Steveson will allegedly play on the Buffalo’s defensive line.
The Buffalo Bills have gone through more changes this summer than any other team in the NFL. They lost numerous stalwarts on both sides of the ball, the most notable of whom was Stefon Diggs on offence; however, the losses on defence were significant, as the team lost Tre’Davious White, Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Leonard Floyd, and Jordan Phillips, among others.
The Bills have certainly made numerous additions to compensate for their losses, and they have now made another. But it’s not what you’d expect: the Bills have signed former Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to a three-year rookie contract, according to his agency.
Steveson wrestled at the University of Minnesota, where he twice won the Dan Hodge Trophy, college wrestling’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. He won gold in freestyle wrestling at the 2020 Summer Olympics before returning to Minnesota, where he was voted Big Ten Athlete of the Year in 2022. Throughout his career, he won two national championships and three Big Ten titles.
According to ESPN, the 24-year-old will play on the defensive line in Buffalo. He previously wrestled in WWE from 2021 to 2024 until being released earlier this year.
“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 stated. “I am grateful to Coach (Sean) McDermott, (general manager) Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills organisation for giving me this opportunity.”
Steveson is 6’1 and weighs 275 pounds. He is slightly undersized for an interior defensive lineman in terms of height, but shorter players have previously excelled there if they are quick and have strong technique. The technique component may take some time, but wrestling manoeuvres do correspond to the type of hand-fighting and other moves that defensive lineman must employ, and Steveson is likely capable of using his legs and torso to create leverage and force other people where he wants them to go.
If he can even become a rotational contributor, it will benefit both him and the Bills. Even if it’s a long shot, there’s no harm in taking a chance on a player with an intriguing athletic history.
