IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Sam Navarro
England captain Harry Kane next to a football field goal
A number of soccer superstars have capped off their careers in the MLS, and it appears Harry Kane could eventually join that group. However, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be satisfied with playing a single sport in the United States, as he believes he’d be able to balance that job with one as a kicker for an NFL team.
Over the past decade or so, Harry Kane has cemented himself as one of the best (if not the best) soccer players England has ever produced.
The striker has scored more goals for their national team than any other player while anchoring the squad during three World Cup runs. Two of those have ended with the team losing in the semifinals, including 2018, when he secured the Golden Boot in his debut on soccer’s biggest stage.
Kane also scored more goals than any player who’d previously suited up for Tottenham during his time with the Spurs with the 280 he netted before taking his talents to Bayern Munich, where he’s played since 2023.
He’s on the verge of inking a new deal with the Bundesliga club, and while there’s no telling how long his pro career in Europe will end up lasting, he’s already considering a pretty bold pivot linked to what seems like an inevitable move to the MLS.
Harry Kane wants to land a job as a kicker for an NFL team while playing in the MLS
Lionel Messi, David Beckham, and Thierry Henry are some of the international superstars who’ve decided to head to the MLS in the twilight of their careers, and according to The Athletic, the 33-year-old Kane is already thinking about going down the same path at some point.
However, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be satisfied with playing a single type of football in the United States, as he floated the notion of supplementing soccer as a kicker in the NFL while speaking with the media on Wednesday.
Kane said he’s also flirted with the idea of playing professional golf (he has a handicap of two, which is nothing to scoff at but also nowhere close to PGA Tour level) but thinks playing in the NFL is “a lot more realistic,” saying:
“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, with the seasons…
I take penalties and it is a very similar pressure and technique. If I did that, in terms of training, I would be closer to that more than to any other sport…It is something I would take seriously. I would take six months to a year to try and practice before.”
Kane previously showcased his kicking ability while visiting the Giants training facility during the preseason in 2019, and he was able to drill a 50-yard field goal while there.
Harry Kane absolutely nailing a 50-yard field goal 🏈 pic.twitter.com/sKAZhoRWBH
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) July 5, 2019
Brandon Aubrey is probably the most notable example when it comes to soccer players who ended up as NFL kickers, as he played at Notre Dame and was drafted by Toronto FC before ending up on the Cowboys.
He’s not alone, as Lions kicker Jake Bates played soccer at Central Arkansas before switching to football, and Matt Gay of the Raiders did the same at Utah Valley before earning a walk-on spot at Utah.