Before LeBron James took the NBA by storm in 2003, when he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was a superstar athlete at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, where he played basketball and football.
Although James didn’t give too much thought to pursuing a career in the NFL because he was such a talented basketball player, some believe he could’ve had a career in football.
Apparently, James was talented enough, or at the very least, a major draw, that he was offered a contract by Dallas Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones in 2011 during the NBA lockout.
Obviously, James declined that offer, but it has led to many wondering whether he could’ve been in that same category as multi-sport athletes like Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson.
In a recent interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of Bally Sports, former NFL star Calvin Johnson shared his thoughts on James, the football player.
LeBron James playing at the tight end position in today’s NFL?
“He could’ve been GREAT!” says NFL Hall of Famer @calvinjohnsonjr on the Scoop B Radio Podcast.
“There are a few guys that can make the transition and just off the way that LeBron is built maybe he can make that… https://t.co/v3yiPl5HEt pic.twitter.com/r845lzqoaA
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) August 31, 2023
Johnson believes that James could play the tight end position in today’s game, but also thinks the current Los Angeles Lakers superstar would be nothing more than a blocking tight end in the game 20 years ago when he would’ve been drafted in the NFL.
It would’ve been interesting, to say the least, had James taken that offer from the Cowboys in 2011, as we’d have answers to these questions.
An athlete as talented as James likely would’ve made it work and possibly would’ve made some noise for the Cowboys at the time while raising questions about whether he should play both sports.
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