Louis Rees-Zammit has made his mark across the pond, debuting for the Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champions, in a pre-season showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The former Wales wing, who recently swapped rugby for American football, described his first taste of NFL action as a “great first experience.”
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In a surprising twist, the 23-year-old showcased his versatility by taking on multiple roles during Saturday’s match. Rees-Zammit lined up as a running back, kicker, and kick-returner, even stepping into the punt coverage team. His stats for the game included two carries for one yard, a three-yard reception, and a tackle on special teams.
In a move few saw coming, Rees-Zammit also handled a kick-off in the fourth quarter, adding another highlight to his burgeoning NFL career.
Rees-Zammit reaction:
“It was a great first experience,” he told the Irish NFL Show. “I loved it, I loved getting the snaps I did, on special teams as well which was great. I’ve just got to look back on this, review it and see how I can get better.
“I got a little kick-off, that was great, being able to play special teams is amazing. To be able to exploit different skills. But yeah, I’m happy. I’ll see how I can get better and take it onto the next game.
“The atmosphere was great, it was pretty electric in the stadium and there was a load of Chiefs fans, which helped massively. It was a great game and I’m looking forward to the next one.”
Brutal criticism:
Reacting to his performance on X, some fans were less than kind.
One wrote:: “Rees-Zammit looks stiff with the ball in his hands”, while another asked: “Is he just overthinking everything he’s doing or is he that slow?”
Someone else put, “Rees Zammit is slow as hell”, with another calling him “the least elusive back I’ve ever seen.”
Another commented: “I don’t understand rugby – but I know that Rees Zammit is slow and small, by NFL standards.”
Louis Rees-Zammit’s dating history includes Premier League legends daughter and famous YouTuber
But it’s not just his professional life making headlines. Rees-Zammit’s personal life has also been a hot topic, featuring relationships with high-profile personalities, from a Premier League legend’s daughter to a famous YouTuber and a notable model/DJ.
Alicia Scholes
In December 2019, before his international debut for Wales, Rees-Zammit posted a photo of himself playing for Gloucester. Alicia Scholes, daughter of football legend Paul Scholes, humorously suggested an England debut was imminent, despite Rees-Zammit’s Welsh roots. He firmly replied, “Wales*”.
In a BBC interview, Rees-Zammit spoke about his past relationship with Alicia, a professional netball player for London Pulse. He revealed the light-hearted attempts by her father to sway him towards England, which he steadfastly resisted.
Alicia and her father Paul found themselves in the spotlight in 2021 due to a viral video that led to playful banter among rival supporters.