LeBron James has spent two decades rewriting NBA history, but the Lakers superstar admits his career almost took a very different turn. During the 2011 NBA lockout, James says he seriously considered swapping sneakers for cleats and even had an offer from the Seattle Seahawks.
In a recent conversation shared by DraftKings, James recalled how then-Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll personally reached out.
“During the 2010-11 NBA season, we had a lockout,” James said. “Pete Carroll was at Seattle. He reached out, actually sent me a jersey, told me to come to camp, told me to come out if you wanted a tryout, whatever the case may be.”
For James, who had long admired football, the invitation wasn’t just a publicity stunt, it was a real option at a time when the NBA’s future was uncertain.
Football: LeBron’s First Love
Before he became the face of basketball, James was a standout high school wide receiver in Ohio, drawing attention for his size, hands, and athleticism. Scouts at the time believed he could have been an NFL star had he pursued football instead of basketball.
That background made Carroll’s offer even more tempting.
“That was a pretty cool moment for me because my love for football and my love for the NFL runs deep,” James explained. “I actually had begun doing more football training drills, to see if that was even a possibility.”
A Real Consideration
James admitted that the idea of playing in the NFL wasn’t just a passing thought.
“Continue to still have like memories and dreams and things of that nature about playing a game of football. Because it was my first love. It was a real consideration. It was a real consideration for sure.”
This isn’t the first time James has revisited the scenario. Earlier this year, he discussed his football dreams on the New Heights podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce, again acknowledging how seriously he weighed the possibility.
Ultimately, the lockout ended, and James returned to the NBA, where he’s now entering his 23rd season and still chasing championships at age 40. But the thought of LeBron lining up in a Seahawks uniform remains one of the great “what ifs” in sports.
