LeBron James hasn’t played football for a long time, but that didn’t stop two NFL teams from offering him contracts to leave the basketball court and play tight end at the professional level. The Lakers superstar joined Peyton and Eli Manning on ESPN2’s “Monday Night Football” broadcast, and he said that the Cowboys and Seahawks extended him the opportunity to hit the gridiron during the NBA‘s 2011 lockout. James, of course, ended up sticking with basketball, but he said Monday the overtures of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll had him seriously pondering a move.
“I definitely thought about it,” James told the Mannings. “I still got the jersey they sent me … I wanted to be a red-zone specialist, like Gronk.”
LeBron previously revealed that he had tryout offers from both Dallas and Seattle but hadn’t confirmed how far those conversations with NFL teams went. Just 26 at the time of the NBA’s lockout, which delayed the start of the 2011-12 season, James also told NFL.com earlier this year that he’s confident he would’ve carved out a role in the NFL had he taken the Cowboys or Seahawks up on their offer.
“I would have made the team,” he said. “I would have tried out, but I would have made the team. One thing about it, I don’t mind working for something, so if I would have had to try out for the Cowboys or the Seahawks, or if I’d have stayed home and went back home to Cleveland, I’d have tried (out), but I would have made the team. I just know what I’m capable of doing on the football field. Especially at that age.”
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