The former NFL draftee chasing USA Eagles ‘dream’ during Nations Cup

And with the 204^th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, legendary coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots selected Cassh Maluia from the University of Wyoming. That was the reward for years of sacrifice and hard work, as Maluia realised one dream before chasing another.

Maluia had given up soda and started doing regular push-ups at about 12 years old, channelling the “professional mentality” of doing extras on top of regular work. The linebacker ultimately spent time under Belichick at the Pats before signing with the Tennessee Titans on August 26, 2021.

But after being waived by the Titans, a close friend convinced the former NFL draftee to give rugby union a go. Maluia had never played the sport before, but was recently named as one of seven uncapped players in the USA Eagles squad for the World Rugby Nations Cup.

It’s been a little more than 1,775 days since the 27-year-old’s NFL journey came to an end, or just shy of five years, but the midfielder has already played in a Major League Rugby Championship game and is in the mix to debut for the national team.

“Being with the USA, it’s another huge step towards completing the full package of being a rugby player,” the uncapped Eagles prospect told RugbyPass.

“I think I speak for everyone; everyone would like to participate or go to the World Cup,” he added.

“But for me, it’s more so just working on the near future goals like working on my current skills and just being here, being present with the team, being present with the boys.

“Hopefully, along that journey comes a cap in the World Cup.”

Maluia’s journey to the elite level of two sports is even more remarkable than what the move from the NFL to rugby suggests, having not played any sports until freshman year at Paramount High School in California.

After graduating, the American football prospect agreed to wear the brown and gold strip of the Wyoming Cowboys at the collegiate level, making more than 195 tackles throughout a four-year stint with the NCAA program.

38 linebackers were taken at the 2020 NFL Draft, with Isaiah Simmons out of Clemson chosen eighth overall by the Arizona Cardinals. It was an important event for the Pats, who were looking to build towards a new era without star quarterback Tom Brady, who left before the draft.

The Patriots traded their first-round draft choice to the Los Angeles Chargers, with second-round and third-round picks going the other way. Lenoir-Rhyne Bears safety Kyle Dugger was the first of 10 players drafted by New England, with Maluia picked in the sixth round.

Reportedly, only 0.016 per cent of NCAA prospects realise their NFL dreams at the annual draft.

“It was during Covid so I was pretty much alone when I got the call, so I FaceTimed my family straight away and that’s when things got really emotional and that’s when things started to hit a little harder. Definitely blessed for that,” Maluia reflected.

“I’ve got four older brothers and one of them went to college but I wouldn’t say I’m the best football player in my family. Just for me to live that dream out for them and live that dream out for my parents and to be able to financially provide for my parents, there’s nothing more that I could ask for.”

Belichick was the Patriots’ head coach at the time, the mastermind behind a remarkable run of six Super Bowl triumphs over two decades. The eight-time SB champion, having won two as an assistant, is now with collegiate side the North Carolina Tar Heels after almost 50 years in the NFL.

Maluia worked under Belichick as a rookie and has taken some gems from that experience into other sporting endeavours. “He’s one of the greatest coaches out there,” Maluia reflected, when asked to explain what it was like to be part of Belichick’s Pats.

“Just being in the building all day long as a rookie, you lift every day. You just see why they’re the most winning team in NFL history, and it just makes you proud to be part of something like that, something bigger than each player there.

“Anyone who knows Bill Belichick [knows] he’s very straightforward. If something’s wrong on the film he’ll point you out in front of everybody, and obviously nobody likes that, but he’s just one of those guys that’ll get on you straight away.

“Just the business side of things is very cutthroat, so you learn to take things with a grain of salt and not take things personal.”

After leaving the Patriots and later the Titans, Maluia worked towards an opportunity with the American Raptors. The centre would go on to play for the Chicago Hounds, San Diego Legion and California Legion in Major League Rugby.

The former NFL star is officially a rugby player, following in the footsteps of his sister by taking up the sport, as she had played for Belmont Shore RFC. Maluia’s father was also quite the talent, as others pointed out over the years.

“I would always hear my dad’s friends at church like, ‘man, back then, nobody could tackle your dad, nobody could hang with your dad’ and stuff like that.

“I don’t think my dad pushed for rugby enough. I didn’t start playing any sports until freshman year of high school. In my high school there was no rugby. I’d heard of rugby, all my friends play rugby, club rugby, but I was just unfortunate to not play at all.”

Maluia started in six of 10 appearances for the Legion during the 2026 MLR season, which saw the new-look franchise reach the Championship game. But they were unable to overcome the Hounds in the decider, who secured a historic undefeated season.

But there was still plenty for Maluia to celebrate, rewarded for a standout season by USA Head Coach Scott Lawrence ahead of Nations Cup fixtures against Portugal, Zimbabwe and Spain.

Lawrence named the 27-game MLR talent in the squad for those three matches on home soil in July. John Rizzo, Julian Roberts, Lance Williams, Ma’ake Muti, Mason Pedersen and Perry Mayo were other uncapped prospects selected.

The USA kicked off their campaign in the new World Rugby competition with a nail-biting, thrilling 30-29 win over Portugal in Denver, with fly-half Chris Hilsenbeck holding his nerve to slot a last-gasp long-range penalty.

Maluia wasn’t chosen in the Eagles’ 23-man squad to take on Os Lobos but was still there to ride the highs and lows of the contest with the team. The USA had only led for two minutes earlier in the match before the match-winning kick late in the piece.

“Definitely a very surreal moment, despite being in the non-23, everyone wants to play obviously, but just being in the locker room after that and just feeling the energy the boys had, that camaraderie and everything, it was just amazing.” Maluia reflected.

“That definitely would be a dream come true,” he added when asked about the prospect of debuting.

“Not only does it motivate me to get on the field, but it also pushes me in training and in meetings and in the book.

“Just taking it each day, one day at a time and seeing where things go.”