2 days Ago By Jamie Gordon
Louis Rees-Zammit will not give up on his NFL dream without a fight.The 32-cap Welshman stunned the rugby world when he announced his plan to join the NFL’s International Player Pathway in 2024.GettyRees Lightning is coming back for another shot at the NFL[/caption]He earned a three-year contract with the then-reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs as a running back — his ‘Rees Lightning’ moniker causing a surge in interest.
But Rees-Zammit got a harsh taste of the realities of life in one of the world’s most brutal sports as he was cut following pre-season struggles.The Jacksonville Jaguars offered him a lifeline with a practice squad spot and the former winger signed a new one-year futures contract on Monday.Rees-Zammit is holidaying in Dubai ahead of a trip to Wales before he heads back to Florida to fight for his place on the team.
There was speculation he could return to rugby after just one year in the NFL while his status was up in the air, but the speedster exclusively told talkSPORT that was never on the cards.“I didn’t give that up just to leave after a year,” the 24-year-old said. “So that was never really in my head at all.
“I never really had a break since the Rugby World Cup two years ago. So it was kind of just refresh the mind, refresh the body, go away for four weeks and then make a decision.“And thankfully I made the decision yesterday and I’m forever grateful for the Jaguars for offering me it.
”Rees-Zammit was deployed as a running back by the Chiefs but moved to wide receiver after heading to Jacksonville.It will see him patrol the perimeter more often like his days as a flying Gloucester and Wales wing and seems a more natural fit.PARees-Zammit will now catch passes from Trevor Lawrence[/caption]GettyThe former Welsh international isn’t ready to give up[/caption]LRZ revealed that the Jaguars saw enough to offer him a new deal at the end of the season, which he took some time to mull over.
“I spoke to them at the end of the year,” he added. “I spoke to them yesterday just about how much I improved last year and they saw that in me.“They were willing to offer me a contract.
I’ve just got to go in there and try and get a 53-man spot and that is my ambition. I’m sure that’s the ambition of the Jaguars, hence why they’ve offered me a contract. “I’m really looking forward to it.
And I’ve had a full year of experience at wide receiver, obviously playing running back at the Kansas City Chiefs didn’t work out. But I think playing receiver is the position for me.”The Jaguars have made significant changes after a disappointing 2024 season and Liam Coen has been appointed as head coach.
Rees-Zammit is buzzing to be on familiar ground in 2025 and thinks there is plenty of potential to be unleashed by the new staff.“It’s amazing and what an opportunity I have,” he beamed. “I think the past year has been a good year for experience for me.
“Just being a part of the environment, part of the culture and obviously rejoining the Jags, which is amazing. I know my teammates, which is very important.“I know my way around the facilities, all of that kind of helps.
Obviously, new coaching staff, which is really exciting. And yeah, it’s one that I’m really looking forward to. “The roster’s absolutely stacked and you could see that last year.
There’s so much potential in all of the players on offense and defense. “Having a young coaching staff come in and they play an exciting way, they play an exciting brand of football.“There’s so much potential in our team that can go anywhere.
So, you know, we’re all looking forward to it. And I can’t wait to be a part of it.”.
