Gable Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist and probably the most dominant faculty wrestlers in NCAA historical past, is leaping to the NFL to signal with the Buffalo Payments, his agent Carter Chow informed ESPN.
Steveson is signing the usual rookie three-year deal, and he now will got down to be part of Bob Hayes as the one athlete ever to win a Tremendous Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal. The Payments additionally introduced his signing Friday.
Steveson mentioned he is aware of the training curve will likely be steep however is worked up for the chance.
“I’ve been lucky to compete on the highest degree of competitors in my sport however am trying ahead to the problem of seeing how my wrestling expertise could translate to soccer,” Steveson mentioned. “I’m grateful to Coach [Sean] McDermott, [GM] Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Payments group for giving me this chance.”
The 6-foot-1, 275-pound Steveson is predicted to play defensive position, one thing he hasn’t finished earlier than throughout his athletic profession. The truth is, the primary time Steveson ever placed on a pair of cleats was at a current exercise for the Payments.
However McDermott — who has a championship highschool wrestling background — wished Steveson to play defensive position and believes he has the potential to make an impression. The Payments had been impressed along with his degree of expertise but additionally know the way uncooked he’s, which makes him a possible preferrred observe squad candidate in 2024.
The Payments weren’t the one staff that expressed curiosity in signing Steveson, based on Chow of Crimson Envelope Sports activities, however Buffalo has a superb observe report of getting essentially the most out of defensive tackles with statures just like Steveson’s.
Steveson received a gold medal in freestyle wrestling on the Tokyo Summer time Olympics. He returned to the College of Minnesota and was named the Massive Ten Athlete of the Yr in 2022. Throughout his faculty profession, Steveson received two nationwide championships and three Massive Ten championships, and he was a two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner, which is the school wrestling equal of the Heisman Trophy.
He was signed by WWE in 2021 earlier than being launched by the professional wrestling firm earlier this month.
How Steveson bought to soccer is one other story. Chow is pleasant with distinguished MMA managers Dave Martin and Wealthy Chou on the MAG Company. They’ve labored with many Olympic, UFC and WWE athletes through the years, together with Steveson. Chow and Steveson had been launched as NFL alternatives started to floor. As soon as they did, Steveson opted for the Payments.