“The WWE just wasn’t the right time,” he said. “I had a lot of competitive edge in me, and they knew that. And it was just not the time for it. So, maybe one day, if the stars align, it’ll be a great opportunity to do it again.”
That competitive edge led the wrestler to football, and when Bills coach Sean McDermott — a national champion prep wrestler himself — showed interest, Steveson found himself in Buffalo’s training camp. He played in all three preseason games, making three tackles and getting two quarterback hits before being cut.
The timing wasn’t right for Steveson to compete in this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, but the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles are on his radar.
“I would love to go to L.A. in 2028,” he said. “It’d be really good, especially with it being in America, having America’s best show up and win at the highest level.”
Steveson also could be tugged in another direction: mixed martial arts.
In preparing for his heavyweight title fight against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on Saturday, Jones went through some practice sessions with Steveson and came away impressed.