Transitioning from Rugby to the NFL: Inside Louis Rees-Zammit’s Journey with the Chiefs

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Grinning last month, Louis Rees-Zammit shared just how much he wanted to experience his first full-contact hit as an NFL player. Rees-Zammit, the Welsh former rugby star who joined the Kansas City Chiefs in March, knew he was just a few days away from his first training camp practice in full pads.

“I can’t wait to see the difference,” Rees-Zammit said.

His true “welcome to the NFL” moment, when the intensity level surprised him, came the morning of July 28, which was the Chiefs’ third consecutive padded practice. Rees-Zammit’s one-on-one drill that day was one every running back in the NFL has had to endure: The blitzing linebacker or safety charging into the backfield, the lone assignment for the running back is to prevent the defender from reaching the quarterback.

Across from Rees-Zammit on the field was linebacker Cole Christiansen, who like Rees-Zammit is trying to earn one of the final spots on the Chiefs’ initial 53-man roster. With quarterback Patrick Mahomes holding the ball in the pocket, Christiansen attacked from the B gap. Upon impact, Rees-Zammit lost his leverage and found out just how badly he could lose a pass-blocking rep. Christiansen de-cleated Rees-Zammit.

“It’s very physical,” Rees-Zammit said after Wednesday’s practice. “I’ve had to learn to adapt and lower my body height. In rugby, that’s not too much of a big deal. The blows you take here are pretty big. To be honest with you, it’s a completely different sport.

“I’ve never had to pass protect before. It’s actually illegal in rugby. I have to try to pick it up as quickly as possible. I’m not going to be amazing to start with.”

#Chiefs Louis Rees-Zammit working on pass protection during Sunday’s training camp practice pic.twitter.com/BLjhyi0ZLC

— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) July 28, 2024

Reps like the one against Christiansen, were to be expected, though. No newcomer on the Chiefs’ 91-man roster is as new to the sport as Rees-Zammit, 23, who will play in the first organized football game of his life Saturday when the Chiefs face the Jacksonville Jaguars in a preseason opener.

For Rees-Zammit, Saturday’s game — and training camp, for that matter — is about showing the Chiefs how fast he can learn and improve with each new experience on a football field.

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