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Olympic wrestler Gable Steveson signs with the Buffalo Bills

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JOSEPH CRESS/IOWA CITY PRESS-CITIZEN / USA TODAY NETWORK Minnesota's Gable Steveson reacts after his 285-pound match in the final during the sixth session of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, March 2022, at Little Caesars Arena from Detroit. Steveson gets off the wrestling mat and tries his hand at the gridiron.

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JOSEPH CRESS/IOWA CITY PRESS-CITIZEN/USA TODAY NETWORK

Minnesota’s Gable Steveson reacts after his match at 285 pounds in the finals during the sixth session of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, March 2022, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Steveson gets off the wrestling mat and tries his hand at the gridiron.

Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson steps off the wrestling mat and tries his hand at the gridiron.

Steveson’s agent, Carter Chow of Red Envelope Sports, told ESPN on Friday that his client will sign a standard three-year rookie contract with the Buffalo Bills. The team officially announced the signing today.

The 5-foot-11, 266-pound Steveson practiced for the Bills on May 15. He should play on the defensive line.

“I have been fortunate to compete at the highest level of competition in my sport, but I look forward to the challenge of seeing how my wrestling skills can translate to football,” Steveson said, according to ESPN. “I’m grateful to Coach (Sean) McDermott, (general manager) Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills organization for giving me this opportunity.”

Steveson, 24, won gold in the freestyle wrestling super heavyweight division at the Tokyo 2020 Games. He also won two national championships in Minnesota (2021, 2022) and three Big Ten championships (2020, 2021, 2022). He was twice awarded the Dan Hodge Trophy, awarded to the best collegiate wrestler in the United States.

Steveson was released by WWE earlier this month.

Also today, the Bills released left-handed punter Matt Haack.

Haack, 29, played one game with the Cleveland Browns last season before joining the Bills’ practice squad to backup the injured Sam Martin before the team’s divisional playoff game against the Kansas Chiefs City.

Haack has averaged 44.5 yards per punt in 99 career games with the Miami Dolphins (2017-20), Bills (2021), Indianapolis Colts (2022) and Browns (2023).


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