Remember the electrifying speed of Tyreek Hill streaking down the field? Well, the Kansas City Chiefs might have found his heir apparent—and he comes from across the pond with a nickname to match: ‘Lightning’ Louis Rees-Zammit!

This Welsh rugby star traded his scrum cap for a helmet, shocking the sporting world with his NFL aspirations. And, it seems the gamble paid off—Rees-Zammit impressed at the International Player Pathway program, clocking a blazing 4.46-second 40-yard dash. That kind of speed caught the eye of the Chiefs, who officially welcomed him with a social media post declaring, “Rees-Lightning has arrived!”

But is ‘Lighting’ Rees-Zammit truly ready to challenge the ‘Cheetah’ himself? During a recent interview on the Chiefs’ YouTube channel, Rees-Zammit embraced his new nickname, acknowledging his reputation for speed on the rugby pitch. “I’ve run pretty quick in rugby,” he said, “so it’s time to see if I can replicate that in the NFL.”

While replicating Hill’s speed might be a tall order, Rees-Zammit’s focus is on earning the damned spot. “I’m just giving it my all on-field and trying to be the best player possible for the team,” the 23-year-old asserted. He’s already impressed coaches, and his athleticism could be a huge asset on special teams.

Dolphins star running back Hill is considered the fastest player in the league. While Chiefs’ Rees-Zammit ain’t as fast as Hill, his speed could be a great value addition, especially on kick returns. The Chiefs’ kingdom is hyped for this ‘Lightning’ rookie to take on the field, but can he take Hill’s speed throne?

Tyreek Hill vs. Louis Rees-Zammit’s speed 

Leaving cornerbacks grasping at air with his 22-mph touchdown run, Hill is crazy fast. But now that he’s taken his talents to South Beach, the question remains if the Chiefs’ running back rookie could claim his throne. 

Rees Zammit turned heads at the NFL Combine with a scorching sub-4.30-second sprint. And he even hit a mind-blowing 24.2 mph in a rugby match! Faster than the fastest in the NFL last season, that’s for sure. But hold on, Hill’s got a trophy case full of speed cred. Remember his 4.29 40-yard dash at his pro day? Boy, was that insane! Plus, he’s been in the top 20 in speed all year, even hitting 23.34 mph in the NCAA.

But can Rees-Zammit challenge Hill? Maybe not top speed yet, but the guy’s got raw talent. With new kickoff rules, speed like his could definitely flip games!