NFL Rumors: Olympic Gold Medalist Gable Steveson Cut by Bills After WWE Release

Mike Chiari@@mikechiariFeatured Columnist IVAugust 27, 2024

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The Buffalo Bills reportedly released defensive tackle and former Olympic wrestler Gable Steveson prior to Tuesday’s 53-man roster cutdown deadline.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Bills are waiving Steveson, but it “won’t be the end of the line for him” since he is a developmental prospect.

That suggests Steveson has a chance to land on the practice squad with Buffalo or another team while he continues to get acclimated to football.

Steveson won a gold medal in heavyweight freestyle wrestling at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and had a brief run in WWE before signing with the Bills in May despite having no previous experience playing football.

Listed at just 6 feet tall, Steveson is on the small side for an NFL defensive lineman, but he packs 280 pounds onto his frame and his strength is undeniable.

The former University of Minnesota amateur wrestling star saw significant action during the preseason, recording three total tackles.

After winning Olympic gold, Steveson had several options for his next step, including training for the 2024 Olympics, pro wrestling and MMA.

Steveson chose the pro wrestling path by signing with WWE in 2021, but he never quite found his footing.

He was thrust into a big spot at WrestleMania 38 by hitting Chad Gable with a suplex and celebrating with Randy Orton and others, but he disappeared from WWE programming for an extended period of time thereafter.

Steveson began appearing on WWE’s NXT brand in June 2023 and had his one and only official televised WWE match at Great American Bash in July 2023, fighting Baron Corbin to a double count-out.

WWE released Steveson in May 2024, and he signed with the Bills just a few weeks later.

Steveson was always a long shot to make the roster given his lack of football experience, but he undoubtedly has enough athleticism and physical ability to make him an intriguing and worthwhile practice squad stash.