Buffalo Bills sign former WWE wrestler and Olympic gold medal winner Gable Steveson – who was once arrested on suspicion of sexual assault

The Buffalo Bills have signed Gable Steveson, a former WWE wrestler and Olympic gold medalist who was once arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, in one of the most surprising moves of the NFL offseason.

Steveson, 6-foot-1 and 275 pounds, won gold in the 125kg freestyle competition for Team USA at the Covid-delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics and made one WWE appearance at SummerSlam in August 2021. He joins with a three-year contract. according to ESPN.

Speaking on Friday when his shock move to Bills was announced, Steveson said: “I have been fortunate to compete at the highest levels of competition in my sport, but I am looking forward to the challenge of seeing how my wrestling skills can translate into football. “I’m grateful to Coach (Sean) McDermott, (general manager) Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills organization for giving me this opportunity.”

In June 2019, Steveson was arrested on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct with another wrestler, Dylan Martinez, after a woman said she was raped and went to a hospital for treatment. Both were acquitted six months later due to what prosecutors said was “insufficient evidence.”

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman was reported by Associated Press in December 2019 said: ‘There are often conflicting versions of what happened and this case is no exception. In the interest of justice, there is insufficient evidence to fairly charge and prosecute this case. We appreciate her (the victim) courage in reporting this incident to the police.”

When news of his arrest resurfaced after he signed for WWE, Steveson – who was never charged – addressed the allegations in a statement Ringside News.

He said: “One of the challenges for me personally, especially in recent months/years, has been reading the criticism and attacks on my character by people who do not know me personally and my values.

“No charges were ever filed by anyone and the entire episode has been difficult for everyone involved.

‘In the future, hopefully people who don’t know me will see that kindness, respect and empathy are virtues that I take very seriously in my life.’

Steveson, 24, could now become only the second man to win Olympic gold and a Super Bowl, after Bob Hayes.

Hayes won 100m gold and 4x100m gold, coincidentally in Tokyo, in 1964, as well as the 1964 Super Bowl with Dallas Cowboys.

Steveson has been named by Bills head coach Sean McDermott to play on the defensive line. ESPN says other teams in the NFL were interested in signing Steveson.

He won two national championships and three Big-Ten Conference championships in wrestling, but did not play football.

But players from non-football backgrounds have found their way into the game before.

In another notable example this summer, the Kansas City Chiefs signed former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit.

Former San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates grew up playing basketball.