Rugby League Superstar Jarryd Hayne Signs Futures Contract With 49ers

Former Rugby League superstar Jarryd Hayne—who quit in October to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL—just announced at a press conference that he has signed a futures contract with the San Francisco 49ers. This means that Hayne won't count against the 49ers 53-man roster limit for next season. Hayne said that his contract was worth $100,000—his rugby contract in Australia was worth about a million dollars—and that the 49ers see him as a running back and kick returner.

For months it has been assumed that Hayne would sign with the Detroit Lions, but over the last week something changed, and the Sydney Morning Herald reported earlier today that Hayne preferred the "lifestyle" in San Francisco over Detroit, which is probably the right decision for a guy coming from Australia.

Though it is hard to imagine a 27-year-old that has never really played the sport before being good enough for the NFL, if anybody can pull it off, it is probably Hayne. Here's a sampling of what he can do: