Kansas City Chiefs running back Louis Rees-Zammit, who joined the Chiefs this offseason via the International Pathway Program (IPP), has an uphill battle to make the team’s 2024 regular season roster.
But according to Chiefs special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Dave Toub, Rees-Zammit is already getting reps as a starter on special teams.
“Louis has done above and beyond what I expected. He can kick field goals… he can be a kickoff guy for us. He’s every bit as good as Justin (Reid) [when it comes to] moving the football and stuff like that on kickoffs.
He’s really working hard on the [kick] returner job. I’ve got him in as the starter right now so he can get in as many reps as he can. But he’s a student of the game — he comes in after every practice, he wants to be great — he’s a great athlete.”
Though Toub admitted that Rees-Zammit has a long way to go mentality-wise since he has just begun playing football, it appears that the former rugby star’s athleticism has already proven to be a potential asset on kick returns as the Chiefs try to morph based on the NFL’s new kickoff rules.
Louis Rees-Zammit: a Former Welsh Rugby Star
It doesn’t take much time while watching Rees-Zammit’s rugby highlights to understand why the Chiefs signed him.
Rees-Zammit, 23, stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 194 pounds. What stands out about the Wales native when watching his rugby tape is his quickness and long speed for his size, and all of that is blended with tackle-breaking ability. His speed showed up again during his IPP Pro Day when he ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, per the Associated Press on March 22, thoughhe said afterward he was disappointed with that time and believes he can run low 4.3s, high 4.2s.
He has now given up a very successful rugby career to pursue a career in the NFL through the IPP. At the 2024 IPP Pro Day, Rees-Zammit ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, per the Associated Press on March 22, though he said afterward he was disappointed with that time and believes he can run low 4.3s, high 4.2s.
Rees-Zammit will not count against Kansas City’s 90-man roster or the team’s practice squad due to the IPP roster exemption, which is the main reason why he is essentially a risk-free addition for the Chiefs. Rees-Zammit comes at a very low cost (three years, $2.8 million, per Over The Cap) and does not take up a roster space.
If Rees-Zammit performs exceptionally this upcoming season, whether it be on offense or special teams, the Chiefs will have found themselves a diamond in the rough via the IPP. But if he can’t transfer his talents from the rugby pitch to an NFL field, then Kansas City can cut ties with him and suffer minimally from it.
Andy Reid Talks About Louis Rees-Zammit
Speaking to the media on April 15, Kansas City head coach Andy Reid discussed what the team’s plan is for Rees-Zammit as he embarks on a potential career in the NFL with the two-time defending Super Bowl champions.
“He (Louis Rees-Zammit) was introduced to this when he was young because his dad played six years in the European League (English Football League) and so he’s somewhat familiar with the sport,” Reid explained during his press conference. “He sure has had a lot of success with rugby and there are some similarities there, it’s a contact sport, he’s had to catch the ball and do those things and run with the ball. We’ll start him off at the running back position, 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 (Mahomes) and so again, he’ll get used to some of these calls and through our Zooms, the plays and then we’ll just see where it goes from there.
“Dave (Toub) will have an opportunity to have him on special teams and see where that goes” Reid continued. “That’s not an easy transition but he seems to be wired…. he’s been playing competitive rugby professionally since he was 17 years old. He’s sitting there at 23 years old, he’s had a pretty good career with that and kind of understands the professional game and the mindset of playing at a professional level.”
News
Beyond Fandom: Decoding the Dynamite Impact of Patrick Mahomes’s Supporters on His Legendary Career
The Impact of Patrick Mahomes’ Fanbase Patrick Mahomes has quickly risen to become one of the biggest stars in the NFL. In just a few short seasons, he has led the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory, won…
Travis Kelce’s Pre-Celebrity Days: The Intriguing Insights You Never Knew
Travis Kelce’s Pre-Celebrity Days: The Intriguing Insights You Never Knew Before the touchdown celebrations and endorsement deals, Travis Kelce was just another kid with a dream of making it to the NFL. While he’s now a household name and one…
Kansas City Chiefs’ Star Travis Kelce Reveals Surprising Pre-Fight Training Rituals
The Making of a Champion: Inside Travis Kelce’s Pre-Game Process Travis Kelce is widely considered one of the best tight ends in the NFL. The six-time Pro Bowler has cemented his status as a future Hall of Famer with his…
Patrick Mahomes’ Hollywood Touchdowns: The TV Shows You Never Knew He Was In
Patrick Mahomes: Uncovering the Quarterback’s Hidden TV Cameos Patrick Mahomes has quickly become one of the biggest stars in the NFL. As the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, Mahomes has established himself as one of the most electrifying players…
Fire and Flavor: Patrick Mahomes’ Mouthwatering Tales of Conquering Culinary Frontiers
Patrick Mahomes’ Mouthwatering Tales of Conquering Culinary Frontiers Patrick Mahomes has taken the NFL by storm with his record-breaking performances on the field. But few fans may know that off the field, Mahomes has another passion – cooking. While he…
Travis Kelce’s friend says a wedding between Taylor Swift and the Chiefs star will ‘hopefully’ happen ‘soon’
Patrick Regan – Travis Kelce‘s barber and close friend – is wishing that the Chiefs star ‘hopefully soon’ proposes to his popstar girlfriend Taylor Swift, as he claims that their wedding ‘would be fun.’ Sharing his insights on the NFL’s most high-profile…
End of content
No more pages to load