NFL boss reveals how Louis Rees-Zammit 'aced' Kansas City Chiefs visit and how he could feature for Super Bowl champions

Louis Rees-Zammit "aced" his visit to Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs, according to NFL UK general manager Henry Hodgson, who believes that a specific rule change could boost Rees-Zammit's chances of making the final 53-man roster.

The former Wales and Gloucester rugby player, who was one of the sport's most promising talents, recently put pen to paper on a three-year contract with the Chiefs.

"He's clearly an exceptional athlete. No doubt about that," Hodgson said after the 23-year-old's Pro Day, where NFL hopefuls are tested in a variety of training drills.

"Speaking on the Pro Day - and I can tell you, having been there - that afterwards, he was surrounded by NFL scouts who wanted to know more and that then led to last week him going to meet with five or six NFL clubs and ultimately to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs.

"He has the skills and the physical skills to do it. But this was an opportunity for him to learn the techniques that are needed for him to be successful in the NFL."

With physical and athletic skills in abundance, a key challenge for Rees-Zammit will be his ability and aptitude for learning.

While retaining a similar physicality to rugby union, American football on a tactical and educational level is an entirely different universe.

"American football, as well as being a very physical, skilful game, there's a lot to learn, it's a series of pre-planned moves," Hodgson added. "They have to learn to playbook and clearly for him, not just learn a playbook, but learn an entirely new sport. So, I think they'd want to get to know him as a coaching staff and understand how he's going to be able to take that on.

"And then secondly, like any club signing a new player in any sport, are they going to be a cultural fit for what the team's trying to build? And from what I understand, Louis aced all of those things, especially with the Kansas City Chiefs, and that was why they decided to make him a contract offer."

The three-year contract, Hodgson notes, also implies that the Chiefs see actual potential in him, instead of just a PR move.

"What it shows to me is that this is a team that is interested in developing him, and I think that commitment of three years shows that this, to your point, isn't a marketing ploy. It's not that they just want to bring them in and hope to get some headlines," he added.

A boost for Rees-Zammit's chances of playing comes in the form of a new kick-off rule tweaked by the NFL, which Hodgson believes may be his easiest route into the NFL.

Under the new rules, the kicking team's kicker will continue to kick from the 35-yard line. But rather than be flanked by his team-mates, the rest of the kicking team will line up at their opponent's 40-yard line, eliminating the traditional running head start. No players can move until the returner touches the ball, or it hits the ground, giving the player catching the ball more space and time.

Given its similarity to rugby union's kick returns, there's potential for Chiefs head coach Andy Reid to utilise the Penarth-born athlete in this role.

Hodgson said: "The other opportunity he'll have and the easiest path in early, and perhaps why he will make that active roster, is as a kick returner, which has a lot more similarity to rugby.

"I think that will play into Louis’ skill set and perhaps mean that the Chiefs would say: 'Well, look, this is a guy that we need to carry on our active roster because he can make an impact on that play from day one, regardless of how well he understands the other the other two positions he's trying to learn.'"

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