zammits’ future
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS head honcho Andy Reid has finally broken his silence on Louis Rees-Zammit, shedding light on the Super Bowl champions’ game plan for the former Wales wing. The 23-year-old made waves by jumping ship to the NFL just before this year’s Six Nations.
When Rees-Zammit inked a three-year pact with the Chiefs, word got around that he’d be a jackof-all-trades, dabbling as both a running back and wide receiver, while also dabbling in the kick return game. Rees-Zammit himself recently hinted that his main gig would be as a return specialist.
In his debut mention of Rees-Zammit, Reid spilled the beans, confirming that the lad would kick off his American football journey as a running back. “He got a taste of this early on, with his old man playing six years in the European league,” Reid revealed during a presser on Monday, addressing the query about ‘this rugby kid’. “He’s got some prior knowledge of the game and has shown his mettle in rugby. There are parallels there as both are contact sports, and he’s got a knack for handling the ball and making runs.
“We’re starting him off in the running back slot to ease him in. Plus, he’s had a stint down in Dallas, getting some pointers from Pat (Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes). We’re having him get familiar with our playbook and calls through Zoom sessions, and then we’ll take it from there.”
Rees-Zammit joined the Chiefs at the beginning of this week, coinciding with the kickoff of the NFL’s offseason workout program. Prior to that, he shared some field time with Patrick Mahomes in Texas – a pre-season ritual for the Chiefs QB, who often hones his skills alongside a few receivers in his home state.
While Reid has spelled out Rees-Zammit’s starting position as a running back, the upcoming changes to kick-off formations might see the ex-Gloucester winger get in on the action there too. The shift in kickoff setups for next season has stirred up interest in rugby players due to the similar setups. Reid hinted at the prospect of Rees-Zammit stepping into that role right off the bat.
“Potentially, they could all be out there handling returns,” Reid remarked, leaving the final call to special teams coordinator Dave Toub. “So, during and before practice, we’ll gauge his vibe and go from there.”
He continued, “Dave will have the chance to slot him into special teams and see how it pans out. It’s no mean feat making that transition, but he’s been wired for professional rugby since he was 17. At 23, with that level of pro experience and the mindset to match, he’s off to a solid start.”