BroBible
There have been a number of incredibly gifted athletes to compete in major US professional sports over the years. Few have had the option to pursue careers across multiple leagues.
For most, even securing a roster spot at the college level is out of reach. These superstars possessed a unique ability to excel while honing their skills in much different ways.
For this list, we’ll focus on players that were either drafted in two different professional leagues or suited up for teams in two different sports.
We will not focus on athletes that played one pro sport while representing the United States in the Olympics, though that, too, is an astounding feat. That excludes Herschel Walker (NFL, bobsled) and Bob Hayes (NFL, Olympic track).
Below are 13 past or present professional athletes that were talented enough to play in two (or more) leagues. We’ll start with one of the most recent.
Murray was a two-sport star at Oklahoma, where he won a Heisman trophy on the football team. Just before hearing his name called in New York, he became a first-round MLB Draft pick.
The quarterback eventually spurned baseball to pursue football. He became the Cardinals’ top overall NFL Draft pick in 2019.
Winfield was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 2001 after piling up 465 career home runs and more than 3,000 hits. He had his pick of the litter when it came to professional sports pursuits.
Winfield was drafted in four different leagues by the Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Minnesota Vikings (NFL), Utah Stars (ABA), and San Diego Padres (MLB). It seems he chose right!
Brown is arguably the best NFL running back of all-time. The Hall of Famer totaled more than 12,000 rushing yards across a nine-year career, leading the league in rushing eight times.
He also had the chance to go pro in the NBA after being drafted by the Syracuse Nationals in 1957. He was an All-American in both sports, as well as lacrosse while in college.
Conley competed in both baseball and basketball professionally following a two-sport college career at Washington State. In the MLB, he played 11 seasons in Boston, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia.
The pitcher compiled a 91-96 overall record with 13 shutouts and 10 saves. He played six years in the NBA, winning three titles with the Celtics.
Ward was not technically drafted in the NFL, but it was not due to a lack of talent. Instead, he’d already made his NBA intentions clear after having won the Heisman trophy and led Florida State to a national championship.
He boasted mid-round NFL grades but was a first-round NBA talent. Ward would go onto play 12 seasons as a professional basketball player.
Jackson played both professional baseball and football after starring in both sports at Auburn. The Heisman trophy winner was actually picked...
