Now the former Wales and British and Irish Lions wing has been signed to the Jaguars’ top group of 53 players, ahead of the start of the NFL’s free agency window next month, when unattached players can sign with any franchise.
Rees-Zammit made the shock announcement that he was leaving rugby at the start of 2024 – having scored 14 tries in 32 caps for Wales – to take part in the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, after which he was signed to the Chiefs’ practice squad.
But right now, this means Rees-Zammit will be training with the team when their off-season gets under way at the start of April under Liam Coen, the team’s new head coach, and ideally he will have meaningful practice time with Trevor Lawrence, the team’s quarterback.
Going from picking up the sport from scratch to making the practice squad alone was a remarkable achievement, particularly having trained initially as a running back with the Chiefs before moving to receiver in Jacksonville.
Rees-Zammit, 24, joined the Jaguars last year after being released by Kansas City Chiefs, becoming part of the practice (reserve) squad as an international exempt player.
