Olympic Gold medalist Gable Steveson may be headed to the National Football League. The former WWE Developmental prospect was quietly released from his contract last month after his wrestling career failed to launch.
Steveson recently met with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and even had a tryout for the team, according to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter. He’s expected to meet with several other NFL teams in the weeks and months ahead.
This crossover to the gridiron is especially notable because Gable didn’t even play high school football. However, he wouldn’t be alone there, as never even played high school football. WWE has been scouting collegiate athletes through its Next In Line series program, but now we’re seeing NFL teams recruiting players with little-to-no prior experience as well
Gable Steveson’s WWE Journey
Many believed that Gable Steveson had a bright future ahead of him in WWE. To support his development, the company even established a remote training facility, allowing him to hone his skills while completing his studies at the University of Minnesota.
He was given a few big-time spots during WWE premium live events, including WrestleMania 38, but fans didn’t latch onto him as expected. Instead, they seemed to push back against the Olympian’s forced push.
In 2022, an ablation was performed on his heart to treat Wolff-Parkinson-White, and Gable took time off to recover, but he soon got back to training. He was given all the tools to succeed, but they couldn’t put things together and make them work.
As WWE’s first-ever NIL signing, Steveson’s struggle to succeed in the company underscores the unique and demanding skill set required to thrive in professional wrestling. His match against Baron Corbin at NXT’s Great American Bash highlighted this challenge, as the crowd’s chants of “You’re Not Angle” referenced the frequent comparisons made between Steveson and WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle. These chants served as a reminder of the high expectations and distinct abilities needed to excel in the wrestling world.
We’d like to wish Gable Steveson the best in his future NFL ventures, or wherever his path takes him.