Former Chiefs Fan Favorite Announces NFL Retirement Before 1st Preseason Game

Aug 22, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Louis Rees-Zammit (9) returns a kick against the Chicago Bears during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Aug 22, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Louis Rees-Zammit (9) returns a kick against the Chicago Bears during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The first NFL preseason game has come and gone as the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for their 2025 debut against the Arizona Cardinals on August 10. It's a special time of the year, as numerous players are fighting for their football lives, hoping to make the final 53-man roster or at least earn a practice squad spot.

In recent years in particular, that's resulted in the Chiefs taking high-upside dart throws on lesser-known guys to see if they can find a diamond in the rough.

One player who fit that mold in 2024 and quickly became a fan favorite last summer officially announced his retirement

Former Chiefs RB Louis Rees-Zammit Retires from NFL to Return to Rugby

In a post shared on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter), running back Louis Rees-Zammit announced that he's leaving the NFL and returning to rugby, the sport that helped him become a Welsh star.

Rees-Zammit came to Kansas City last summer as part of the NFL's International Player Pathway program, profiling as a versatile, speedy weapon who could theoretically serve as a kick and punt returner. His unique background and charm won fans over, though he was ultimately cut and spent the year on the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad.

Now that he's had another summer, it seemingly became clear that his professional football prospects were limited. He was a dominant rugby player with 4.2 40-yard dash speed, but struggled to adjust to the physicality of the NFL. There's no shame in the 24-year-old giving it a shot in America and he deserves to be commended for it regardless of how things worked out.

Chiefs fans will fondly remember the fun of last summer and should wish Rees-Zammit the best in his professional rugby future. He never suited up for an NFL game, making his public profile even more impressive.

This doesn't impact Kansas City in any way, as the organization is fully focused on returning to the Super Bowl and winning it this time. We'll see what happens throughout the year, but you can expect that general manager Brett Veach will continue trying to find hidden gems in any way possible.

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