Luke Fickell says Gable Steveson's NFL chances will depend on how much time Buffalo Bills invest

Luke Fickell is eager to watch Gable Steveson attempt an NFL career after a legendary wrestling career. 

The Wisconsin head coach is a former three-time state champion himself, so he loves wrestling. While he thinks Steveson can give himself a chance to make the NFL, like a guy like Stephen Neal, the lack of football experience can hamper him.

Still, Fickell will watch and not doubt the Olympic Gold Medalist.

“(Stephen Neal) came and worked out with us like myself and Mike Vrabel and those guys when we were leaving because it was a similar time,” Fickell said on Baschamania. “I don’t know Gable, I mean obviously I’ve watched him wrestle … Stephen played in high school. Stephen was six foot five, right? And then Stephen had room to grow to become an offensive lineman as he was and have an incredible future career in the NFL. My question is, how much time will they give Gable? How much work will they spend with him?” 

Fickell broke down the positives and negatives to Steveson’s freak athleticism and transition to football.

“Because there are some things where being really strong and powerful and quick that you can do, but there’s some things instinctually that make it difficult.” Fickell said. “So I’ll be watching. I know that I’m kind of curious about the mini camps and things like that to see how he does. If you really look at Stephen’s career. I mean, he made it on the practice squad and they moved him from defense to offense and let him grow and grow and grow and obviously ended up being really, really good. 

“So I’ll be curious, not playing in high school is going to be a little bit harder. His size, like we all know, can be difficult but it’s going to be about, you know, how much time will they give him and spend with him?”

Steveson initially retired from wrestling after the 2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships, after he won his second national title. The initial tease of a collegiate return came amid his victory at Final X where he earned the United State World Team spot at 125 KG. 

At the college level, Steveson finished with 86-2 over the course of four seasons at Minnesota. The 2020 campaign ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and he finished third at the 2019 NCAA Tournament.