Gable Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist and one of the most dominant collegiate wrestlers in history, is making a bold move by switching sports. The former Olympic wrestler and WWE talent signed a three-year rookie deal with the Buffalo Bills on Friday.
But here's the kicker, Steveson has never played football before. In fact, the first time he ever put on cleats was at a recent workout for the Bills. Still, Head Coach Sean McDermott, who has a championship high school wrestling background, believes the 6-foot-1, 275-pounder can make an impact on the defensive line.
"I have been fortunate to compete at the highest level of competition in my sport but am looking forward to the challenge of seeing how my wrestling skills may translate to football," Steveson told ESPN. "I am grateful to Coach [Sean] McDermott, [GM] Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills organization for giving me this opportunity."
As a wrestler Steveson won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a super heavyweight. At 21 years old, he was the youngest to win Olympic gold at that level. In college at the University of Minnesota, Steveson won three Big Ten championships from 2020-22 and NCAA Division I championships in folkstyle wrestling in 2021 and 2022. He is also a two-time winner of the Dan Hodge Trophy, awarded to the nation's top college wrestler.
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Most recently, Steveson attempted to catch on with WWE as a professional wrestler, signing with the company in 2021. He had a brief stint in NXT but was released by WWE in May of this year.
In terms of size, Stevenson will fit right in with his teammates and interior defensive linemen throughout the league. The Question that remains, however, is will his athleticism translate to an extremely fast and physical game, which he has never played.
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His agility and hand fighting techniques from wrestling WILL translate to football.
The Question that remains, however, is will his athleticism translate to “an extremely fast and physical game”, which he has never played.
LMAO!! What are they smoking?? Fast? LOL Break out your timer boys and girls and do your own fact-check. In a 60 minute NFL game the average play lasts less then 8 seconds. Over the course of a game with different players for offense and defense, the average player actually ‘plays’ football for less then 10 minutes. Yet, the games routinely take 3 hours to play. I never watch football anymore, just go online and watch the highlights sans 2.5 hours of commercials. As a young man, we could watch the Packers games after church, and they always came in under 2 hours, then we could go pheasant hunting for a couple hours. Nowadays, noon games last to within a half hour of sunset. Think of all the beautiful fall days you have missed watching commercials.
Thanks for showing that you didn’t comprehend the statement.
Extremely Fast and Physical refers to each play they are making as the athlete. Not you on your couch seeking instant entertainment.
The intense action of each play, the force one puts their own body through to perform, while having an opposing force try to stop you. All in moments, (8 seconds, was it?) Only to be repeated for your stated “10 minutes” each. All piles up on that athlete. But it’s still a series of “Extremely Fast and Physical” plays.
But hey, you have to endure a few commercials so junior there can recover and catch his breath. He’s not a machine.