Can A NFL Player Play In The Nba

Can an NFL player play in the NBA? The short answer is yes, it is possible in theory. But in practice, it is extremely rare and very hard to pull off. The two leagues have different skills, seasons, and rules. Even elite athletes can struggle to cross over from pro football to pro basketball. In this guide, we break down how the rules work, what the challenges are, which positions might translate best, and what a realistic path would look like for a football player who wants to make an NBA roster.

What Does “Possible” Actually Mean?

Nothing in the NFL or NBA rulebooks absolutely forbids an NFL player from signing an NBA contract. There’s no joint rule that says, “You can’t do both.” People often assume it’s illegal, but that’s not true. The real barriers are practical: contract restrictions, team permission, insurance, scheduling, and the massive difference in skills each sport demands.

There have been famous two-sport pros in modern times—Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders—who played in the NFL and MLB. But doing it with the NBA is far rarer. The NBA requires refined basketball skills developed over many years. Size, speed, and strength help, but they don’t replace shooting touch, ball handling, defensive reads, and the ability to move in basketball-specific patterns at high speed without fouling.

Eligibility And Contract Rules

NBA Eligibility Basics

For the NBA, a player must meet age and draft requirements. A U.S. player has to be at least 19 in the calendar year of the draft and at least one NBA season removed from high school graduation. After a player is draft-eligible, he can be drafted or go undrafted. Undrafted players can sign as free agents in the NBA or G League. There are many contract options: standard NBA deals, two-way contracts, 10-day deals, and Exhibit 10 (training camp) contracts.

In short, an NFL player who meets the age and eligibility rules could sign an NBA deal if a team wants him and if his NFL contract allows it.

NFL Contracts And “Other Activities”

The NFL standard player contract and many team addenda limit “dangerous activities” in the offseason. Basketball is often listed or treated as a risk. Even if it’s not named directly, clubs can protect their investments by restricting what players do. Teams can also place a player on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list if he gets hurt doing something outside team-approved activities, which can affect salaries and guarantees.

In practice, if an NFL player under contract wanted to attempt the NBA, he would almost certainly need written permission from his NFL team. Without it, he risks violating his contract or voiding guarantees if he gets injured.

Two-Sport Pros Under Today’s CBAs

Neither the NFL nor the NBA flatly bans dual-sport careers. However, both leagues’ standard contracts aim to protect the team from unnecessary injury risk. An NFL player trying to play NBA basketball would be viewed as taking on significant risk that could harm his football performance. Meanwhile, any NBA team thinking about signing an NFL player would worry about that player’s football schedule, wear and tear, and overall availability.

Teams in both leagues will also look at tampering rules and communication limits. It’s not illegal to talk to a player’s agents, but any official steps have to follow CBA rules, timelines, and the player’s contractual status with his current club. Realistically, the cleanest path is to be a free agent (not under NFL contract) before signing with an NBA team.

Insurance, Physicals, And Medical Clearance

Switching sports isn’t just a paperwork problem—it’s an insurance and medical issue. The NBA team will require a full physical. They will consider past injuries, body composition, and whether the player can withstand NBA-level workloads. Insurance providers will factor in the added risk of a player who has spent years in a collision sport. On the NFL side, if the player is still under contract, the team would consider whether that NBA activity could threaten the player’s NFL season and insurance coverage. These behind-the-scenes issues can make crossovers hard even when both teams are open-minded.

How Football Skills Do (And Don’t) Translate To Basketball

Shared Athletic Traits

There are overlapping physical qualities that look promising on paper:

– Explosiveness: A wide receiver’s first step or a corner’s burst can help on drives and defensive closeouts.

– Vertical leap: Many NFL players have excellent verticals, useful for rebounding and shot-blocking.

– Lateral quickness: Defensive backs and some linebackers train footwork patterns that can help with switching and guarding on the perimeter.

– Strength and contact balance: Fighting through contact at the rim and holding position in the post require a strong base—something NFL players often have.

Basketball Skills You Can’t Fake

Despite shared traits, basketball requires years of skill reps that are hard to make up quickly:

– Shooting: Catch-and-shoot accuracy, quick release, and range are non-negotiable for modern NBA wings and guards. Even forwards need to be credible from the corners.

– Ball handling: Surviving NBA ball pressure means keeping a live dribble, changing speeds, and protecting the ball against elite defenders. That takes thousands of hours of practice.

– Rotations and reads: NBA defenses shift constantly. Players must read actions, tag rollers, stunt and recover, and communicate. Offensively, knowing spacing, timing cuts, and locating the next pass under pressure is essential.

– Foul discipline: Football rewards contact; basketball penalizes it. Learning to defend physically without fouling is harder than it sounds for collision-sport athletes.

Conditioning And Movement Patterns

NFL players prepare for short, explosive plays with breaks. NBA players perform continuous, high-speed movement, changing directions repeatedly over 48 minutes. The energy system demands are different. Also, the “motor memory” for basketball—sliding, closing out, backpedaling into a contest without reaching—takes time to sharpen. An NFL player would likely require months of basketball-specific conditioning to avoid fatigue, sloppy fouls, and lower-body overuse injuries.

Which NFL Positions Might Translate Best?

Tight Ends To Forwards

Tight ends often have frames and movement profiles similar to power wings or small-ball forwards. They can jump, catch, shield defenders with their bodies, and finish through contact. If a tight end played high-level basketball in college, he might have a head start on footwork, hands, and spatial awareness. The modern NBA values forwards who can switch on defense, set good screens, crash the glass, and finish lobs. A tight end could fit an energy big role—if he can shoot or defend in space without fouling.

Receivers And Defensive Backs To Guards/Wings

Wide receivers and cornerbacks/safeties bring speed, reaction time, and agility, which help at guard or wing. Corners might adapt to on-ball defense concepts, mirroring ball handlers and chasing shooters through screens. Receivers have great hands and leaping ability for backdoor lobs. But the big barrier remains shooting and ball handling. Without at least corner three reliability or slashing ability with a decent handle, a guard-sized player won’t make it.

Edge Rushers And Linebackers As Hybrid Forwards

Some edge rushers and linebackers carry the power and explosiveness of undersized NBA bigs. If they have enough agility and coordination, they might slide into a small-ball five or energy four role—setting screens, rolling hard, switching on defense, and cleaning the glass. Height is a limiting factor, though. At 6’2″ to 6’3″, the margin for error shrinks against 6’8″+ wings with 7-foot wingspans.

Offensive Linemen To Centers: The Height Problem

Offensive linemen are tremendously strong, but NBA centers are not just heavy—they are tall and long. At the NBA level, a center is typically 6’10” to 7’0″ with a long wingspan and quick leaping ability. Most NFL linemen are not tall enough or nimble enough for NBA rim protection and above-the-rim finishing. Even if an offensive lineman were tall enough, the lack of basketball reps would be a major hurdle.

Real-World Examples And Crossovers

Two-Sport Icons: Not NBA, But Relevant

Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders played in the NFL and MLB, proving elite athletes can compete professionally in two sports. Their success shows the concept isn’t impossible. But baseball and football require different skill combinations than basketball. The NBA’s emphasis on ball skills and continuous play makes the transition unique.

Basketball-To-Football Success Stories

While NFL-to-NBA is rare, the opposite path—basketball to NFL—has real examples:

– Antonio Gates: Played basketball at Kent State and didn’t play college football. He became a Hall of Fame-level tight end for the Chargers. His basketball footwork and body control translated beautifully to route running and contested catches.

– Jimmy Graham: A college basketball player at Miami who shifted to tight end and became one of the most productive NFL pass catchers of his era.

– Mo Alie-Cox: Played basketball at VCU, then made the Colts roster as a tight end. His hands, positioning, and physicality carried over well.

– Darren Fells, Rico Gathers, Demetrius Harris, and others made the NBA-to-NFL switch or came from pro/college hoops backgrounds to the NFL. This route is more common because NFL roles like tight end allow a basketball body to thrive with the right training.

Football Players With Real Basketball Backgrounds

Some football stars had serious hoops chops earlier in life:

– Julius Peppers: Played basketball at North Carolina while starring in football, then enjoyed a long NFL career as an elite pass rusher. He didn’t go to the NBA, but his two-sport college background shows how athletic overlap can look.

– Tony Gonzalez: Played basketball at Cal and became one of the best tight ends ever. His court vision and box-out skills reappeared in his NFL game.

– Other NFL players, like Rico Gathers and Mark Vital, spent major time in college hoops environments before entering the NFL. These cases demonstrate that if you’ve built basketball skills early, they can support a football career—and, in theory, could help you try a basketball comeback.

The Reverse Experiment: An NBA Player Trying NFL

Nate Robinson, a former NBA slam dunk champion, pursued an NFL tryout with the Seattle Seahawks as a cornerback in 2016. He didn’t make the roster, but the attempt highlights the challenge of crossing elite sports even for top-tier athletes. Flipping from NBA-to-NFL didn’t pan out, and NFL-to-NBA would be at least as tough, especially once a player is past his early 20s.

Historic Notes: NBA To NFL, NFL To NBA

Historically, there are a handful of examples of athletes who touched both leagues, but almost all of them played basketball first or only briefly. For example, Bud Grant played for the Minneapolis Lakers in the early NBA era and later played in the NFL before becoming a legendary coach. But a modern player going from NFL career to NBA contributor hasn’t really happened. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible; it just shows how steep the climb is in today’s specialized era.

Season Timing, Schedules, And Practical Conflicts

Season Overlap

The NFL regular season runs from September through early January, with playoffs in January and early February. The NBA runs from October through April, with playoffs into May and June. That means there’s significant overlap. An NFL player trying to join an NBA team midseason would be coming in tired, possibly banged up, and with no training camp reps. An NBA team would be cautious about adding someone who hasn’t been in their system or conditioning program.

Training Camps And Reps

NFL camps happen in late summer. NBA training camp starts in early fall, followed by preseason and then the regular season. Missing NBA camp makes it hard for a newcomer to learn team concepts, earn trust, and carve a role. For an NFL player, finishing a football season strong and immediately switching to NBA action is a huge load on the body and mind.

Offseason Work And Development Time

Developing NBA-level skills requires consistent reps: shooting hundreds of shots daily, refining the handle, and practicing defensive schemes. The NFL offseason is not long enough for a player to build those skills from scratch, especially if the player needs recovery time from the football season. Without a full year or more focused on basketball, the improvement curve is slow.

G League Realities

The NBA G League is the realistic entry point. A player from the NFL would likely need to showcase in the G League, where coaches can evaluate if he can defend without fouling, understand spacing, hit open shots, and survive the pace. It’s a great platform for a raw athlete to learn, but it’s still a big leap from football. G League games come fast, with complex schemes and a large pool of hungry, skilled basketball specialists competing for limited call-up spots.

What Would It Take For An NFL Player To Make An NBA Roster?

Height, Length, And Positional Fit

The NBA is a length league. A guard prospect under 6’3″ needs elite shooting or ball skills. Wings typically range from 6’5″ to 6’9″ with plus wingspans, and bigs often measure 6’10″+. An NFL player hoping to crack the NBA should ideally have NBA-caliber size for his role—something like a 6’6″ to 6’8″ forward with good reach and agility, or a 6’4″+ guard with speed and strength.

Shooting Competence

Modern NBA teams space the floor around stars. If you can’t shoot at all, you must be an elite defender, an elite lob finisher, or a rare playmaker. A credible corner three at 35%+ on low volume can keep you on the floor. An NFL player should pour time into form, footwork, and consistent release. Teams will test your percentage in workouts and scrimmages. Without that, you’re viewed as a non-spacing liability.

Defensive Versatility And Discipline

If you’re not a shooter, you must bring defense. Can you switch onto a smaller guard, keep him in front, contest without fouling, then rotate to tag a roller? Can you navigate screens, communicate coverage, and rebound in traffic? Coaches will forgive limited offense if a player consistently wins his minutes with energy plays and smart positioning.

Role Player Mindset

An NFL star might need to accept a humble NBA role: set hard screens, sprint the floor, cut, crash the glass, make the extra pass, and defend. Many football pros are used to being focal points. In the NBA, the best path is embracing a gritty job that supports scorers. Think “3-and-D” wing or “energy big” who screens, rolls, and rebounds.

The Age Curve

NBA teams prefer developing younger players because the learning curve is long. An NFL player in his late 20s has less time to build basketball-specific skills. It’s not impossible, but every year away from basketball can widen the gap. If a football player is serious, the earlier he starts reconnecting with basketball, the better his odds.

A Realistic Pathway For An NFL Player

Step 1: Clarify Contract Status

Review your NFL contract and talk with your team and agent. If you’re under contract, you may need explicit permission to pursue basketball activities. Without it, you risk your current deal. If you’re a free agent or retired from the NFL, the path is cleaner.

Step 2: Rebuild Basketball Skill And Conditioning

Work daily on shooting form, off-the-dribble rhythm, and catch-and-shoot from NBA range. Add ball-handling drills with pressure defenders. Hire skill coaches who regularly prepare G League and overseas players. Condition with basketball-specific drills—constant slides, closeouts, and multi-direction sprints—to avoid foul trouble and late-game fatigue.

Step 3: Get Real Game Reps

You’ll need live action. Start with pro runs, then semi-pro or overseas leagues, and aim for G League tryouts. Game film matters. Scouts want to see you read actions, defend without reaching, and hit open shots. Scrimmage success is helpful, but game tape against organized teams is crucial.

Step 4: Sign A Camp Deal Or G League Contract

An Exhibit 10 contract can bring you to an NBA training camp and connect you to a team’s G League affiliate. If you impress, you could earn a two-way deal or a call-up later. Coaches will test your ability to do simple things well: defend your yard, sprint the floor, set clean screens, make quick decisions, and stay within your role.

Step 5: Accept A Development Timeline

Even if you’re a world-class NFL athlete, the NBA won’t happen overnight. The goal might be a G League rotation spot first, then a 10-day NBA contract, then a possible two-way deal. Patience and daily improvement are key.

Which Current NFL Types Would Have The Best Shot?

Former College Hoopers

Players who played high-level college basketball—like tight ends in the Antonio Gates or Jimmy Graham mold—would have the best chance. They already have basketball muscle memory: post footwork, rebounding instincts, and feel for spacing. If they’re in the right size range for NBA forwards, they could audition as energy wings or small-ball bigs.

Long, Springy Defensive Backs Or Big Receivers

A 6’4″+ receiver or defensive back with long arms, quick feet, and a solid vertical might have a shot as a defensive wing if he can learn to shoot. Their path would be “defense-first rotation player”: guard the opponent’s best wing, crash the boards, and hit corner threes. Without the shot, NBA defenses will sag off and neutralize them.

Unique Outliers

Outliers do exist. A rare 6’8″ football player with real coordination and some shooting touch could become a situational bench forward after serious development. But this profile is rare in the NFL, and the time needed to polish skills is significant. Most NFL athletes are outstanding in their sport’s specific movement patterns, not in the continuous, finesse-heavy movements basketball demands.

Why We Don’t See It Happen Often

Hyper-Specialization In Modern Sports

Today’s pros specialize from a young age. NBA players often have 10,000+ hours in gyms before they’re 20. NFL players come up through specialized football programs. The overlap in general athleticism is real, but elite performance depends on skills refined over many years. Switching at the pro level means playing catch-up against the world’s best specialists.

Risk-Reward Calculus For Teams

An NBA team must believe the player can help relatively soon or has a development ceiling worth the time and roster spot. With a deep pool of seasoned basketball players available worldwide, signing an NFL player with limited recent basketball experience is a big gamble. Unless the player shows something special—elite defense, uncommon size-speed combo, real shooting—it’s hard to justify.

Contract And Insurance Complexity

Even when both sides are interested, the legal and insurance pieces are complicated. If the NFL player is under contract, permission is needed. If not, an NBA team still must be comfortable with the player’s injury history, body composition, and long-term availability. That complexity alone stops many experiments before they start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal for an NFL player to sign with an NBA team?

Yes, it is legal in principle. There’s no blanket rule stopping it. The main hurdles are contract restrictions with the NFL team, insurance, and whether the NBA team believes the player can help.

Could an NFL player do both leagues in the same year?

Technically, with contracts aligned and permissions granted, it could happen. Practically, the seasons overlap, the bodies need rest, and the skill demands are huge. Playing both at a high level in the same year would be extraordinarily difficult.

Can an NFL player get a 10-day contract?

Yes, if he’s a free agent and an NBA team is interested. A 10-day deal is a short-term look, often used to plug roster holes or reward strong G League performers. The player would still need to pass a physical and show basketball readiness.

Is the G League the best route?

Almost always. The G League lets teams evaluate the player against pro-level competition and gives the player real game reps to improve.

Do you have to be tall?

There’s no official height requirement, but the NBA is dominated by length and reach. Shorter players must compensate with elite shooting, speed, and decision-making. Without those, it’s hard to stick.

Has any NFL player successfully played in the NBA?

In the modern era, we haven’t seen a player build a notable NBA career after playing in the NFL. Historically, a few figures touched both leagues in various ways, but either the timing was different or they played basketball first. That context reinforces how challenging the transition is now.

Actionable Advice For A Football Player Who Wants To Try

Start With Honest Self-Assessment

Ask: Do I have NBA size for a wing or forward? Can I currently make 35%+ of open threes in workouts? Can I guard guards and wings in space without fouling? Would I accept a role as a defender, screener, and energy guy?

Build A Daily Basketball Plan

Prioritize shooting mechanics, footwork, and conditioning. Write a weekly schedule with volume targets (e.g., 400 catch-and-shoot threes per day, 30 minutes of handle work, 20 minutes of defensive slides and closeouts, plus film study). Track progress and film yourself to refine technique.

Find The Right Showcase Opportunities

Hire a trainer with G League/NBA pre-draft experience. Enter pro runs only after skill work shows progress. Pursue G League tryouts, overseas camps, and Summer League invitations if available. Collect game film to show decision-making, spacing, and defensive discipline.

Expect A Humble Start

Your first contract, if any, might be a training camp deal or a G League spot with no guarantees. Embrace the grind, and treat every rep like a job interview. Coaches love reliable role players who know their lane and play hard.

Myth-Busting: Common Misconceptions

“If you’re athletic enough, you can play any sport.”

Elite athleticism helps, but sport-specific skills are king. Shooting, ball handling, defensive timing, and feel separate NBA players from great athletes who don’t have thousands of basketball reps.

“Football is tougher, so basketball will be easy.”

Basketball is tough in a different way: more continuous movement, unique footwork, and constant decision-making. The mental and technical demands are different. Neither sport is “easier.”

“Teams will sign anyone who jumps high.”

Vertical leap is a small part of the puzzle. Teams want players who make the right rotation, can space the floor, and don’t kill possessions with turnovers or fouls. A high jumper who can’t shoot or defend schemes won’t last.

So, Can An NFL Player Play In The NBA?

The Short Answer

Yes—there is no absolute rule against it. But bringing it to life requires the right size, real basketball skill, a role-player mentality, and clean contract and insurance pathways. It’s not just about being strong or fast.

The Real Odds

In modern times, the odds are long. Most NFL players don’t have the recent, high-level basketball reps needed to outcompete specialists who have trained for basketball their entire lives. Still, if a player has a serious basketball background and NBA-size tools, a G League chance isn’t impossible. From there, strong defense, smart play, and reliable shooting could open the door to a 10-day or two-way deal.

Conclusion

An NFL player can play in the NBA in theory, but it’s incredibly rare for good reasons. Contracts, insurance, and scheduling make it complex. More importantly, basketball demands years of skill work that can’t be replaced by athleticism alone. The path most likely to work is for a football player with real basketball history—ideally someone with NBA-sized length—who commits to months of focused development, humble role acceptance, and G League proving grounds. If that player shows he can defend without fouling, knock down open threes, and execute team concepts, an NBA team might give him a shot. Without those boxes checked, even the best athlete will struggle to leap from the NFL into the NBA.