Those who have followed LeBron James closely know he was as equally talented at football in high school as he was at basketball. People often ask what would have happened had he gone further on the gridiron than St. Vincent-St. Mary’s receiver. Alas, he chose the hardwood, and the sports world is better for it. The closest we ever got to see him play football on a national stage came in a State Farm commercial:
Way before fully committing to basketball, James was recruited as a football player. Patrick Schmidt of FanSided resurrected a 2016 ESPN story of how Urban Meyer pursued James while he was Notre Dame’s receivers coach. What Meyer didn’t realize while making his pitch was that his recruit was turning far more heads in his other sport. That James was in attendance the night Meyers and Ohio State won the 2014 national championship had to be a small consolation.
Many believe James would have been a prolific NFL tight end had things gone differently. In an alternate universe, imagine him suiting up for the Irish along his journey. Could he have helped save Tyrone Willingham’s job or prolong Charlie Weis’ time in South Bend? We’ll never know, but that’s how it should be.