5 Professional Athletes Who Could Play Multiple Sports
Tim Tebow has been running through the news cycle over the last 24 hours because he wants to become a professional baseball player.
Tebow, known for his success as a quarterback while playing for the Florida Gators, had a short career in the NFL and is now looking to fulfill his competitive juices by playing baseball.
If Tebow was able to make a professional baseball team, he would join the likes of Bo Jackson, Deon Sanders and Michael Jordan as athletes to play multiple professional sports.
There are a lot of professional athletes in today's world who could play a different sport than the one they are currently being paid to play.
Guys like Jackson or Sanders don't come around too often, but here are five guys who may be able to have success in multiple sports.
1. LeBron James: NBA ---> NFL
For years people have talked about James being able to play professional football.
He is 6-foot-8, 250 pounds and is one of the fastest players in the NBA. His size and speed would be perfect to play tight end.
Some of the greatest tight ends in NFL history have switched over from basketball. Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham all played college basketball before being drafted into the NFL to play tight end.
At this point, James is now 31 years old and is a bit too old to start a career in the NFL, but a few years back, teams would have dreamed about having the King at tight end.
2. Russell Wilson : NFL ---> MLB
Wilson is a Super Bowl winner and one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, but before he was a star throwing footballs, he was a professional baseball player.
Wilson was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007 and the Colorado Rockies in 2010.
After playing minor league baseball in 2010 and 2011, Wilson quit baseball and went back to college to play quarterback for North Carolina State.
He spent time with the Texas Rangers in spring training back in 2014 after the team selected the rights to Wilson in the Rule 5 Draft.
3. Jeff Samardzija: MLB ---> NFL
Samardzija has been a top right handed starting pitcher in baseball over his nine year career.
Before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 2006 draft, he was one of the best wide receivers in College Football while playing for Notre Dame.
From 2005-06, the 6-foot-5 wide out averaged 78 catches, 1,133 yards and 14 touchdowns.
He could have been drafted to play in the NFL, but decided a career in baseball would be a better option for him.
4. Usain Bolt: Track & Field ---> NFL, MLB, Soccer
He is the closest thing to being a super hero as we're ever going to see. He is the fastest man alive.
He can be used in so many ways in a number of different sports. Line him up at wide out and let him fly past the defensive backs. Bring him to the plate just to bunt and then steal second, third and home. Put him on the wing of a soccer field and watch him chase down a through ball.
If Bolt can catch a football, bunt a baseball, or kick a soccer ball, he could be a weapon in all of the different sports.
Speed never goes in a slump.
5. Vince Wilfork: NFL ---> WWE
Wilfork is a massive human being. The defensive tackle is 6-foot-2 and 325 pounds.
Once his playing career is over, he can take his big belly to the wrestling ring for a couple of body slams. Could you imagine Wilfork going one on one with a guy like Mark Henry or the Big Show?
Maybe even watch Brock Lesnar try to land a suplex on Wilfork?
He has the size, strength, quickness and personality to do be in the WWE.