NFL

Bills Sign Olympic Gold Medal Wrestler Gable Steveson

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Dan Girolamo
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Updated31 May 2024

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Gable Dan Steveson (USA) with his gold medal at the medals ceremony for the men's freestyle.

The Buffalo Bills are taking a chance on a world-class wrestler. Gable Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist, is signing with the Bills.

Bills Sign Olympic Gold Medal Wrestler Gable Steveson

Steveson, 24, is signing a three-year deal as an undrafted free agent. The Bills released punter Matt Haack to make room for Steveson.

“I have been fortunate to compete at the highest level of competition in my sport but am looking forward to the challenge of seeing how my wrestling skills may translate to football,” Steveson said (via ESPN). “I am grateful to Coach [Sean] McDermott, [GM] Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills organization for giving me this opportunity.”

Steveson will wear No. 61 and compete for a spot on the defensive line. Steveson’s measurables are 6-foot-1 and 275-pounds.

Steveson has never played competitive football. As a matter of fact, Steveson put on cleats for the first time during his workout with the Bills.

Schefter noted Steveson had interest from other NFL teams before eventually deciding on Buffalo.

Gable Steveson Will Try To Replicate Bob Hayes’s Success

Steveson is the rare Olympic gold medalist playing football. Bob Hayes is the gold standard for Olympian-turned-football players.

Hayes is the only athlete to win a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal. As a sprinter, Hayes won the gold medal in the 100 meters and the 4×100 meters at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

In the NFL, Hayes played 11 seasons for the Dallas Cowboys. Hayes became the second athlete with an Olympic gold medal to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The first was Jim Thorpe.

Steveson won a gold medal as a heavyweight wrestler at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Steveson also wrestled for the University of Minnesota, winning two national championships, three Big Ten championships, and two Dan Hodge trophies.

Before football, Steveson tried to make it as a professional wrestler, signing with the WWE in August 2021. However, the WWE released Steveson in May 2024.