A few weeks ago, Louis Rees-Zammit’s family got a taste of the electric atmosphere at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, when they attended a country music concert by Morgan Wallen.
The event featured Wallen alongside NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, and it was a spectacular sight. Fast forward to last Saturday, and Rees-Zammit took to the same stage, albeit in a more low-key fashion, making his NFL debut against the Detroit Lions.
Seven months have passed since the 23-year-old Welshman left rugby union to join the NFL’s International Player Pathway, signing a three-year contract with the back-to-back Super Bowl champions. On September 5, the Chiefs begin their title defense against the Baltimore Ravens, and the question on everyone’s mind is whether Rees-Zammit will make the cut.
Louis Rees-Zammit has overcome injury concerns and made his debut against the Detroit Lions
Making it to the NFL is no easy feat, and Rees-Zammit knows it. ‘I’m not going to be the best player in the world overnight… I’d never played this sport before one week ago,’ he said after facing the Lions.
The NFL is a cutthroat business, and D-Day is looming. Teams are currently in training camp, where up to 91 players battle for 53 spots on the roster. Rees-Zammit sits fifth on the Chiefs’ running backs pecking order, and most rosters will only include three or four.
The Welshman has certainly caught the eye, reportedly putting on over a stone of weight over the summer. However, should he miss out, he faces a year in the shadows of the practice squad.
The 23-year-old has supposedly bulked out and put on over a stone in weight during the summer
Rees-Zammit’s versatility could prove crucial in making the cut. Though listed as a running back, his immediate future may lie on special teams — punts, kick-offs, field goals. On his NFL debut, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he carried the ball, caught the ball, made a tackle, and even took a kick-off.
Head coach Andy Reid has suggested Rees-Zammit’s hopes of making the 53 will likely hinge on his impact on special teams. Thankfully, he has timed this move well, with a new kick-off rule designed to incentivize players to run the ball back, making versatile players like Rees-Zammit a more valuable commodity.
Only one more audition — against the Chicago Bears — remains for him to prove he deserves to rub shoulders with the elite. To prove he, too, can light up Arrowhead.
