Former U.S. gold medal wrestler Gable Steveson, who signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent on May 31, played in his first career NFL game on Sunday, August 11.
Even before the Bills and Chicago Bears kicked off their preseason opener on Sunday, the 24-year-old’s athleticism was on full display. During warmups, a local media member recorded the 5-foot-11, 266-pound defensive tackle rolling on his back and kicking himself up onto his feet.
“Well… don’t know many NFL defensive tackles that can get off the ground like this,” Bills reporter Thad Brown wrote on X.
Gable Steveson getting ready before his first ever football game.
And… well… don’t know many NFL defensive tackles that can get off the ground like this.#Bills pic.twitter.com/Yo1btdiMHV
— Thad Brown (@thadbrown7) August 10, 2024
Steveson won a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and also celebrated with a backflip.
NBC Sports Chicago described the event as “a miracle, last-second comeback to defeat Geno Petriashvili of Georgia in the final of the men’s freestyle 125kg weight class.”
Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK
Steveson also joined the WWE via the 2021 WWE draft, but was released from his contract on May 4.
According to wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer appearing on Wrestling Observer Radio in May, the timing of his departure likely prevented Steveson from participating in the U.S. Olympic trials ahead of the Paris games.
