LeBron James revealed in an interview that he considered joining the NFL. In 2011, James was exploring his options and the NFL was one of that.
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However, Bart Scott, former Ravens and Jets linebacker, had words about James’ interest in the NFL. Scott believed that he would have laid LeBron out, and knocked his teeth out.
Was LeBron James Going to Join the NFL?
Apparently during the 2011 NBA season, LeBron James received offers from several NFL teams who genuinely believed James could help their cause.
James also said he “seriously considered it” showing that there was a potential opportunity there. The teams interested in James included the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys.
James also played football during high school at St. Vincent Mary’s, so he had a football background to make the cut. Additionally, in his time at high school, James was a star receiver and he drew offers from Florida State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan and Florida, all big time schools.
LeBron Confident He Would Have Made An NFL Roster, But Was Bart Scott Right?
James not only drew interest from teams, but he also feels like he could’ve definitely made either the Seahawks or Cowboys teams. From the same interview, James also said the following:
“I would have made the team. I would have tried out, but I would have made the team. One thing about it, I don’t mind working for something, so if I would have had to try out for the Cowboys or the Seahawks, or if I’d have stayed home and went back home to Cleveland, I’d have tried, but I would have made the team. I just know what I’m capable of doing on the football field. Especially at that age.”
However, when James was called by teams for a potential tryout he was 26 years old, and he had last played football in high school. Thus, it makes sense why a former linebacker like Bart Scott would have some words about James joining the league.
Scott played in the NFL from 2002-12, playing with the Ravens from 2002-2008 and with the Jets from 2008-12. Scott definitely enjoyed some degree of success in NFL. He made the Pro Bowl in 2006, his best season where he posted 78 solo tackles and 9.5 sacks.
However, Scott may have had some difficulty bringing James down and “knocking his follicles off” as he said. James at 6’9″ towers over the 6’2″ ex-NFL linebacker, and he weighs a little bit more too. Additionally, James is one of the strongest players in the league, so there’s more than enough reason to believe he would have held his own against Scott.
However, NFL players do follow a completely different workout and strength training program than NBA players, so the physical differences may have been offset. While we’ll never know the true answer to whether Scott could have actually taken James down, it is something interesting to think about.
