Brock Rechsteiner, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Scott “Big Poppa Pump” Steiner, just got hit with a six-game suspension to kick off his rookie NFL season with the New Orleans Saints. This news dropped on Thursday afternoon, and it’s a brutal blow for an undrafted free agent trying to make his mark in the league. While he can participate in all preseason activities, including games, his suspension kicks in once rosters are trimmed to 53 players for the regular season. Talk about an uphill battle before he even gets a real snap.
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This isn’t just a minor setback; for an undrafted player like Rechsteiner, a six-game suspension for a substance abuse violation is a massive hurdle. He signed with the Saints after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, hoping to secure a depth option spot on the roster. Now, he’ll miss over a third of his first NFL season. The NFL’s substance abuse policy is clear: violate it, and you’re out. While the length can vary, a six-game ban is no joke, especially when you’re fighting for your career from day one. You’ve got to wonder what was going through his head.
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Rechsteiner played three seasons for Jacksonville State, where he racked up a total of 53 catches, 629 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns over 37 games. His best year was 2025, with 36 catches for 383 yards and five touchdowns. Those numbers are solid for a college career, but the leap to the NFL is massive, and he was already on the fringes as an undrafted free agent. Being the son of Scott Steiner, known as “Big Poppa Pump” for his massive physique, definitely gave him a recognizable name. But even with that pedigree, you still gotta perform, and you definitely can’t afford to be suspended right out of the gate.
This six-game absence means he’ll be away from the team once the season officially begins, unable to participate in any team activities until his suspension is over. For a depth option, that’s a huge chunk of time to be out of sight, out of mind. When he finally returns to the Saints, he’ll have a monumental task ahead of him just to prove he belongs. He needs to show the Saints coaching staff, led by Brian Fleury on offense, that he’s still a viable asset. What he does in preseason will be huge, but the real test begins after those first six games. He’s got to come back ready to absolutely dominate to have any shot at salvaging his rookie year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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