Louis Rees-Zammit Quits NFL After 18 Months Without Regular Season Game

Louis Rees-Zammit has decided to leave the NFL and return to rugby union after an 18-month American football stint during which he did not appear in any regular season NFL games. The 24-year-old Welsh athlete initially joined the NFL's International Player Pathway program, signing first with the Kansas City Chiefs before being released, then spending the 2024 season on the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad without elevation to the main roster. His NFL career was further hampered by a lower back injury ahead of the 2025/2026 preseason, which jeopardized his chances of making the Jaguars' active roster. Rees-Zammit expressed excitement about returning to rugby, aiming to prepare for the upcoming season and get back to doing what he does best. Prior to switching to American football, he had earned 32 caps for Wales and was considered a rising rugby star. His former club Gloucester and the United Rugby Championship teams are preparing for their new seasons later this month, setting the stage for his rugby comeback.