Playing both National Football League (NFL) and National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the biggest dreams for many athletes. It’s a rare combination to have the skills and physique to play in both leagues and make a name for yourself. While it is a rare occurrence, there have been a few players who have managed to make it happen.
Who has Played Both NFL and NBA?
Throughout the years, there have been a few players who have been able to play in both the NFL and NBA. Some of them have had short-lived careers while others have been able to make an impact in both leagues. Here are some of the most notable players who have played in both the NFL and NBA:
Bob Hayes
Bob Hayes was one of the most successful players to transition from the NFL to the NBA. He was an All-American at Florida A&M University before going on to play for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL. He was an 11-time Pro Bowl selection and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009. He also played for the San Diego Conquistadors in the ABA for one season before retiring.
Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe is often referred to as one of the greatest athletes of all time. He won gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Olympics and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963. He played for the Canton Bulldogs in the NFL and the Cleveland Rosenblums in the ABL before retiring in 1928.
Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders is one of the most famous athletes to have played both in the NFL and NBA. He was a two-sport star at Florida State University before being drafted by both the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL and the New York Yankees in the MLB. He played in the NFL for 14 seasons and was a Pro Bowl selection eight times. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers in the NBA and was selected to the All-Star team in 1996.
Brian Jordan
Brian Jordan was another successful player to have transitioned from the NFL to the NBA. He was an All-American at the University of Richmond before being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the NFL in 1989. He played for the Atlanta Falcons for nine seasons before signing with the St. Louis Cardinals in the MLB in 1998. He also played for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA for one season before retiring.
Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson is another famous athlete who played in both the NFL and NBA. He was an All-American at Auburn University before being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL in 1986. He also played for the Kansas City Royals in the MLB and the Chicago White Sox in the MLB before signing with the Los Angeles Raiders in the NFL in 1987. He played for the Raiders for four seasons before signing with the Chicago Bulls in the NBA in 1992.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is one of the most famous athletes to have played both in the NFL and NBA. He was an All-American at the University of North Carolina before being drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the NBA in 1984. He went on to win six championships with the Bulls and is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He also played briefly for the Birmingham Barons in the MLB before signing with the Washington Redskins in the NFL in 2001.
Kapri Bibbs
Kapri Bibbs is one of the more recent players to have played in both the NFL and NBA. He was an All-Conference selection at Colorado State University before being drafted by the Denver Broncos in the NFL in 2014. He played for the Broncos for two seasons before signing with the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA in 2017. He played for the Pelicans for one season before signing with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA in 2018.
Josh Gordon
Josh Gordon is another player who has played in both the NFL and NBA. He was an All-Conference selection at Baylor University before being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the NFL in 2012. He played for the Browns for four seasons before being suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL in 2019 and also signed with the Houston Rockets in the NBA in 2019.
Antonio Gates
Antonio Gates is another athlete who has played in both the NFL and NBA. He was an All-American at Kent State University before being signed by the San Diego Chargers in the NFL in 2003. He played with the Chargers for 14 seasons and was selected to the Pro Bowl eight times. He also played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA for one season in 2018 before retiring.
What Makes It So Difficult to Play Both NFL and NBA?
Playing in both the NFL and NBA is not an easy feat. It requires a unique set of skills and physical attributes that few athletes possess. Here are some of the reasons why it’s so difficult to play in both leagues:
- Different seasons: The NFL and NBA have different seasons and the seasons often overlap. This makes it difficult for a player to focus on both leagues at the same time.
- Different rules: The rules of the NFL and NBA are very different and require different skills. A player must be able to adapt to the different rules in order to be successful in both leagues.
- Different levels of competition: The NFL and NBA have different levels of competition. The NFL is more physical and the NBA is more finesse-oriented. A player must be able to adjust their game to the different levels of competition.
- Physical demands: The physical demands of playing in the NFL and NBA are very different. The NFL is more physically demanding and the NBA is more physically demanding. A player must be able to prepare their body for the different demands of each league.
- Different mental demands: The mental demands of playing in the NFL and NBA are very different. The NFL requires more mental toughness and the NBA requires more mental agility. A player must be able to adjust their mental approach to the different demands of each league.
Conclusion
Playing both the NFL and NBA is a difficult task that requires a special set of skills and physical attributes. There have been a few players who have been able to make it happen, but they are few and far between. It is an incredible accomplishment and one that should be admired.