Chiefs HC Andy Reid gives the inside scoop on decision to sign rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit

Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke to media members on Monday to kick off Phase I of the voluntary offseason workout program.

This was Reid's first time interacting with local media since the first wave of free agency, so he answered many questions about players the team brought on since the beginning of the new league year. That includes perhaps one of the most intriguing free agent acquisitions of the offseason in former Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit. 

Reid was asked about the process and decision behind signing Rees-Zammit.

"Yeah, so he was introduced to this when he was young, his dad played six years in the European (football) league," Reid began. "He's somewhat familiar with the sport, and he has sure had a lot of success at rugby. And there's some similarities there, as a contact sport, and he's had to catch the ball and do those things and run with the ball."

Between his father's history playing the game and the translatable skills between rugby and NFL football, Reid believes that he has a good baseline to get him started in the NFL. Ultimately, Rees-Zammit's role and success will be up to how quickly he can get used to other aspects of the NFL game. Namely, the lingo, concepts, play calls, and Andy Reid's expansive playbook. 

“So, we'll start him off at the running back position, get him to feel comfortable with that going forward here," Reid explained. "He’s had an opportunity to also go down there to Dallas and work with Pat (Mahomes) and so again, he'll get used to some of these calls through our Zooms, and the plays, and then we'll just see where it goes from there.”

While Reid expects there to be a bit of a learning curve for Rees-Zammit, he also thinks he's uniquely situated to handle the transition from rugby to the NFL. He's not just getting a head start on things down in Texas with Patrick Mahomes, but he's got the makeup to do this from his time playing professional rugby. He came up through Gloucester as a young athlete and quickly found himself playing on the world stage in the Rugby World Cup.

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

Rees-Zammit might have an immediate opportunity in Kansas City on special teams.  Reid isn't making any promises, but he expects special teams coordinator Dave Toub to work him in on the kick return rotation in practice. If he can make an impression in that facet of the game, he'll have an easier path to the roster than most. 

“Dave (Toub) will have an opportunity to have him on special teams and see where that goes," Reid said. "You know how Dave puts them all out there. They're all out there working on return. So before and during practice we'll just see where his feel is and where that goes.”