Who are some NFL players that were drafted by MLB teams?
Some athletes are blessed with the talent to excel in multiple sports- these NFL players were good enough in baseball to merit attention at the MLB draft.
The feats (and mega-contracts!) of exceptional professional athletes cause a lot of envy among mere mortals, and there are some of them who are lucky enough to have the talent to shine in more than one sport. Here are some big names in the National Football League who once caught the eye of MLB teams.
Tom Brady
Often called the GOAT of professional football, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady was a good catcher when he was still in high school. The seven-time Super Bowl champion was selected in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB Draft by the Montreal Expos. His love for football prevailed, and played this sport exclusively after high school.
Patrick Mahomes
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback comes from a baseball family, his father being former MLB pitcher Pat Mahomes. He played both football and baseball when he started studying at Texas Tech University, but eventually concentrated his efforts on football. Despite his clear choice of sport, the Detroit Tigers still selected him in the 37th round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
Russell Wilson
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson also played both football and baseball in college, and was drafted by the Colorado Rockies before his junior year at North Carolina State University. He juggled the two sports, playing minor league baseball in between college football seasons before he was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders took his ability to play both baseball and football to a whole new level- he holds the distinction of being the only player to ever compete in both a Super Bowl and a World Series. He had a nine-year part-time baseball career, starting with the New York Yankees in 1989, and ending with the Cincinnati Reds in 2001. He has been named to both the Pro Football and College Football Halls of Fame.
Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson reached an elite performance level in both football and baseball, becoming the only professional player to be named to the All-Stars in both baseball and football. He played for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, and the California Angels. The No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick in 1986 was named the MVP in the 1989 MLB All-Star Game.
John Elway
Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway was selected in the MLB draft as an outfielder two times- first by the Kansas City Royals in 1979, then by the New York Yankees in 1981. He was selected as the number one overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts, a team he didn’t want to play for. He thus used his potential baseball career to twist the arm of the Colts to trade him to the Broncos.