Rees-Zammit has addressed his 'tough' start in the NFL
Louis Rees-Zammit has opened up on what has been a difficult start to his NFL career, admitting that while his new sport may be less physically demanding than rugby, he has found it far more mentally taxing.
Like his team-mates, Rees-Zammit has to learn 500 different possible plays heading into the new season, with any of 100 different moves called during each match with just three seconds' notice. It's been a difficult task as he tries to learn the basics of a new sport, with a number of upheavals making matters even harder.
The former Wales wing has re-signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of the 2025/26 season, having joined the franchise last August after being cut by the Kansas City Chiefs. His first campaign in American football saw him develop his skills in the Jaguars' practice squad, but aside from three pre-season appearances for the Chiefs, he is yet to see action in a game.
With Rees-Zammit already trying to get his head around an extensive playbook and catch up with his teammates who have been playing the sport consistently since childhood, his bid to make it to the active roster has also not been helped by the Jaguars' form, as they failed to qualify for the play-offs after finishing second bottom of AFC South.
Head coach Doug Pedersen - who told the Welshman that his "opportunity will come" after being impressed by his athleticism - was then sacked following the poor campaign, as part of a major overhaul at the franchise.
But with a new season approaching and a new coaching staff in place, Rees-Zammit is looking forward to getting stuck in and elevating his game further to make it on to the Jaguars' active roster. [Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.](https://walesrugby.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=7b6a76da)
By his own admission, however, switching from rugby to American football has proven to be a long and difficult process, with the 24-year-old opening up on the challenges he has faced during an appearance on the _Stick to Rugby_ podcast.
"We've got a new coaching staff in this year, which is really exciting," said Rees-Zammit as he previewed the season ahead.
"Obviously we didn't have a great year last year, but hopefully with new staff and a new system, I think we've definitely got the players to be able to push on and do it.
"I mean, it hasn't been an ideal start to the NFL for me, changing positions, changing teams, having to learn three different playbooks in a year," he added. "It's been pretty tough. "
Detailing the effort that goes into preparing for games, the former Gloucester star continued: "A lot of it is just pure mental. Physically, it's not as demanding as rugby, it's nowhere near.
"But mentally, you have to learn 500 plays, you have to go into a game with 100 plays. Obviously they are just called in the quarterback's head and then he goes into a huddle and just says the play.
"Within three seconds, you're going to line up and snap the ball."
Breaking the complexity of his new gameplans down further for co-hosts Tom Shanklin, Lawrence Dallaglio and Katy Daley-Mclean, Rees-Zammit added: "There's concepts, where everyone will know what routes they are running, but then you can do it in... I think we've got like 80 different formations.
"You'll know where to go, but then you've got to think about the concept and it depends on the formation, which concepts, which route you're running."
Dallaglio chimed in, adding: "A bit like rugby, you could not be getting the ball, but the line you run is..."
"It's affecting the whole play, yeah," added Rees-Zammit.
The former Wales international is currently back in the UK to help promote the Jaguars' Family Fun Day at Ealing Trailfinders rugby club this Saturday.
The Jaguars are set to return to London for a regular-season fixture, alongside the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns, in October.