Former rugby star Christian Scotland-Williamson wants Pittsburgh Steelers roster spot one year after NFL switch
Former rugby union star Christian Scotland-Williamson says he is targeting a spot on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster as he begins his second year as an NFL player.
This month marks the first anniversary of the Brit signing for the Steelers via the International Player Pathway, after he left English Premiership outfit Worcester Warriors to pursue a career in American football.
The 25-year-old spent last season learning the game as part of the Steelers’ practice squad, but now has his eyes fixed on a place in the 53-man active roster, with the ultimate goal of making his professional debut this year.
“I'm trying to carve out my role across this year, that's the biggest thing,” Scotland-Williamson told NFL UK. “Last season I approached it as: ‘I need to try work out this thing called football, just be a sponge and learn everything I can.’
“But now that I've been through one year, I understand how to manage myself, what to expect. I understand what training camp's going to be like, I understand the flow of practice, the flow of the season.
“I spent extra time learning playbooks so now it's about trying to refine my skills and really compete for a spot.”
The path from rugby to American football is becoming a familiar one, with former England wing Christian Wade recently signing for the Buffalo Bills, and Scotland-Williamson says that although he misses the game where he first made his mark, he has no regrets over making the switch.
“It's been the most difficult but most rewarding year of my life, humbling too, especially when you go from the sport that you know how to play, that you're comfortable with, playing for 14-plus years, to then go right back to the beginning.
“But it's not like you're stepping in at an easy level, you're going in at an elite level, and it's a level that even players who've been playing from four years old don't get to play.
“So to step into that cauldron and be able to compete and grow, and then also deal with all the ups and downs and all the mental challenges, it was tough but it was extremely rewarding.”
