Travis Kelce Warns New Teammate Louis Rees-Zammit Over NFL’s ‘Humbling’ Experience
The Chiefs Signed the Rugby Prodigy to a 3-Year Contract
Star in the Making?
NFL rumors were swirling as to whether the Chiefs would sign 2023 Rugby World Cup player Louis Rees-Zammit. We now know those rumors panned out but the question is, will Rees-Zammit stick on the 53-man roster when it is all said and done?
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Making the Change
It is not often we see a professional athlete at the beginning of a flourishing career change course and begin training in another sport. But this is precisely what former rugby prodigy, Louis Rees-Zammit, has done after saying goodbye to rugby in January and joining the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP).
Shortly thereafter, he made NFL news after catching the eye of Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid who subsequently inked the Welshman to a three-year deal with the reigning Super Bowl champions.
From the United Kingdom to Chiefs Kingdom 🏴 pic.twitter.com/TtbNfBKyfn
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) March 29, 2024
This is a whole new world for the athletically gifted 23-year-old as he has never played organized football at any level, let alone weekly NFL games. In a recent episode of the New Heights podcast, Jason and Travis Kelce chatted about Rees-Zammit and his prospects of playing football at the professional level.
Jason exclaimed, “I’m excited … With a smile like that, this guy, if he works out, he’s gonna be the most marketable player of all time, look at that face.”
Louis Rees-Zammit is about to take the league by storm pic.twitter.com/cD8yXFsYxB
— New Heights (@newheightshow) April 22, 2024
Travis shared his brother’s enthusiasm about Rees-Zammit’s good looks, stating, “got to love a debonair young man.”
But Travis then turned to the more serious side of the equation, pointing out what the former rugby star is likely to experience moving forward.
‘It’s going to be a humbling experience at first,” he said. “It’s not easy to just make that jump, they’re two completely different games. But he is an athlete and that’s what the Chiefs saw. He’s a smart kid, a smart player. So, he’s gonna be able to pick up the offense eventually.
“But it’s gonna be a tough few months for him here while he’s getting acclimated to the NFL.
“We’ve been doing this since we were kids, so we’re gonna have those little instincts that we’ve built over the years that he has to start to catch up with.”
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What Position Will He Play?
There is little doubt that the 6’3”, 200 pounds, Rees-Zammit is a physical specimen replete with natural athletic ability. Even Travis Kelce conceded that, “everybody believes that you have the potential to be able to play.”
Workin ⚡️⏳ pic.twitter.com/RIVppvEaOw
— Louis Rees-Zammit ⚡️ (@LouisReesZammit) April 20, 2024
But assuming Rees-Zammit makes the team, what position will he play? Many experts believe the most natural spot would be as a kick and punt returner as NFL formations are somewhat akin to rugby configurations. Moreover, the new rules will allow returners more room to roam and play a greater role in the offense this season.
“The Chiefs are kind of a perfect landing spot for Louis Rees-Zammit, you trust they’ll find a way to use him”
The @AroundTheNFL guys chat @LouisReesZammit & @Chiefs 🏴 pic.twitter.com/CxZsOUtno8
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) April 18, 2024
But there is also the possibility he could be used as a running back or even a wide receiver. Fortunately, head coach Andy Reid cleared up the issue over the weekend stating, “We’ll start him off at the running back position and get him to feel comfortable with that. Going forward here, he’s had an opportunity to also go down there to Dallas and work with Pat and so again, he’ll get used to some of these calls through our Zooms and the plays, and then we’ll just see where it goes from there.”
#Chiefs HC Andy Reid on newly-signed rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit:
“We’ll start him off at the running back position… He’s had an opportunity also to go down there to Dallas and work with Pat [Mahomes].” pic.twitter.com/Q3EVsPQSO9
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) April 15, 2024
It should also be noted that the Chiefs’ special teams coordinator, Dave Toub, has also been working closely with Rees-Zammit which would lend credence to the report that he will likely be utilized in both capacities. Should the young rugby star make the Chiefs’ roster, it will be interesting to see if he can blaze a trail for others like him to follow.
