Louis Rees-Zammit has been warned by his new Chiefs team-mate Travis Kelce that his move to Kansas City will be a "humbling experience".
The former Wales wing signed a three-year deal with the reigning Super Bowl champions last month after emerging as a standout talent on the NFL's International Player Pathway programme and attracting interest from more than 12 franchises. He linked back up with the Chiefs earlier this month as he began offseason workouts and trained with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Texas.
Rees-Zammit now faces a busy summer of training camps as he competes with fellow rookies to land a place on the Chiefs' 53-man active roster for the new season. Having only quit rugby in January, the 23-year-old has impressed with how quickly he has taken to his new sport with legendary coach Andy Reid explaining that while it is "not an easy transition", the Welshman has the right understanding and mindset to succeed.
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READ MORE: Louis Rees-Zammit starts new life in America as entire family to move with him
But while Kelce agrees that Rees-Zammit is a naturally gifted athlete and a "smart player", he has issued some words of warning to the rookie, claiming he is in for a "tough few months" this summer. Discussing the ex-Gloucester man's move with his brother Jason on their New Heights podcast, the tight end said he was relishing playing with the "suave" and "ballsy" Welshman but warned that he will be competing against those who have played the sport since childhood.
'It's going to be a humbling experience at first," he said. "It's not easy to just make that jump, they're two completely different games. He is an athlete and that's what the Chiefs saw. He's a smart kid, a smart player. So he's gonna be able to pick up the offense eventually.
"But it's gonna be a tough few months for him here while he's getting acclimated to the NFL. We've been doing this since we were kids, so we're gonna have those little instincts that we've built over the years that he's got to catch up with."
However, Kelce admitted he was a fan of Rees-Zammit, claiming he is "debonair" and "as suave as it gets". He added: "I really just enjoy the guy's energy so far. He's super excited about the opportunity that he's been given, knowing that not everybody gets these opportunities.
"He was an absolute star in the European rugby league he was in. So for him to make the jump and try and go from Wales to Kansas City, it's a pretty ballsy move and a pretty bold move to be making"
Both Kelce and Mahomes contacted Rees-Zammit soon after his signing was confirmed, with the former revealing the words of wisdom that he imparted to the former rugby star.
"The biggest advice I gave him was just try not to let it overwhelm you as much as it can, and know that everybody believes that you have the potential to be able to play," he said. "So absorb as much as you can, learn as much as you can in the short time you have before the season."
Someone who is just as excited about Rees-Zammit's trajectory is Jason Kelce, who - despite initially thinking he was French - told his brother that the NFL could have a potential new superstar in its midst, claiming he could become the most marketable player in the history of the sport.
"When I think of Welsh, I think British people call it 'posh'. I think of these rich, upper class, just beautiful white people," he said. "He is the running stereotype of what I would think of with a Welsh person. I don't know if that's an accurate stereotype but that's certainly what I think of and he's helping continue that trend in my mind.
"I'm excited to see what this guy does. I know it's gonna be a learning curve, but I hope this guy takes the world by f****** storm. It will be electric. With a smile like that, this guy... if he works out, he's gonna be the most marketable player of all time."
The Kelce brothers' endorsement comes after coach Reid spoke publicly about Rees-Zammit for the first time and revealed the Super Bowl champions' plan for the former Wales star. You can read more about that here.
