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Roman Reigns has once again cemented his place on top of the professional wrestling world after defeating Cody Rhodes in WrestleMania 39. This victory prolonged his record-breaking reign as WWE Universal Champion and maintained his status as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
Before he became the “Head of the Table” who always reminded everyone to acknowledge him, he was simply Joe Anoa’i to Georgia Tech football fans. He became one of the Yellow Jackets’ captains during his senior year and played alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson.
Roman Reigns transitions from football to wrestling
Reigns went undrafted in the 2007 NFL draft despite being a three-year starter in college.
The Minnesota Vikings signed him, but he was released after his leukemia was detected. The Jacksonville Jaguars gave him a shot, but he was cut before the season started. After that, he played one season for the Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos before ending his gridiron career.
Reigns signed a developmental contract with WWE in 2010 and was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling, which was later known as WWE NXT. He rose to fame when he joined Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose (now Jon Moxley) to form The Shield.
Their stable debuted on the main roster in November 2012, and Reigns never looked back. He's currently in his second reign as WWE Universal Champion and fourth as WWE Champion.
Roman Reigns wears Georgia Tech’s uniform once again
Fast forward to 2018, and Reigns was one of WWE’s top draws, despite several failed attempts to win the Universal Championship.
Georgia Tech wanted to bank on his popularity to create noise for their uniform reveal. Anoa’i had gotten close to Yellow Jackets strength and conditioning coach John Sisk, as he would use the team’s training facility whenever he was in town.
Sisk pitched the idea to him, to which Reigns agreed. Georgia Tech coordinated with WWE regarding his schedule and gave the green light. With his appearance shrouded in secrecy, Reigns was ushered in through a service entrance.
As his entrance music blared through the venue, he appeared on stage wearing the team’s new white uniform trimmed with black and gold. He wore jersey 96, the same number he had during his collegiate playing days.
Roman Reigns reflects on football career during Georgia Tech's uniform reveal
He was paying it forward at the time, as he was part of the 2003 squad that benefitted from a new locker room after a multi-million renovation. He also approved the new uniforms, as shared in an article by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Ken Sugiura. Anoa’i said:
“Sometimes you can costume your identity, I think, and I like what we’ve done. We’ve taken the new school, and we’ve met it in the middle of the old school.
"And just being Georgia Tech, (with) the traditions that we have, I’m really happy that they kind of stuck to the wheelhouse of what we do and the traditions of keeping that (uniform) white. We didn’t go too far, but if you get right up on the uniform, there are little details that you do have that stuff.”
He also shared a light moment with former captain Roddy Jones and media personality Chris Cotter. Alluding to what might have been, here’s what he had to say regarding how many sacks he could have made in the new jersey.
“I’d probably be in the (Pro Football) Hall of Fame, retired,” Reigns said. “Me and Calvin would be just hanging out retired all the time, just the youngest guy ever retired.”
While his shot at the Pro Football Hall of Fame is over, Georgia Tech fans will never forget the terror Roman Reigns brought to opposing quarterbacks. With his lofty status in the professional wrestling cast in stone, a place in the WWE Hall of Fame is only a matter of time for Reigns.
How good was Roman Reigns in college football?
Roman Reigns, whose real name is Leati Joseph Anoa’i, was a menace at defensive tackle. He became a part of the 2006 First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference after finishing with 40 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. The year before, he had 25 tackles, 5.5 tackles for losses, and two sacks.
His efforts helped Georgia Tech do well as a unit. They ended the 2005 season with a 7-5 record under coach Chan Gailey, who went 5-3 against ACC opponents. Their victims that year were 16th-ranked Auburn and third-ranked Miami.
A year later, Roman Reigns helped the Yellow Jackets improve to 9-5 with a 7-1 record versus ACC universities. Unfortunately, they lost to Wake Forest in the ACC Championship and to West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. His defensive coordinator then was Jon Tenuta, who now coaches the United States Football League’s New Orleans Breakers.
