WATFORD, United Kingdom – The path is far from an easy one.
But as Louis Rees-Zammit sees it, his objective isn't about easy. It's about reaching a dream – and if he has to overcome obstacles to do it, that's OK.
"I'm learning quick and I'm working hard every single day," he said.
Rees-Zammit, a wide receiver and former standout rugby player, is with the Jaguars (1-5) this week as they prepare for their home game against the New England Patriots (1-5) at Wembley Stadium in London Sunday.
He's there as the Jaguars' International Pathway Program player – and as a member of the practice squad.
"It's been fun just to watch him grow in football," Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said. "Every single week, you just see him get a little bit better – throughout the drill portions into when he's on the scout team serving the defense. He's hungry for it. He is talented.
"It's new to him. Take anybody and drop him in a new sport and it's at the professional level, there's going to be a lot of learning. But he does have some physical skillset that's fun to see and see what he can become moving forward."
Rees-Zammitt, 23, a native of Wales, was a star winger for the Gloucester Rugby club in the English Premiership. He also starred internationally for Wales from 2020-2023, then surprised many this past January when he joined the NFL's International Player Pathway Program.
Rees-Zammit this week called his rugby career and pursuit of his NFL dream "two different things."
"Now I'm here, I get to work hard and train all the skills that's needed for me to be in the team," he said Wednesday. "Being a rugby player and wanting to play in the NFL, I knew that I had to do a lot in rugby to be able to get the opportunity to do this. When I was playing rugby, my full focus was on rugby, but in the back of my head I knew that this was a massive dream of mine and one that I wanted to chase, and now we're here today.
"I'm on the Jacksonville Jaguars and I'm loving every single moment of it."
Rees-Zammit originally signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a running back in January, then joined the Jaguars after the Chiefs released him following the preseason.
"It was pretty tough because I was just starting to get the hang of one playbook and then all of a sudden, I'm trying to learn a completely different one," he said. "But I'm loving every moment being in this league and the opportunity that the Jacksonville Jaguars have given me is one that I'll never forget.
"I'm working hard every single day to continue to learn this playbook and work hard every single day to learn playing receiver as well, which is quite big for me, making that switch at position."
Rees-Zammit remains of high interest in the United Kingdom, with multiple international media covering him during the Jaguars' back-to-back games in London.
"It's unbelievable to come back here finally," he said. "I've been in America for pretty much nine out of the 10 months of this year. It's great to come back see all the Jags fans and just how loyal they are because there's a lot of them out in the UK.
"The transition from the very start was tough. Completely diving into a different sport is obviously not an easy task to do, but this is what I wanted and I'm chasing this dream of mine."
Rees-Zammit appeared at an NFL Foundation event Tuesday with Prince William, and said the following day his focus remains more on the field than on it.
"I try not to focus on the social media aspect of it," he said. "I'm trying to focus on actually getting into a team and working hard for that team and doing the best I can for that because ultimately, you don't get that limelight without playing well. I know what I've got to do to try and get opportunities on the field and I'm working hard every single day with the coaches with my teammates to try and make that happen. For me, it's just about learning every day and learning from my teammates, learning from coaches and just doing the little things right, the little details, learning the playbook.
"Obviously, joining a different team first week of the season, it's going to take a little bit to adjust and adapt to things, but I'm learning really quick and I'm working hard every single day."
