Chiefs HC Reid Reveals Strategy for Louis Rees-Zammit's Transition from Rugby to NFL

After six seasons as a professional rugby player, Louis Rees-Zammit is going to need some time to adjust to playing with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Luckily for the Chiefs, head coach Andy Reid says the Welsh winger's rugby success will aid his transition to the NFL.

"He's somewhat familiar with the sport, he sure has had success in rugby, and there's some similarities there," Reid told reporters Monday. "It's a contact sport, and he's had to catch the ball, and do those things, and run with the ball."

Reid's comments come around the nine-minute mark of the video below.

"We'll start him off at the running back position, get him to feel comfortable with that," Reid added.

"He'll get used to some of these calls, and through our Zooms, the plays, and then we'll just see where it goes from there."

Reid added that Rees-Zammit has had the opportunity to work out in Dallas, Texas with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The next step for Rees-Zammit could be working with Chiefs special team coordinator Dave Toub, Reid said.

"Dave will have an opportunity to have him on special teams, and see where that goes," Reid said.

Reid noted that Rees-Zammit's father, who played American football in the United Kingdom in the 1980s, has helped the new Chiefs signee become "somewhat familiar with the sport."

"That's not an easy transition, but he seems to be wired," Reid said. "He's been playing competitive rugby professionally since he was 17 years old. So he's sitting there at 23, he's had a pretty good career with that, kind of understands the professional game and the mindset to play at a professional level."

Rees-Zammit joined the NFL's International Player Pathway program in January and signed with the Chiefs in March.