Louis Rees-Zammit has opened up on what makes Patrick Mahomes so special – and the qualities the quarterback shares with a former Wales rugby teammate.
Rees-Zammit has been enjoying a whirlwind first few weeks with the Chiefs, having joined the Super Bowl champions following his shock switch of sports.
After signing a three-year deal with Kansas City, Rees-Zammit was recently given a first glimpse of three-time Super Bowl champion Mahomes up close.
The 23-year-old former Wales wing played with – and against – some of the finest players in rugby and already Rees-Zammit can see similarities between the best of both sports.
‘Patrick is unbelievable at reading the game,’ he explained. ‘A fly-half is probably the most similar position in rugby… (and) Dan Biggar was probably my favorite 10.
Louis Rees-Zammit has opened up on what makes Patrick Mahomes so special
The former rugby star is now teammates with the quarterback, a three-time Super Bowl winner
‘He’s one of the best 10s to ever play the game – you can really see how they read the game so quickly and are able to make decisions very quickly as well.’
Biggar retired last year after winning 112 caps for Wales and Rees-Zammit added: ‘Mahomes can read the game, he can read his cues, he can scan the defense quickly. And then he can make plays as well. Dan’s done that since he made his debut for Wales.’
Superstars Mahomes and Travis Kelce are among his new teammates who lead on and off the field but Rees-Zammit believes Kansas City’s success – the Chiefs have won three Super Bowls in five years – is down to everyone having a voice.
‘Every player will speak up and have an opinion and it just goes to show why they’ve been so great over the past few years,’ he revealed.
‘Obviously you have Pat and Travis who mainly lead it, but everyone within the team stands up and has an opinion and that is unbelievable… you want to have those leaders that are going to push you on when times when times are tough.’
Rees-Zammit played alongside fly-half Dan Biggar before making the shock switch to football
‘Mahomes can read the game, he can read his cues, he can scan the defense quickly,’ he said
Rees-Zammit is listed as a running back by the Chiefs but he is also expected to be used on special teams – and possibly as a receiver, too.
The 23-year-old is currently staying in a hotel and spends every night trying to learn the Chiefs playbook alongside backup quarterback Ian Book.
That has proved to be the biggest shock to the former wing’s system since switching sports.
‘Every team has their own playbook and certain language they use. So it’s kind of it’s kind of like learning a new language completely,’ he said.
‘We’ve literally been in our rooms calling the plays, standing next to each other.’
The 23-year-old former Wales star opened up on his first few weeks with Kansas City
He added: ‘You probably learn up to a thousand plays throughout the season in the NFL… whereas in rugby, you probably learn you probably learn 60 plays.’
Rees-Zammit’s teammates are also adapting to having a new voice in the locker room.
‘They all love the UK accent and the different words we use – the boys have been laughing about in the locker room,’ he said.
‘I don’t think they say “mate” out here. So everyone loves that word… I don’t notice it because I just speak normally and then they’re like: “what does that word mean?”‘
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