LeBron: Jones, Carroll offered me contract during '11 lockout

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James: Jerry Jones, Pete Carroll offered me NFL contract during 2011 NBA lockout

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 9/28/21

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James told Peyton and Eli Manning that he came close to playing in the NFL during the 2011 NBA lockout.

James joined the Manning brothers during their "Monday Night Football" broadcast and was asked if it was true that the Dallas Cowboys recruited him. Eli asked, "Any temptation to put the uniform on and go play for the Cowboys?"

The four-time NBA champion said both Jerry Jones, owner of the Cowboys, and Pete Carroll, head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, offered him contracts.

"It definitely got my blood flowing again," James said. "Got my mind racing again thinking about the game of football, being out there on Sundays."

"I still got the jersey too, that Jerry [Jones] and Pete Carroll sent me from 2011."

Imagine LeBron on the Cowboys or Seahawks @KingJames pic.twitter.com/boMLsl4Jes
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 28, 2021

James added that he envisioned himself as a tight end. "I wanted to be a red-zone specialist like [Rob Gronkowski]," he said.

James was a talented receiver in high school, playing for the St.-Vincent-St. Mary's football team. During his junior year, he caught 57 passes for 1,160 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was even recruited by several Division 1 schools for football.

James' numbers were great, but his decision to quit football and focus on basketball obviously paid off as he's undoubtedly a future Hall of Famer. The 36-year-old has won four NBA titles, four Finals MVP awards and four MVP awards in addition to being named a 17-time All-Star.

Still, it's hard not to think about what could have been.

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