Louis Rees-Zammit 'cannot lose' as NFL expert provides clarity on his future
NFL expert Phoebe Schecter has provided clarity on Louis Rees-Zammit's future in the NFL.
Schecter is a British-American NFL analyst who works for Sky Sports. She is a former Buffalo Bills coach and has captained Team GB American football squad.
Former Wales winger Rees-Zammit shocked the rugby world in January 2024 when he announced he would be leaving the sport to pursue a career in the NFL, joining the International Player Pathway program to get his foot in the door.
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He was picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs in pre-season after impressing on his trial day, but was cut in August when they named their regular season roster. Then a free agent, Rees-Zammit was captured by Jacksonville Jaguars who signed him to their practice squad. He was in their designated IPP player slot, which takes up the 17th place on the practice squad.
Rees-Zammit was not elevated once to the main roster for any games, but spent the year learning the sport and preparing the main roster players in training for each tie. After a poor season, Jaguars let his contract expire in January and now the Welshman is a free agent, meaning that he could be picked up by another franchise.
It's been reported that Rees-Zammit has been offered a new contract to return to Jaguars, but WalesOnline understands he is still considering his next move.
We spoke to NFL analyst Schecter, who provided some clarity on the situation for those not quite conditioned to American football and its peculiar nuances.
"They have two years where they essentially don't count as a number on the roster," explained Schecter. "Which is important when it comes to the NFL."
Schecter went on to explain the importance of the 17th player on the practice squad, which is especially reserved for international athletes who come through the International Player Pathway program, like Rees-Zammit.
The NFL expert then confirmed that Rees-Zammit can only be named as the designated IPP player on the practice squad for two years. We asked Schecter what would happen after that.
"He would have to be signed by a team then," explained Schecter. "He would have to actually be on a team at that point. He wouldn't be counted as that extra 17th player anymore. It's two years (IPP spot).
"This is the first year that they've done it for every team in the NFL. It used to go divisionally. But this is the first year that they've done it, so that every NFL team has the opportunity to have access to it."
For those of us in the United Kingdom who are perhaps not quite accustomed to how the NFL works, seeing Rees-Zammit's contract expire may seem like a sign that things aren't quite working out. However, Schecter was quick to assure that this is completely normal.
"Absolutely," says Schecter. "It's totally normal. It happens to a lot of guys. Even players on the practice squad, they might be released and picked back up again. Sometimes they have to release someone to bring in someone else. Ultimately it's all a numbers game. Financially, and a literal numbers game.
"We saw with Christian Wade with Buffalo (Bills). His contract expired and then they just signed him to their practice squad afterwards. This is really a normal thing, it's the life of an NFL player, unless you're a starter, but even then there's always going to be a lot of uncertainty around job security."
Speaking about the incoming Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, who previously worked at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, she says he is an offensive-minded coach who is able to identify people's strengths and would understand the benefit of having extra players around - in reference to Rees-Zammit.
Schecter also affirmed the importance of Rees-Zammit performing in special teams if he is picked up by Jaguars again. The Welshman played a key role for Kansas City Chiefs in pre-season last year as part of their special teams unit - a kicker, kick-returner, a part of the punt coverage team and a running back.
Another element of Rees-Zammit's debut season in the NFL that may have raised a few eyebrows in the UK is the fact that the Welshman didn't play a single minute of regular season football, and wasn't elevated once to the main roster from the practice squad.
Despite this, Schecter explained that like a contract expiring, this is completely normal.
"There's probably people playing in the NFL that you've never even heard of," says Schecter. "You've never even seen them play on a Sunday. They are literally practice squad guys. The idea of a practice squad is that hopefully they show enough effort or maybe someone gets injured and you get the opportunity to step up. That's what the practice squad is - waiting for your turn. It's totally normal, some of those guys will never see a live game day.
"The main time that you do see them is pre-season, which is really where we saw Louis when he was with Kansas City. He had those few reps. You start the game with your ones, finish it with your twos, it's an unspoken agreement between the two teams - 'We want to see what our twos and threes are going to give us. We know who our starters are'."
She went on to explain that Rees-Zammit "cannot lose" in his current situation. "Obviously, he's incredible at rugby," said Schecter. "From Gloucester to playing for Wales - absolute superstar out there. He is doing something that very few people would ever risk to do - try a brand new sport.
"Even though he was at the peak of his game at rugby, he's made a really brave decision to come to the States and try something totally new. He put himself out of his comfort zone, and whether he makes it in the NFL or he doesn't he's only going to be a better, well-rounded person and athlete for that. Think of the knowledge, expertise, preparation, rehabilitation, strength and conditioning. All of that information, he is going to be able to bring back to Welsh rugby or whoever he decided to play for from a domestic point of view.
"He's so young, I think we forget how young he is as well. Look at some of the star rugby players we have, still playing to this day - they're in their 30s, they're doing a terrific job. I think he is so brave for doing it and I don't think he can lose here."
