It’s been an exciting year for Philadelphia Eagles fans who also enjoy WWE, as the two worlds continue to collide. In April, Eagles stars Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson made waves by appearing at WrestleMania in Philadelphia. Now, another former Eagle is making his own move into the world of professional wrestling.
Elijah Holyfield, the former Eagles running back and son of boxing legend Evander Holyfield, has reportedly signed with WWE. Holyfield is set to begin his wrestling career in WWE’s NXT development program. Before this, he had tried out for the company in the lead-up to SummerSlam 2023 in Cleveland, signaling his interest in pursuing a career in the squared circle.
Holyfield, who stands 5’10” and weighs 215 pounds, certainly has the physical attributes for professional wrestling. His muscular build and athleticism make him well-suited for the demands of the ring. He played college football at the University of Georgia before going undrafted in 2019, after which he signed with the Carolina Panthers. He later spent time on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad in 2019 and 2020, followed by stints with the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad in 2021 and 2022.
Despite his promising football background, Holyfield hasn’t been on an NFL roster since 2022, which likely led him to pursue a new career in WWE. The company frequently offers tryouts to former athletes, and Holyfield’s signing follows this trend of bringing in talent from various sports backgrounds.
It remains to be seen whether Holyfield can make the successful transition from football to wrestling. While the path is challenging, many former athletes have thrived in WWE, so fans are eager to see if Holyfield will be able to carve out a successful career in the wrestling world.
