The Kansas City Chiefs have disclosed the circumstances surrounding Louis Rees-Zammit’s departure from the Super Bowl champions, revealing that they encouraged him to explore opportunities with other teams.
While it wasn’t surprising that the Welshman didn’t make the 53-man first-team roster, many expected he would join the Chiefs’ practice squad to further his development. However, by Wednesday night, it became evident that Rees-Zammit had been released entirely, as he removed all references to the Kansas City team from his social media profiles.
This move was unexpected, especially since reports from within the Chiefs organization had been positive about the 23-year-old’s athleticism and work ethic. Initially, the Chiefs had signed him to a three-year contract and made considerable efforts to secure his commitment. Now, Rees-Zammit has joined the Jacksonville Jaguars, signing a practice squad deal with the Florida-based team.
On Thursday night, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach was asked whether the team tried to retain Rees-Zammit on their practice squad or advised him to seek other opportunities.
“We kept it open; we wanted the kid to really explore different opportunities as well,” Veach responded.
“It’s pretty remarkable when you consider a player without any professional American football experience—no middle school, high school, or major college background—being thrown into one-on-one pass-pro drills against players like Drue Tranquill or Nick Bolton. That’s pretty incredible.”
Veach hinted that the Chiefs struggled to determine Rees-Zammit’s best position in the sport. Interestingly, the Jaguars have signed him as a wide receiver, whereas the Chiefs had listed him as a running back and tried him in various roles during pre-season.
“For him, it’s about finding the right position,” Veach explained. “Whether it’s running back, maybe a big slot receiver, or even a returner. He has potential in several areas. I’m not even ruling out kicker—he had an outstanding leg, and with the new rule, he could provide some versatility.”
Veach also suggested that the Jaguars’ strong ties with the UK, along with their Florida location, were attractive factors for the former Wales rugby star.
“I think the Jacksonville connection, their overseas relationship, and the fact that they play in London twice a year were probably appealing to him,” Veach noted. “He’s a phenomenal kid, a hard worker, and considering the tremendous progress he made in such a short time, I believe he’ll continue to grow and develop. I think he found a really good spot there in Jacksonville.”
