Former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit is set to make a pivotal decision about his future in American football within the next week. The 24-year-old, who is currently a free agent, is weighing his options after the Jacksonville Jaguars opted not to offer him a reserve/future contract. This decision allows him to negotiate with any NFL team for the 2025-2026 season.
Rees-Zammit’s transition from rugby union to American football shocked the sporting world in January 2024. The winger, renowned for his speed and agility on the rugby field, made the bold move to leave rugby and enter the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. The program, a 10-week course designed to identify and develop international talent for the NFL, has been instrumental in the careers of several athletes from outside the United States. Rees-Zammit, who had a successful career with Wales, including scoring 14 tries in 32 appearances, opted for a fresh challenge and left behind the rugby world to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL.
In the early stages of his NFL journey, Rees-Zammit was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs for pre-season training. This was a crucial step as he began to learn the fundamentals of American football. After his time with the Chiefs, he moved to Jacksonville Jaguars in August 2024, where he hoped to further develop his skills. Now, as the 2025 season approaches, he is considering his options and expects to make a decision about his future by the end of next week.
Speaking to ITV Sport, Rees-Zammit explained, “Yeah, looking for options. I think in the next week or so, we’ll make a decision on where I am next year. But you know, the past year has been a crazy experience. Mentally, physically, it’s been tough, but it was a journey I’ve always wanted to be on, so I’m loving it.”
The decision to leave rugby, a sport he had been a star in, was not easy for Rees-Zammit. His final appearance for the Welsh national team came during a World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina, marking the beginning of what would become a record 14 consecutive losses for Wales under coach Warren Gatland. Despite the challenges he faced in rugby, Rees-Zammit remains committed to pursuing his NFL dream and has not expressed any intention of returning to rugby at this stage.
Reflecting on the past year, Rees-Zammit acknowledged the difficulties but also expressed a positive outlook for the future. “It’s been a very tough year, but it’s one that I’ve learned so much from. I’m really looking forward to this year coming,” he added. “I’m definitely active, and that’s why I said next week my decision will be made. Hopefully, I’ll find a team then and look forward to pre-season.”
Though Rees-Zammit has yet to feature in an NFL regular-season game, his pre-season performances with the Kansas City Chiefs have shown glimpses of his potential. He played in three pre-season games, which gave him valuable exposure to the league’s high level of competition. Additionally, he was in New Orleans to witness the Chiefs fall short in their attempt to win a third consecutive Super Bowl, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite this, Rees-Zammit has been able to learn from watching top-tier athletes and gaining further insight into what it takes to succeed in the NFL.
Kansas City Chiefs’ assistant head coach Dave Toub, who worked closely with Rees-Zammit during his time at the Chiefs, expressed his belief in the Welshman’s potential. “I love him. I really like him. He was a hard worker,” Toub said in an interview ahead of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss. “He didn’t have the base fundamentals that these guys have; there’s going to be a learning curve for him. I hope he doesn’t give up. I think after two or three years, if it doesn’t click by then, it might be time to go back to rugby.”
This feedback from Toub highlights the challenges Rees-Zammit faces in adapting to a completely new sport. The NFL is known for its intense physicality and requires a different skill set compared to rugby. However, Rees-Zammit’s dedication to learning and his work ethic have not gone unnoticed.
The former Wales and British and Irish Lions wing also received encouragement from Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive tackle Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player himself. Mailata, who made a successful transition to the NFL, shared some words of motivation for Rees-Zammit. “Everyone is going to face a hurdle at some point,” Mailata said. “You have to want to jump over that hurdle. I want Louis to keep going. It’s not over yet, son.”
As Rees-Zammit prepares for his decision in the coming week, he remains optimistic about his future in the NFL. His journey has been one of immense growth, learning, and resilience, and he is excited about what the next chapter holds. While the decision to leave rugby was a significant one, it appears that Rees-Zammit is committed to making his mark in American football.
For now, Rees-Zammit is actively exploring his options and hopes to secure a spot with an NFL team for the 2025 season. His determination to succeed in American football, despite the challenges, showcases his relentless drive to make it in a new sport. With the support of coaches like Dave Toub and Jordan Mailata, Rees-Zammit’s future in the NFL could be filled with promise, and fans will be eager to see how his journey unfolds.
Speaking to ITV Sport, Rees-Zammit confirmed that he is actively considering his next move, saying, “Yeah, looking for options. I think in the next week or so, we’ll make a decision on where I am next year, but you know, the past year has been a crazy experience. Mentally, physically, it’s been tough, but it was a journey I’ve always wanted to be on, so I’m loving it.”
The winger, who earned 14 tries in 32 appearances for Wales, recently ended his rugby career, with his last match for the national team being a World Cup quarter-final loss to Argentina. This defeat marked the beginning of a record 14 consecutive Test losses under coach Warren Gatland, but Rees-Zammit has no intention of returning to rugby at this point.
“I’ve learned so much this year,” he added. “It’s been tough, but I’m looking forward to the year ahead. I’m definitely active, and that’s why I said next week my decision will be made. Hopefully, I’ll find a team then and look forward to pre-season.”
Though he has yet to play in an NFL regular-season game, Rees-Zammit participated in three pre-season matches with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was also present in New Orleans to witness the Chiefs’ defeat in their pursuit of a third consecutive Super Bowl victory.
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Kansas City assistant head coach Dave Toub, who worked closely with Rees-Zammit during his time with the Chiefs, remains optimistic about the Welshman’s potential in American football. “I love him. I really like him. He was a hard worker,” Toub told AFP ahead of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. “He didn’t have the base fundamentals that these guys have; there’s going to be a learning curve for him. I hope he doesn’t give up. I think after two or three years, if it doesn’t click by then, it might be time to go back to rugby.”
Rees-Zammit also received support from Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player for the Philadelphia Eagles, who encouraged him to continue pursuing his NFL dream. “Everyone is going to face a hurdle at some point,” said Mailata. “You have to want to jump over that hurdle. I want Louis to keep going. It’s not over yet, son.”
As Rees-Zammit evaluates his future in the NFL, he is optimistic about finding a team and preparing for the next phase of his American football journey. With support from coaches and former players, the Welshman remains committed to his NFL aspirations, aiming to break through and make his mark in the league.
