Bills recruit Olympic gold medalist wrestler Gable Steveson

An NFL team signing someone who has never played football before doesn’t seem like the smartest move by the front office. But perhaps it wouldn’t seem so strange if that prospect were an Olympic gold medal in wrestling.

The Buffalo Bills hope they’ve struck gold themselves by signing Olympian Gable Steveson. The team announced the move Friday, designating the 5-foot-11, 266-pound wrestler as a defensive tackle.

Steveson, 24, has never played football at any level. ESPN reported that he first wore cleats when he practiced for the Bills.

He was recently signed to WWE, but was released earlier this month.

As an amateur wrestler, Steveson had few peers. He won Olympic gold at heavyweight in 2021 and was 85-2 during his four-year career at the University of Minnesota. Steveson won national titles in 2021 and 2022 and was ranked No. 1 in 2020, but the NCAA tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. He was the only two-time winner of the Hodge Trophy at heavyweight – collegiate wrestling’s version of the Heisman Trophy – and went undefeated in his final three seasons. As a freshman in 2019, Steveson finished third nationally.

Steveson signed with WWE in 2021. This is the second summer in a row that he has flirted with a career change.

Last July, Steveson considered returning to collegiate wrestling and openly debated whether to return to Minnesota, transfer to Iowa or stay on the WWE circuit. It became a weekly storyline for WWE, but ultimately the Minnesota native, named after Iowa coaching legend Dan Gable, chose to stay in professional wrestling.

He wouldn’t be the first recent Olympian to also play in the NFL. Olympic track stars Marquise Goodwin and Devon Allen spent last season with the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively, as wide receivers. Goodwin, who played four seasons with the Bills, enjoyed a 10-year NFL career since representing the United States in the long jump at the 2012 Olympics.

What are his chances of staying in the NFL?

A showman at the height of his athletic achievements, Steveson recalls memories of when the Minnesota Vikings signed former Gophers heavyweight wrestler and longtime WWE and MMA performer Brock Lesnar. However, Lesnar’s brief excursion into the NFL was marred when Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard was injured during drills during a 2004 training camp practice. After the quarterbacks were deemed off-limits, Lesnar sacked Huard then raised his hands to the crowd after a drill. Huard injured his ankle during that morning session and the Chiefs players stewed for hours before the scheduled evening practice in Mankato, Minnesota. That night’s scrimmage turned into a near-disaster, with scuffles and low shots after almost every play.

Although Steveson will require significant fundamental work to see snaps, it is not impossible for Steveson to make this transition and possibly contribute. His rare blend of size, power, speed and flexibility could accelerate his development. Steveson demonstrated his explosiveness during wrestling matches by celebrating his victories with backflips.

Why the Bills signed him

Bills coach Sean McDermott knows better than anyone how a wrestler’s skills can translate to the football field. McDermott was a two-time national champion in high school wrestling and remained active in his support of college wrestling, particularly through owner Terry Pegula’s connections at alma mater Penn State.

Although more extreme, the move is reminiscent of when the Patriots signed world champion wrestler Stephen Neal in 2001. The two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American didn’t play any football at Cal State Bakersfield, but at least played in high school. He spent nine seasons with the Patriots. Including the playoffs, he started 93 of 98 games at right guard, winning three Super Bowls.

The Bills have been forced to overhaul their defensive line, a unit that McDermott rotates heavily during games to keep them fresh. Behind starters Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones, the Bills drafted Duke defensive tackle DeWayne Carter in the third round. Other newcomers include free agents Austin Johnson (55 starts in his eight NFL seasons), DeShawn Williams (a 31-year-old undrafted player on his fourth team in six years) and Eli Ankou (an undrafted journeyman drafted age 30 with three starts for six teams). — Tim Graham, Senior Editor

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(Photo: Jay LaPrete / NCAA Photos / NCAA Photos via Getty Images)