Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Bolt passed on football really fast
Usain Bolt is the fastest man in the world with nine career Olympic gold medals, but he previously declined the opportunity to add NFL wide receiver to his long list of accomplishments.
During an interview this week on the Dan Patrick Show, Bolt said NFL teams have contacted him about possibly playing wide receiver but he declined the offers.
“I’ve never really thought about going,” Bolt said, “but I’ve gotten offers and people have asked me.”
Bolt did not specify which NFL teams made contact with him about playing in the league. He did say one element of the sport he doesn’t like is the hard hits players take.
“I used to watch [football] when I was younger, and the hits that the guys used to take. I know that it is not as bad now, but the hits that the guys would take kind of turned me off,” Bolt said.
There is some precedent for an Olympic champion at least getting a tryout in the NFL. American Justin Gatlin took part in rookie minicamp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007.
In July, Gatlin told The Associated Press that his NFL experience was “so tough.”
“I would say that how track and field is built without a union and it’s a dog-eat-dog world,” Gatlin said. “That’s how it is to get into football. It’s the same thing: a dog-eat-dog world. I respect all those athletes who are trying to try out for teams.”