Once upon a time, before Roman Reigns dominated the WWE ring, he was a force on the football field. Not many know that Leati Joseph Anoaʻi, aka Roman Reigns, had his start in college football with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Roman’s football journey began at Pensacola Catholic High School and later at Escambia High School, where he earned the title of Defensive Player of the Year in his senior year. After high school, he continued his football career at the Georgia Institute of Technology, playing alongside NFL star Calvin Johnson.
As a Yellow Jacket, Roman was a standout player, earning first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) honors in 2006 with impressive stats like 40 tackles, two recovered fumbles, and 4.5 sacks.
Despite his college success, Roman faced challenges in the NFL draft. In 2007, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings but was unfortunately diagnosed with leukemia during a team physical, leading to his release. The Jacksonville Jaguars picked him up briefly in August 2007, only to let him go before the NFL season started.
Roman didn’t give up on his football dreams.
In 2008, he found a spot with the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Wearing the number 99, Roman played in five games, starting three, and showcased his skills with notable performances, including tying for the team lead in tackles and forcing a fumble against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in September.
However, Roman’s football journey came to an end when he was released by the Eskimos in November 2008.
Undeterred, he decided to pivot to a new career—professional wrestling.
In 2010, WWE signed Roman Reigns, and he made his main roster debut in 2012 as part of The Shield, alongside Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins.
Fast forward to today, and Roman Reigns is not only a wrestling powerhouse but also a legendary figure in the eyes of former NFL star Calvin Johnson.
Johnson, who played with Roman at Georgia Tech, praised him as a silent badass on the football field, someone you listened to when he spoke.
“He was just always like a badass, He didn’t say much, but when he did say something, you listened,” said Calvin Johnson speaking to TMZ.
Here’s a clip of Roman Reigns reflecting on the time he shared the field with Calvin Johnson:
Roman Reigns Recalls Playing with Calvin Johnson
📽:TMZ pic.twitter.com/QXp1WjKiuQ— Fileana2 (@Fileana2) December 25, 2023
Currently, Roman Reigns holds the WWE Championship four times and the WWE Universal Championship twice, among other titles.
He won the Royal Rumble in 2015 and earned the Superstar of the Year title in 2014.
Reigns has set records, including most eliminations in a Survivor Series match in 2013 and most eliminations in a Royal Rumble match in 2014.
As the 28th Triple Crown Champion and 17th Grand Slam Champion, he has achieved significant milestones in his career.
Reigns has headlined seven WrestleMania events and has been ranked No. 1 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s PWI 500 list in 2016 and 2022.
Despite initial audience disapproval when positioned as a heroic figure, his transformation into a villainous character known as “The Tribal Chief” and “Head of the Table” upon his return in August 2020 has been widely acclaimed.
