Before he became the “OTC” in WWE, Roman Reigns was already tackling challenges—quite literally. Many fans know him as a multi-time world champion and a cornerstone of modern professional wrestling, but only a few are aware of his pre-WWE life. So, was Roman Reigns a football player before WWE? The answer is Yes, and the story is as intense as his spear in the ring.
Roman Reigns was part of a renowned Samoan wrestling dynasty from an early age. But, Instead of following a similar path into the ring as his Samoan cousins, Roman chose a different route and ended up in professional football—one that led him onto the gridiron. Driven by athleticism and a passion for sports, football became his primary career.
Roman Reigns’ Gridiron Journey: From Georgia Tech to NFL Hopes
Reigns wasn’t just dabbling in football—he was all in. After attending Pensacola Catholic High School and later Escambia High, where he showcased dominant performances on the field, he than moved to Georgia Tech. Roman Reigns patrolled the defensive line and teamed up with Calvin Johnson, one of the future stars of the NFL.
During his senior year in 2006, Reigns was named team captain. He ended the season with 40 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and was named to the All-ACC first team. For someone who would one day dominate WWE’s main event scene, he was already displaying star-level potential.
So, was Roman Reigns a football player before WWE? Without a doubt. He went undrafted in the 2007 NFL Draft but was quickly picked up by the Minnesota Vikings. Unfortunately, a medical issue cut his stint short. He was then signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars, but his time there also ended prematurely.
Still chasing the football dream, Reigns headed north and signed with the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League (CFL) later that year.
He appeared in five games for the Eskimos in the 2008 season, even starting a few as a defensive lineman. However, the dream began to fade. By late 2008, Reigns decided it was time to hang up his cleats.
“Football was my first love,” Reigns once shared in an interview with WWE.com. “It taught me discipline, resilience, and how to earn every inch. That mindset never left me.” Roman Reigns in an interview with WWE.com
Roman Reigns’ Shift From Football to WWE
Walking away from professional football wasn’t a failure—it was a turning point. Roman Reigns didn’t see it as the end of the road, but rather a new beginning. In 2010, he signed a deal with WWE and began training at Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), which later became NXT.
His athletic background, combined with his charisma and presence, made him a standout almost immediately. Reigns debuted on the main roster in 2012 as part of dominant Trio ‘The Shield‘ alongside Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, one of the most successful faction of the modern era wrestling.
The trio dominated WWE for years, with Reigns eventually emerging as the company’s top superstar.
Interestingly, Reigns’ football past helped shape his wrestling persona. The explosiveness, the physical conditioning, and the mental toughness learned on the football field got translated into his in-ring dominance performance.
His tackles became spears. His leadership on the field evolved into dominance in the locker room. And most importantly, his setbacks in football only fueled his rise in WWE.
Today, Roman Reigns isn’t just holding titles—he’s cemented his place as a true icon in WWE. But the roots of that greatness were planted long before he entered the ring.
