Gable Steveson counts on himself for career change: from wrestling champion to NFL bid with the Bills

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Gable Steveson thought he had achieved the impossible with his stunning last-second takedown of three-time world wrestling champion Geno Petriashvili to win gold at the Tokyo Games.

Three years later, Steveson, 24, is upping the ante to tackle his next challenge: professional football. Having never downplayed football in his life, he is the NFL’s rawest rookie entering his second week of practice with the Buffalo Bills Tuesday.

It’s an exciting project and a personal challenge for Steveson to see how far he can stretch his athletic abilities. Or, as Minnesota’s two-time national collegiate wrestling champion said after practice, “Do the impossible.”

“It’s definitely a unicorn situation,” Steveson said. “For me to finally be able to convey this narrative about how you can move from one sport to another: it’s an incredible thing. And I hope people realize that and understand that they can do whatever they want with their lives.

At 5-foot-11 and 266 pounds, Steveson’s career change from super heavyweight wrestler to defensive lineman followed a failed bid with World Wrestling Entertainment. After joining WWE with great fanfarehe was primarily part of his developmental brand, NXT, before being released last month.

Steveson said he was moving boxes when the Bills called him, asking him to attend a tryout. He showed enough raw promise for Buffalo to sign him to a standard three-year undrafted rookie contract – provided he made the roster.

“The first time I put on soccer cleats was during that tryout,” he said. “I gave it my all and wanted the opportunity to show that I could be something. And that’s what it’s all about.

A big factor working in Steveson’s favor is Bills coach Sean McDermott, a two-time national high school wrestling champion who grew up in Pennsylvania. And although McDermott continued to play football after high school, wrestling is credited with helping shape his life.

McDermott joked to the Associated Press that Steveson had a much deeper understanding of wrestling than he did. What matters is that McDermott knows a lot more about football and is familiar with how the fundamentals of wrestling – leverage, hand fighting and foot speed – can translate to football, especially among linemen.

McDermott even introduced wrestling terms to help Steveson’s transition, with the hardest part involving learning a playbook.

“In wrestling, we don’t have 10 different directions to take. Here you need to read a pass. You have to read a scope, a base and all these great words,” he said. “But I came here with a blank slate and ready to learn. And I’m a week in and I feel like I’m light years ahead.

Another adjustment is having to wear a helmet, which turned out to be heavier than Steveson expected.

What fascinates him is being on the same team as passer Von Miller, someone he grew up watching win a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos.

His new teammates are also amazed by Steveson.

“You talk about being the best at what you do, he’s literally the best at what he does,” said defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who has since learned of Steveson wins against Petriashvili.

“Having a guy of his caliber, just being around him, from the mental standpoint of what it takes to get into that arena when it’s just him and one other opponent. He knows what it’s like to fight one-on-one,” Oliver said. “He’s just learning how to play football. I wouldn’t put any expectations into it. I do not want. But I think he’ll be fine.

Steveson laughed at the memory of how his mother wouldn’t allow him to play soccer growing up.

“She was scared. But I said, ‘Mom, you made me take up the hardest sport, wrestling,'” he said. “So when this opportunity presented itself, she said, ‘It’s all you. You’re a grown man now. Go ahead and do it.

The Bills and Steveson are making progress little by little.

“If you look until September, you won’t get far. I’m looking for the gift,” Steveson said.

“I want to give everything to Buffalo. I know the fans are going to care about this moment, and all wrestling fans are going to care about this moment,” he added. “I just want to be that person that says, ‘Hey, here’s a guy who’s never done it and he’s going to do it.’ And I believe in myself.

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