Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Former rugby player the 'Scottish Hammer' set to start for the Browns in the NFL

By Alex Shaw
Jamie 'The Scottish Hammer' Gillan

Whilst all rugby eyes on the NFL have been focused on Christian Wade of late, as well as former England 7s international Alex Gray and ex-Worcester Warrior Christian Scotland-Williamson, another rugby player has quietly been making moves in the league.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jamie Gillan, or as he is otherwise known, the Scottish Hammer, is just a day away from his professional debut.

Wade, in his first year on the International Player Pathway programme, was unsurprisingly cut recently, as the Buffalo Bills stripped their roster down to the requisite size of 53, with Wade taking a place on their practice squad.

The former Wasps flyer has two years of eligibility on the practice squad, with the Bills sanctioned to carry an extra player as part of the programme, on the proviso they do not promote him to the active roster during the regular season.

Video Spacer

Scotland-Williamson has the same designation with the Pittsburgh Steelers, whilst Gray is currently on the reserve/injured list at the Atlanta Falcons.

As ex-rugby professionals, all have drawn significant interest in their current career moves, although Gillan, who turned from rugby to American football whilst he was still in school, is in the frame for an important role with the Cleveland Browns this season.

The Browns picked up Gillan as an undrafted rookie earlier this year, with the 22-year-old not being drafted following the conclusion of his four years as a punter at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. According to reports, Gillan ruined three footballs with the strength of his punting during one pre-draft workout, but despite that impressive feat and a strong collegiate career, the Scot still went unselected in the 2019 NFL Draft. That is not unusual for punters, kickers and other special teams contributors, though, with very few teams putting a high enough premium on the positions to invest picks, particularly high ones, on them during the annual seven-round draft.

ADVERTISEMENT

A former rugby player at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, where he would have played alongside the likes of Zach Mercer and Stafford McDowall, Gillan moved to the US in 2014, where he attended Leonardtown High School in Maryland. From there, he received a scholarship offer to attend Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Gillan was recruited by the Browns shortly after the NFL Draft and from there has gone on to win the starting punting job at the franchise, displacing Britton Colquitt, who was a member of the Super Bowl-winning Denver Broncos side back in 2016. The 34-year-old was also a Pro Bowl alternate last season, singling him out as one of the best punters in the league.

Colquitt was cut last month, though, as Gillan did enough in his first ever professional preseason to convince the Browns coaching staff and GM John Dorsey that he is ready to start in the NFL.

The Browns have long been one of the NFL’s perennially disappointing franchises, although a host of draft picks in the last couple of seasons, as well as finding a potential franchise quarterback in the form of Baker Mayfield, has the side on a promising and upward trajectory of late, something which Gillan will now get the chance to contribute to.

ADVERTISEMENT

The former Merchiston Castle School pupil will get his first opportunity on Sunday, when the Browns host the Tennessee Titans in their regular season opener.

Watch: 

What Rugby fans can expect In Fukuoka at night during the Rugby World Cup.

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

T
Trevor 23 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Dean Richards set for return to rugby management Dean Richards set for return to rugby management
Search