A Super Bowl champion has offered to help Harry Kane achieve his NFL dream of becoming a kicker in American football. Kane is shining for Bayern Munich having maintained his flying start to the season with a brace against FC Koln in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday night. However, the England captain has made no secret of his love and desire to play in the NFL one day.
‘I love it, so I would love to give it a go’
Kane recently made history by becoming the fastest player to score 100 goals for a team in Europe’s top five leagues. And while he continues to shine for the Bavarian powerhouse, the 32-year-old has previously stated that trying to become an American football kicker was “always something that is in the back of my mind”.
“I know it will be a lot of hard work. I’m not expecting to just rock up and start kicking field goals. It would be a lot of practice,” Kane said in 2023. “The NFL is something I’ve been following for about 10 years now. I love it, so I would love to give it a go.”
Football journalist Henry Winter has also speculated that Kane would one day go on to play American football when he retires. Ahead of Kane’s 100th-cap earning match for England, Winter speculated about what the future may hold for the former Spurs man.
“If I was taking a punt, as it were, I would say that within three years he’ll be a kicker in the NFL. He’s talked about it, he’s big mates with Tom Brady, and it has been done before,” Winter said last year.
‘He would do fantastic’
And one Super Bowl champion has offered to help make Kane’s dream a reality. Dustin Colquitt was part of the Super Bowl winning Kansas City squad in 2020 having followed in his father’s footsteps to become an NFL punter.
Colquitt spent 15 years with the Chiefs, but grew up dreaming of playing in the Premier League. Having played football at high school, the 43-year-old remains a huge football fan and believes Kane would “do fantastic” if he tried his luck in American football.
When asked if Kane could become an NFL kicker by BBC Sport, Colquitt said: “Absolutely, if he focused on it. He would do fantastic. I’ve seen some of his finishing skills.
“I would love to actually work with him just because I love soccer, and his excitement. He’s seeking this out – that’s part of the fibre of his being, that he wants to try this NFL thing.”
‘When he’s ready, I’m ready’
A punter’s job is incredibly important for an NFL kicker as the former holds the ball in place for the latter. As such, Kane would need an experienced punter in order to achieve his dream of playing American football professionally.
“The guy that holds for those field goals, that is extremely important – knowing where the laces [on the ball] are, should you’ve bought wind,” Colquitt added. “So when he is prepared, I am prepared.”
In 2021, Kane informed The Overlap that the kicks an NFL kicker makes are “nearly the equal to a penalty kick”. “Lots of people can rating penalties in coaching or kick it a great distance, however are you able to do it underneath stress when the second’s massive, when the sport’s on the road?” Kane informed Gary Neville.
“That facet is the bit the place possibly I’ve a little bit of a bonus over some youthful folks coming by way of.”
Kane would not be the primary footballer to play in NFL
Kane’s hopes of taking part in American soccer are boosted in that numerous former footballers have made the transition from skilled soccer to the NFL. Former footballer Toni Fritsch beforehand give up soccer at 26, whereas the Austrian acquired a 1972 Tremendous Bowl ring regardless of being injured.
Former Tottenham and England striker Clive Allen was 35 when he tried his fortunate with the London Monarchs in 1997. Present NFL kickers Brandon Aubrey, Harrison Butker and Cairo Santos have all performed soccer previously.
Kane is presently contracted to Bayern till 2027 however has been linked with a Premier League return in current weeks.
