Louis Rees-Zammit's dalliance with the gridiron has concluded.
Rees-Zammit, a Jacksonville Jaguars receiver, announced Thursday that he's leaving the NFL and returning to rugby, a sport he starred in previously.
"I've got an exciting announcement to make! I've decided to leave the NFL and return to rugby!" Rees-Zammit posted on Instagram. "It's been a great experience but it's time to come home. I've decided that this is the best time to make this decision to give myself time to get everything in place for next season.
"There's only one thing that's on my mind, that's coming back to rugby and doing what I do best. I can't explain how excited I am!!
"There'll be more news to come soon but for now, see you soon rugby fans."
The Jaguars officially waived Rees-Zammit on Friday.
Other than the timing, it's an unsurprising decision by Rees-Zammit, who began his days in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, but concludes them after just more than a year in the sport having never played in a regular-season game. He hinted at a return to rugby in June, but said he likely had "one to two more years to try and make it" in the league. Instead, a month later, he's on the move back to being a rugger.
The 24-year-old, United Kingdom-born athlete represented Wales, won the Six Nations in 2021 and played for the British & Irish Lions in rugby. Then, as part of the NFL's International Player Pathway program, signed with the Chiefs during the spring of 2024 as he indicated he'd accomplished everything in he wanted as a rugby player.
By joining the Chiefs and offensive guru Andy Reid, he seemed to be in the right spot if he were to make as a running back, WR and/or special teams contributor. However, it didn't work out with Kansas City, as he played in three preseason games last year and had just one catch for three yards on two targets. He was cut by the Chiefs and landed with the Jaguars. Rees-Zammit signed with Jacksonville's practice squad and has been a roster exemption this year as a member of the International Pathway.
Now, his international path is likely to lead him back across the Atlantic, but his rugby future is left for a future announcement; Thursday's put a conclusion to his days striving for a spot in the NFL.
