Lisa Foxx
Kansas City has a new football player. He’s not only new to the Chiefs, but he’s new to football. Louis Rees-Zammit (LRZ) is a 23-year-old Welsh rugby player who decided to give up everything to follow his dreams. He left professional rugby, where he was a shining star in the sport, to play American football. With the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Rees-Zammit, or LRZ, came to the Chiefs via the International Players Pathway (IPP) program. He is a former superstar winger for Gloucester in the English Premiership league. The young ruby star made the decision to wave goodbye to the sport he’s played all his life and leave behind everything he knows to pursue his dream of playing American football, which came at the peak of his rugby career.
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LRZ said that his father played American football when he was growing up in England and it’s something he’s always wanted to do. So, LRZ traveled to Florida and entered the IPP program to learn how to play football. The transition hasn’t been easy for the young star.
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LRZ runs a 4.43 40-yard dash and said on The Rugby Pod (a Podcast for Rugby fans) that the training for football has been more mental for him than physical. He did note, however, that compared to rugby training for football is much more explosive. Rugby requires endurance due to all the running up and down the pitch.
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The IPP training camp was 10-week of intense football training in South Florida. The players went through a rigorous combination of on-field practices, film review, learning about the game in the classroom, weight training, running, and rehabbing. Once the training and learning was over it was time for the IPP Pro-Day. It was a chance for scouts from the NFL teams to get a look at all the talent the IPP produced.
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Rees-Zammit performed well at his pro day. He showed his athleticism and his speed, but the Welsh player was disappointed in his 40 time, telling The Rugby Pod hosts that he had run in the high 4.2s to low 4.3s in practice. He also mentioned that he had never been as nervous as he was during his IPP pro day.
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Despite the nerves, LRZ impressed the NFL scouts who attended the pro day. Once completed, the players in the IPP program got the opportunity to meet with teams who had an interest in them. LRZ told The Rugby Pod that he had interest from several teams but narrowed his visits down to four teams: Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, and Kansas City Chiefs.
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The Chiefs were the last visit on Rees-Zammit’s schedule. He told The Rugby Pod hosts that he was blown away as soon as he walked into the Chiefs facility. LRZ said confidence oozed out of every corner of the facility and he could feel the winning culture from everyone, from the office staff to the coaches. The Chiefs decided to make an offer and LRZ accepted. The NFL’s newest player has more than speed going for him. He has proven that he has great hands, too. He’s also been seen kicking the ball in a few of his rugby highlights online. The question everyone in Kansas City is asking is how will the Welsh player be used and what position will he play?
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He was initially introduced by the Chiefs as a wide receiver. Then we saw that he was designated as a wide receiver/running back hybrid. Most people believe that he will be used as a running back because of his speed and his rugby background. But there’s another role in which LRZ may shine (0:23).
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On The Rugby Pod, LRZ mentioned that Chiefs have plans to use him on special teams with the change in the NFL kickoff rules. It makes perfect sense, with the new rules and formation since they are similar to a rugby play. Rees-Zammit is a master of breaking free and using his speed to score (see above) so special teams is a perfect fit.
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LRZ revealed that the Chiefs weren’t the only team to make an offer. Based on his comments on The Rugby Pod, he received an offer from at least one other team, possibly two. After speaking with his family and weighing all the pros and cons LRZ chose to accept the Chiefs offer. He was signed on the basic IPP 3-year contract with a lot to prove to himself and to Chiefs fans.
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People have been quick to point out his footwork, or lack thereof, and his quickness based on videos posted to social media. It’s easy to criticize someone who hasn’t had any real exposure to the game, especially on a professional level. It’s true, he is a professional athlete with elite athleticism and a skill set to compete in the sport, but he’s never played in a professional game. Take a look at some of his “speedy” highlights (1:17):
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Players, especially rookies, have spoken about how fast the professional game is compared to college. It takes time for them to adapt and adjust. So, it’s going to take a player who’s completely new to the game time to transition. The pressure to perform must be immense. Surely it’s nothing that one of the best rugby players in the world can’t handle.
Many people don’t see the handsome, charismatic Welsh winger-turned-running back (or wide receiver, or special teams player) making the team. They certainly don’t see him being a key player for the defending Super Bowl champions. But, if he does make the 53-man roster and becomes an integral part of team, what a story that will be (0:30).
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Only time will tell how the story ends, but LRZ’s addition to the Chiefs has only broadened the team’s international appeal. He on a 3-year contract, so there is plenty of time for the team to develop him into the player they want him to be. He’s young, incredibly talented, and eager to learn. LRZ is determined to excel as the only Welshman to ever be signed to an NFL contract. The motivation is there. What comes next is up to him.
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Lisa Foxx — ArrowheadOne
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