In 2015, English soccer star Harry Kane stated that he wanted to attempt playing as a kicker in the NFL at some point in the future. His recent remarks on the subject confirm that his intentions on that front remain the same.
“It’s something I want to definitely explore,” Kane said during an appearance on Good Morning America (video link). “I know it’ll be a lot of hard work. I’m not expecting to just walk up and start kicking field goals. It will be a lot of practice, a lot of hard work but, yeah, it’s something I’d love to do. The NFL is something I’ve been following for about 10 years now, and I love it. So, would love to give it a go.”
Kane has been with English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur since 2012, and has enjoyed considerable individual success during his career. He ranks second all time in Premier League goals, and has led the league in scoring three times. A mainstay in international competition, Kane’s 55 goals place him first in England’s history.
The 29-year-old has made it clear that any hypothetical move to the NFL would only come after his soccer career has ended. Given his age and production, it should be several years until he reaches that point, though only one season remains on his current contract. Aside from the obvious obstacles to his goal becoming reality, finances could represent a factor dissuading him from making a serious commitment to the NFL.
Kane has earned 10.4 million British pounds (nearly $13MM) in annual salary since 2018, a far greater total than any NFL kicker has ever made. Five players at the position currently average $5MM or more per season, while Justin Tucker is the league’s only $6MM-per-year kicker. Kane would thus be in line for a signficant step down in compensation (relative to where it currently stands, at least) if or when he were to end his current career in favor of an NFL gig.
Players with backgrounds in other sports (particularly rugby and Australian rules football) have had NFL careers, but Kane would face a considerable challenge in attempting to develop into a consistent enough kicker to remain in the league for any notable length of time. Doing so is clearly part of his long-term agenda, though, so his actions taken after his soccer career ends will be worth watching.
I could get behind this
cr7 should consider too. I wonder if any of these guys could be like way better than most kickers
different ball, but I wouldnt be surprised if Ronaldo could clip a 70 yarder
Ronaldo signed a $200 million per year deal with $75 million guaranteed per year. He ain’t kicking field goals anytime soon.
Why? Kicking in the NFL would be a major downgrade for Ronaldo in every way, even now. Only reason to consider coming to kick in the NFL is if you just want to try it, like Kane, and I doubt he follows through. He’ll have too much to lose out on until his playing ability significantly declines and he ages out of soccer.
It wouldn’t be about the money. It would be conquering a new sport. Of course, he’ll be paid if he makes a roster, but it’s more to challenge himself.
Good luck to him, cheers!
This guy is just kidding himself if he thinks he’s going to be a conqueror. Pete Gogolak earned that distinction when he brought soccer style kicking to the NFL in the mid 60s.
He’s already 29 and has never kicked a field goal at any level, this is a cool story I suppose but he has absolutely no chance
I’m an American but also a Spurs fan. If anyone can make it as a kicker under these conditions, itsHarry Kane. No one outworks him and he can drop passes and shots on a dime all around the pitch.
I think he wants to break the goal scoring record in the Premiere League, @Monkey’sUncle. Shame he’ll probably do it for Manchester United
Had great hopes for the Spurs, with Harry and Son. Thought Richarlisson would have done more
In any case, I wonder how serious Harry is with this comment
Kane wants to win trophies but he knows he will never win any at Tottenham — and Spurs will not sell him to any other club in the Premier League.
Real Madrid are being linked with Kane now that Karim Benzema is off to Saudi Arabia.
Yeah, true, and they’re going to sign Haervetz shortly (they can have him) but I’ll make a gentleman’s bet with you that he stays in the Premiere League. I get what you’re saying about the Spurs, but money talks, and Kane’s wishes count
Please don’t encourage him
Love stories like this.
Slow news day? This came out last week
Nigel Gruf did it for the Sentinels.
Lol…great comment!
He was wiry!
Yeah but I doubt Harry Kane smokes. So he’ll have to work on that aspect of his game.
As the article says rugby and Aussie rules players have done it but not soccer players.
In both of those sports you have an oval ball that you kick through post just like the NFL.
In football there’s just so much other bits to it beside kicking a ball. Not only is the ball a different shape but it’s all also about power and accuracy not bend or placement and weight. I think if any position was to do it, it would have to be a goal keeper. They actually work on kicking distance and accuracy
You make an interesting point about goalkeepers, who often do strike the ball with great distance as the ball is stationary on the ground. Strikers like Kane must combine athleticism and quickness with some level of accuracy, albeit at shorter distances than most American football field goal kicks. As you noted, Kane and other footballers would have to adjust to kicking a differently-shaped ball, but many have in the past, including the aforementioned-Pete Gogolak as well as Chris and Matt Bahr. The biggest obstacle to this story coming true is money; there’s NO WAY a striker like Kane is giving up that kind of money to channel his inner Bo Jackson (and even more so for Christiano Ronaldo).
KANE is certainly ABEL.
Kane will have no problem hitting it over the crossbar. Showed that at the World Cup.