England captain Harry Kane told reporters at the national team’s training camp on Wednesday that he is giving serious thought to a future as a kicker in the National Football League. The 33‑year‑old Bayern Munich striker said the idea is still several years away, but he wants to explore it more closely as his soccer career evolves.
Why the NFL appeals to Kane
“That is something I will try and look at a bit more seriously,” Kane said. “It all depends on what happens in my career over the next five or six years. The NFL is a lot more realistic than the golf one, let’s put it that way.”
Kane highlighted his experience taking penalties as a natural bridge to place‑kicking in American football. “I take penalties and it is a very similar pressure and technique,” he explained. “In terms of training, I would be closer to that more than any other sport.”
Preparing for a possible switch
The England forward acknowledged that transitioning to a new sport would require dedicated preparation. “But, with all elite sports, when you watch it on TV, people make it look easy; you think it is possible, but that is not always the case. If I was to do it, it is something I would take seriously. I would take maybe six months to a year of trying to practice before.”
MLS as a potential bridge
Kane also floated the idea that a stint in Major League Soccer could help align the two sports’ calendars. “Maybe if I am in the MLS in the future or somewhere like that it might be a thing where you could connect the two maybe with the seasons,” he said.
There are precedents for soccer players making the jump. Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey was a first‑round MLS draft pick by Toronto FC in 2017, and former college soccer player Jake Bates now kicks for the Detroit Lions.
Current focus remains on Bayern Munich
Despite the NFL speculation, Kane’s immediate future stays rooted in soccer. He confirmed that contract talks with Bayern Munich are ongoing and an announcement is expected soon. “We’re in good talks,” he said. “There’s still some things that we need to iron out. I’m happy there. I think it won’t be too long before there’s some sort of announcement.”
While the English captain’s NFL ambitions are still in the exploratory stage, his comments add a fresh twist to the conversation about athletes crossing between the world’s most popular sports. Fans of both soccer and American football will be watching closely to see whether Kane’s potential transition becomes a reality in the years ahead.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
