Could Usain Bolt join the NFL if he wanted to?

Question

There have been other sprinters like Bob Hayes and Willie Gault who have done it

Answer 1

No, simply because there are no real variables in track, its you and the track in a straight line... in football too many things change, you have to move latterly and his speed many not translate.

Answer 2

Bob Hayes and Willie Gault played football as well as ran track.  Bolt to my knowledge has never played football.  Anyone that thinks just being fast will make you a football player has never played the game.

The track guys who tried to make the jump to football have all failed.

Answer 3

He could, but it takes a lot more than speed to play in the NFL.

Answer 4

Bret Favre + Bolt...COnverstation....run as fast as you can, I will throw it to you and you catch...TD!  No doubt if he can learn to play the game within a year keep his speed, learn to catch, take a hit, run in pads, and learn routes...I bet he'd make an excellent receiver, their wouldn't be a corner that could cover him with his height and speed lol.  Records would be broken.

Answer 5

Speed alone is not enough.  One needs to be able to run pass routes, get under the ball, and actually make the grab.  If he could not, the defense would stop taking him seriously and he'd be a liability.

Answer 6

Of course he could. He broke the two most storied records in track and field with relative ease. He is 6'5, 21 years old and any decent trainer could put 15-20 pounds on him. The real question would be could he take a strong safety such as Rodney Harrison layin a l**k on him. Also, he is from Jamaica. I doubt that he has ever touched a football in his life. But if he ever got bored from track and field, he could make the leap no doubt

Answer 7

ya but the question is if a NFL team would offer a contract

Answer 8

if he was good enough yes he could.  but he would have to pass combines and everything.  its more than speed, he has to have the muscle and talent.

Answer 9

Bob Hayes was a bona fide football player. Willie Gault hated contact and worried about getting his uniform dirty. Just because you can run fast doesn't mean you can play football. Otherwise, the draft would be flooded with members of track teams. It isn't. Ever wonder why Micheal Johnson, Maurice Greene or any number of track greats didn't play football?  

Answer 10

yeah but  bolt will be 22 tomorrow so since thats around the average age of a football player a little bit lower i think its 25 but unless he knows the game there is no way but if he played as a kid then maybe

but who knows no one knew he bolt was a year ago and know he is the fastest in the world supprising everyone almost as good as phelps preformance, cuz there are more chances in swimming and for a FACT bolt is the fastest man and phelps didnt even swim 100 or 50m swimming but if bolt was from america and phelps from jamacia we would be hearing more about bolt

Answer 11

this is America......he can do anything he wants.......

Answer 12

i say he can he just need a little practice if never played football before but he would be a unbeliveable receiver in the NFL we just have to give him a chance just like the other people in the NFL.

Answer 13

ha ha he is a runner from Jamaica not a nfl wanbie.

i bet he cant evan catch a ball

Answer 14

doubt it, he's such a raw talent, and i think he would get injured too quickly, now does he have the speed and strength? absolutely, but he's not used to taking hits, and would have to learn the entire game, i just dont see it happening

Answer 15

There is no way. He wouldn't have the patience to let guys hit blocks and open up gaps. He would just take off at a dead sprint everytime.

If anything, maybe a punt/kick returner.

Answer 16

Bolt can make good money on the international track circuit.  Track is a popular sport in Europe.

Times have changed when a sprinter needed to make a check by playing football.  As Bo Jackson demonstrated, a football player is always potentially one play away from a career ending injury.

Answer 17

Yeah and would probably fit best at wide reciever. He is capable of blowing people away but his skills would be very raw.

Answer 18

Sprinting is not football.  Most sprinters who go in to pro football are marginal at best.   Examples include Gault, James Jett and Michael Bennett.

Speed is a big part of football, especially receiver, but there is so much more.