Harry Kane has long expressed his desire to one day swap the football pitch for the gridiron — and now, the dream may not be far-fetched. The England captain and Bayern Munich striker, 32, has repeatedly said that becoming an NFL kicker is “always something that’s in the back of my mind.”
From Brady inspiration to NFL ambition
Kane’s love for American football began in 2011 when he watched a documentary on legendary quarterback Tom Brady. Since then, he has become friends with Brady and former Patriots star Julian Edelman. He attended the Patriots’ 2019 Super Bowl victory and told Good Morning America last year that he “definitely wants to explore” an NFL career after retirement.
Football writer Henry Winter even predicted Kane could be a kicker “within three years,” while Super Bowl champion Dustin Colquitt believes the transition is possible — and has offered to train him personally. “If he focused on it, he’d do fantastic,” Colquitt told BBC Sport.
Why Kane has an edge
Colquitt says kickers must deliver under pressure, comparing it to Kane’s penalty-taking record — 93 goals from 105 attempts in his senior career. “You only get one shot, and you better kill it,” Colquitt said. Kane agrees, telling Gary Neville that NFL kicks are “almost the equivalent of a penalty kick.”
A path others have taken
Several European footballers, including Austria’s Toni Fritsch, have successfully made the switch to the NFL. With current kickers like Harrison Butker and Cairo Santos still thriving — and veterans like Nick Folk playing into their 40s — Kane could yet follow suit. His Bayern Munich contract runs until 2027, leaving time for his American football dream to finally take flight.
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