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There are some people in the world that have been blessed with what many would suggest are inhumane abilities when it comes down to certain activities, with individuals being exceptional at a number of different things when others find it hard to be great at just one thing.
Indeed, some are brilliantly gifted when it comes down to sport, and with basketball and football season both set to get underway in the very near future, there are a number of professional NFL players from the past and present who have been able to be considered great at both games!
Here are just some of the best players who have decided to swap the court at the NCAA level and have made the switch to the gridiron, where they have made an impact for the teams that they have joined and represented.
Tony Gonzalez
Perhaps one of the biggest names on the list to have made the switch from basketball to football is Tony Gonzalez. A Hall of Famer and one of the greatest receivers to have ever played the game, the former tight end used to play as a forward for Cal’s basketball team whilst also playing as a tight end for their football team.
A former Kansas City Chief, who he did not manage to win the Super Bowl with but many will be backing as they have the best NFL odds to win it this year, Gonzalez was drafted in the 1997 NFL draft as the 13th overall pick and was awarded 14 Pro Bowl nominations in a career that saw him become second in the history of the NFL for career receptions (1,325) and sixth in career receiving yards (15,127) and career receiving touchdowns (115). In 2009, he joined the Atlanta Falcons before retiring after the completion of the 2013 NFL season.
Julius Peppers
Having played as a defensive end and an outside linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, Julius Peppers was a tough defender that offenses would typically want to try and avoid as much as they possibly could.
In addition to his ability on a football field, though, he was equally impressive at college level for UNC on the basketball court. He would help them to achieve a 22-14 record in 2000, whilst helping them to improve and go to 26-7 in 2001, before being drafted by the Panthers in the 2002 NFL Draft as the 2nd overall pick.
Jimmy Graham
Jimmy Graham was once one of the most in-demand tight ends in American Football at one point as he has managed to play for franchises such as the New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers, the current Chicago Bear player was once extremely effective on the basketball court in Florida.
Representing the Miami Hurricanes at the college level, he managed to play in the NCAA briefly before playing football in 2009. His performances caught the eye of scouts and saw him drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft.
Antonio Gates
Having attended four different colleges including Michigan State, Antonio Gates is perhaps one of the most famous NFL players to have made the switch to the gridiron from the basketball court after playing in the NCAA.
Having only just recently retired from a 15-year career with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers in 2018, many will know Gates as a top tight end that managed 8 Pro Bowl nominations throughout his career in Southern California, but many may not know that he was shooting hoops for Eastern Michigan and Kent State across a three-year period pretty successfully.
