Harry Kane's NFL Dream: Can England Captain Become a Pro Kicker?

England men's football captain, Harry Kane, has been open about his ambition to join the NFL as a kicker when he retires from professional football. The 32-year-old Bayern Munich striker has been fascinated with the NFL for over a decade and has even befriended legendary quarterback Tom Brady.

Kane's interest in the NFL began when he watched a documentary about Brady in 2011, which inspired him to become a New England Patriots fan. He attended the Patriots' Super Bowl win in 2019 and formed friendships with Brady and Julian Edelman, both of whom are now retired. In a recent interview, Kane revealed that becoming an NFL kicker is "something I've been thinking about for a while" and that he's "willing to put in the hard work" required to make the transition.

One person who is willing to help Kane achieve his goal is former Kansas City Chiefs punter, Dustin Colquitt. Colquitt, a Super Bowl champion, believes Kane has the potential to become a successful NFL kicker. "Absolutely, if he focused on it, he would do fantastic," Colquitt told BBC Sport. "I've seen some of his finishing skills." Colquitt is not only willing to offer guidance but also to work with Kane directly, having held the ball for kickers during his time with the Chiefs.

Colquitt emphasized the importance of having an experienced holder when practicing kicking, as a bad hold can lead to disastrous consequences. "The guy that holds for those field goals, that is extremely important - knowing where the laces are, if you've got wind," he explained. Kane, who has a strong record of scoring penalties in football, believes his ability to perform under pressure could be an advantage in the NFL. "A lot of people can score penalties in training or kick it a long way, but can you do it under pressure when the moment's big, when the game's on the line?" he said.

While Kane's NFL ambitions may seem unusual, there have been instances of footballers making the transition to the NFL as kickers. Toni Fritsch, a former Austria footballer, quit football at 26 to pursue an NFL career and won a Super Bowl ring with the Dallas Cowboys in 1972. Other footballers, such as Garo Yepremian and Morten Andersen, have also made successful transitions to the NFL.

Kane's Bayern contract runs until 2027, just before his 34th birthday. If he does decide to pursue an NFL career, he'll be following in the footsteps of other footballers who have made the switch. With the help of experienced professionals like Colquitt, Kane may just have what it takes to become a successful NFL kicker.