Tag: A.J. Francis

Ex-Giant signs deal to become professional wrestler with WWE

Former New York Giants defensive lineman A.J. Francis has signed a three-year deal with the WWE.

When a professional football player’s career is over, it is very common for that athlete to try their hand at professional wrestling.

A.J. Francis is the latest one to try their hand at making it in the squared circle, as the former NFL defensive lineman has signed a three-year deal with the WWE and will begin his quest to become a pro wrestler.

The 29-year-old, whose career in the NFL spanned from 2013 until 2018, was with the New York Giants in 2018, but was only on the practice squad and never played in a regular season game for the team. Francis was released by the Giants in September of 2018.

Once he was released, Francis immediately began training. He seeks to join some of the most well-known names in wrestling who were also retired football players; Bill Goldberg, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Brian Pillman, Ron Simmons, Baron Corbin, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and many others.

For one match, Giants Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor was in the main event of WrestleMania XI in April of 1995 and defeated Bam Bam Bigelow. Despite winning the match, it was the only time that L.T. would ever appear in professional wrestling.

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Report: Former NFL defensive tackle signs with WWE

A.J. Francis is going to using his physicality in the wrestling ring after time on the NFL gridiron.

A.J. Francis, a defensive tackle who spent time with three NFL teams, signed a three-year contract to join WWE on Tuesday, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

Francis was an undrafted defensive tackle from the University of Maryland who was on and off a number of practice squads. He a played a total of 193 snaps in nine NFL games, six with Washington, two with Seattle and one with Miami. Overall, Francis played/practiced with the Dolphins, Patriots, Seahawks, Buccaneers, Giants and Redskins.

“My parents had video of me cutting promos against Hulk Hogan since I was 18 months old. I’ve watched wrestling for nearly 30 years,” Francis, who turns 30 in May, told the paper. “The reason I moved to Orlando when I was in the NFL is because I knew when my career ended this is what I wanted to do.”

Francis also drove an Uber for extra income and entertainment during his tenure with the Dolphins.

A former Dolphins teammate, Brent Grimes, said Francis always had a greater passion for the ring than the gridiron.

“He loved wrestling more than he loved football. He’s big and athletic for his size, but most importantly he has the personality for it. Wrestlers are actors. They have big personalities, and that’s A.J.”