Before becoming one of WWE’s rising stars, Bron Breakker was chasing an NFL career. Born Bronson Rechsteiner, he played college football at Kennesaw State before getting an opportunity with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020.
The NFL stint did not last long, but it came after a productive college career and an impressive showing at Kennesaw State’s pro day.
Bron Breakker’s College Football Career
Rechsteiner joined Kennesaw State in 2016 and eventually became a standout running back. He finished his college career with 1,496 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 244 carries, while helping the Owls win two Big South Conference championships.
His senior season in 2019 was his best. Rechsteiner rushed for 909 yards and seven touchdowns on 112 carries, averaging 8.1 yards per attempt. He also ran for 221 yards and a touchdown against Missouri State.
His athleticism was another selling point. At his pro day, Rechsteiner reportedly ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash and recorded 35 bench-press repetitions.
What Happened With the Baltimore Ravens?
Rechsteiner went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft before signing with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in April. Baltimore viewed him as a fullback, but his opportunity ended during training camp when the team waived him on August 10, 2020.
He never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. With football no longer providing a path forward, Rechsteiner turned toward professional wrestling, following the family business established by his father, WWE Hall of Famer Rick Steiner.
He made his wrestling debut later in 2020 and signed with WWE in 2021. After arriving in NXT as Bron Breakker, he quickly established himself as a powerhouse and became NXT Champion twice before moving to the main roster.
Breakker has since become a key part of The Vision. He is currently one-half of the reigning World Tag Team Champions alongside stablemate Austin Theory, giving him another championship milestone in a WWE career that began only a few years after his NFL dream ended.
