WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Inside linebacker Nate Landman's football journey is a unique one. Having moved to Danville, California from Zimbabwe when he was 3 years old, Landman is proud of his heritage and has worn the Zimbabwe flag on his uniform in the NFL. He plans to continue that with the Rams, who signed him to a one-year contract on Wednesday.
"That is a huge part of my story, my family's story, moving here from Zimbabwe back in 2001, and to represent my family that's still over there and the country (where) I was born means a lot to me," Landman said.
Landman spent the first three years of his NFL career with the Falcons, starting 23 of 36 games. Los Angeles' recent success, proximity to home and familiar defensive scheme played a major role in his decision to sign with the Rams.
Last season, he played under former Rams defensive coordinator and now-Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on a defense that resembles Los Angeles'. Landman said he grew close with former Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, who was the Rams' assistant head coach in 2023 and returned to the team in 2025 as a senior defensive assistant.
"Coming back home was a clear choice," Landman said. "And then, I built a pretty strong relationship last year with Jimmy Lake. So all those things combined allowed it to be an easy decision."
"I am excited to have some familiarity with the defense, knowing kind of how we want to attack offenses, some of the scheme stuff, some of the verbiage. So I think that'll make an easy transition for me coming from a similar scheme."
Landman is a former undrafted free agent signing out of Colorado from the 2022 class who specializes in tackling and run stuffing. Over the past two seasons, Landman has 191 total tackles, six forced fumbles and seven tackles for loss in 29 games. When asked what skills he's excited to show Rams fans, Landman highlighted his physicality, passion and vocal leadership.
"I love this game and football is a violent sport and I love the physicality of it," Landman said, "especially as middle linebacker, you've got to set the tone."
Landman's father played professional Rugby, and coached him in football through high school. He said that has given him "an edge among some people," and instilled "different instinct (and) a different perspective," on the football field.
As football has moved away from head-first tackling, Landman said his rugby training has been helpful because that's the type of "wrap and roll" technique that he was taught from a young age. As a middle linebacker, tackling is one of his primary duties, and he's had a lot of success in that area as a professional.
Because rugby wasn't as popular in the United States, Landman started playing football at a young age, following in the footsteps of his two older brothers. It was the perfect fit for him.
"That's where I made all my friends, it's where it's kind of where my true personality came out because I'm a pretty calm guy outside football," Landman said, "but when I step in between those two lines, your attitude kind of changes."
