There is often a conversation about whether certain athletes would be able to transfer their skills across different sports. It’s more common in the United States where there has been evidence of stars being able to bridge the gap with varying degrees of success.
NFL star Deion Sanders enjoyed a decent run in the MLB with the Atlanta Braves, while Bo Jackson also proved to be more than useful in the baseball arena as well as American football. Michael Jordan also tried his hand in adapting his basketball skills to the MLB, although it was not a fruitful venture for the GOAT.
German athletes have made the transition to playing in the NFL, notably the New England Patriots’ Sebastian Vollmer. However, it raises the question of how many players currently plying their trade in the Bundesliga would be good fits to play American football, basketball or the NBA. We’ll now look at three players who could rise to the challenge.
Wout Weghorst (Wolfsburg)
Standing at 6’6, Weghorst is an uncompromising center forward in the Bundesliga for Wolfsburg. He bullies defenders with his size and strength, and has predatory instincts in front of the net, notching 11 goals this season for Oliver Glasner’s men. His performances are a reason Wolfsburg is always an intriguing option in win markets when betting on Bundesliga with Paddy Power.
The 27-year-old certainly has the athleticism to thrive elsewhere. Weghorst could be a candidate to be a dominant center or power forward in the NBA. He has the size to match up with his opponents, while he will not easily be brushed aside in front of the net. The Dutchman also has the scoring threat to notch points when he needs to – a vital attribute of any NBA center.
Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)
Sancho has the flair, creativity, and speed to play in a number of roles. He has the mold of a point guard in the NBA, fitting the prototypes of a Tony Parker or Kyrie Irving.
However, the 20-year-old could easily fit into life in the NFL at either running back or wide receiver. At just under 6 feet, a career in the NBA might be beyond him and there are plenty of shifty wideouts that have been valuable resources for their respective teams.
Sancho has the quick feet and smarts to get open down the field and torment opposing defenses, perhaps emulating an Antonio Brown or Julian Edelman type of player. He would certainly be the best friend of any quarterback and would be a threat in the endzone.
Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
Neuer has the look of an NFL quarterback. Anyone watching the German throughout his illustrious career will have seen him come up with multiple clutch saves in between the sticks for club and country. He has been the model of consistency for Bayern and Germany, rarely making mistakes that have cost his teams.
At 6’4 he has the size of a quarterback, while Neuer also has deceptive speed that has allowed him to race off his line to deny opposing forwards.
The 34-year-old has lightning quick reactions to escape pass-rushers, while standing between the sticks will have armed him with a strong vision on the entire field. Neuer also has a big arm, tossing the ball out many a mile from the back. If there was a Bundesliga player to play as an NFL quarterback, Neuer would be the one.
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