Harry Kane Floats Idea of Trying to Become NFL Kicker, Making Move to MLS Later in Career

Bayern Munich striker and England men's national team captain Harry Kane told reporters on Wednesday that he is "fairly close" to signing a new contract. Still, he is considering a change toward the end of his career, with eyes on becoming an MLS striker and NFL placekicker, potentially at the same time.

"That is something I will try and look at a bit more seriously," Kane told reporters at St George's Park, where England was practicing Wednesday.

"It all depends on what happens in my career over the next five or six years, the motivation and what I want to do. The NFL is a lot more realistic than the golf one, let's put it that way."

Kane mentioned the possibility of becoming a pro golfer as well, but has admitted how difficult that would be at this point.

However, an MLS-NFL combination intrigues Kane.

"Maybe if I am in the MLS in the future or somewhere like that it might be a thing where you could connect the two, with the seasons," he said. "But it is in the back of my mind because right now, I am feeling that I want to play as long as I can here."

Kane certainly wouldn't be the first great international star to play in MLS, with Lionel Messi, Thomas Müller, James Rodríguez, Luis Suárez and Son Heung-min doing so currently (to name a few). David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Steven Gerrard, Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney, among others, preceded them.

Of course, playing in MLS and the NFL would be unprecedented. The MLS season runs from February to December, with a typical midseason break for various competitions like the World Cup and Leagues Cup. NFL campaigns run from September to February.

In theory, if Kane were to do both, he would probably play only the first half of an MLS season before fully focusing on the NFL as training camps roll around in late July.

It's also possible interested NFL teams wouldn't want Kane to play MLS either for fear of injury, forcing the star to choose one of the two.

Kane would also have to prove himself, of course, as a kicker. He already has the powerful leg, no doubt, but Kane would have to devote much of his time to the craft.

All told, the MLS-NFL dream might be tough for Kane, but if anyone can do it, it might be him.

It's also not unprecedented for players to play in two professional leagues at the same time, as Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders (MLB and NFL) did in the late 1980s and early 1990s.