Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson has signed with the Buffalo Bills, the NFL team said on Friday evening.
Steveson earned a gold medal as a heavyweight wrestler at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. He became the youngest freestyle wrestler to win Olympic gold in the super heavyweight division at 21 years, two months and six days.
He was signed to the Bills' practice squad and will compete for a spot on the defensive line.
"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, who has never played football before, told broadcasters ESPN.
He was one of the most dominant college wrestlers in the United States. Before joining the Bills, Steveson had a contract with wrestling promoters WWE, but was released last month after only one poorly-received televised match.