Kane's Next Goal? The NFL, and Why Ireland Should Watch
Harry Kane, the man tipped to lift the Ballon d'Or next month, has a plan for life after football. It does not involve a quiet retirement. The 33-year-old England captain has confirmed he will seriously explore a move to the NFL as a kicker once his soccer days are done.
Kane scored 73 goals for club and country last season, a campaign that ended with World Cup bronze and put him at the heart of the Ballon d'Or conversation. But even with Euro 2028 on the horizon, the Bayern Munich striker is already thinking about the next chapter. And that chapter, he says, could be written on an American football field.
Why is Harry Kane considering the NFL?
Kane has long been an NFL fanatic. His golf ambitions, he admits, fade with every trip to Wentworth. But the dream of becoming a placekicker remains very much alive.
“That is something I will try and look at a bit more seriously,” Kane said. “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.”
He sees a clear path. Brandon Aubrey of the Dallas Cowboys, widely considered the best kicker in the NFL, made the same switch. Aubrey played soccer professionally with Toronto FC before finding his calling in American football. Clive Allen tried it too, with the London Monarchs in NFL Europe. Kane, a more prolific scorer than either, believes his penalty-taking instincts translate directly.
“I take penalties and it is a very similar pressure, technique,” Kane said. “If I did that, in terms of training, I would be closer to that more than any other sport.”
What would Kane's NFL transition look like?
Kane is not naive about the challenge. He knows elite sport looks easy on television and rarely is. He would not rush it.
“If I was to do it, it is something I would take seriously. I would take maybe six months to a year of trying to practice before.”
He has not been approached by an NFL franchise, and he will not consider a switch anytime soon. But he leaves the door open for a future where the seasons might align.
“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 maybe with the seasons,” he said.
What does this mean for Kane's immediate future?
For now, Kane is fully focused on the present. He is loving life in Germany and confirmed a new deal with Bayern Munich is “fairly close.” He has no intention of slowing down.
“I think sometimes it is easy, you to get to my age, 33, you start thinking about retirement or the future, but I am trying to extract everything I can from the last two, five or 10 years, I will keep going.”
That drive is what makes him special. And it is why, when he does finally hang up his boots, the NFL might just be lucky enough to have him.
Frequently asked questions about Harry Kane's NFL plans
Is Harry Kane retiring from soccer?
No. Kane is not retiring. He is planning for the future and has said he wants to play at the top level for as long as possible. The NFL is a post-football ambition, not an immediate one.
Has an NFL team contacted Harry Kane?
No. Kane has confirmed he has not been approached by any NFL franchise about a move.
Could Harry Kane really become an NFL kicker?
Kane believes his penalty-taking skills give him a strong foundation. He points to Brandon Aubrey of the Dallas Cowboys as proof that the transition from soccer to NFL kicker is possible. He would take it seriously, with six months to a year of dedicated practice.
When would Harry Kane make the switch to the NFL?
Not anytime soon. Kane is focused on his career at Bayern Munich and England's push for Euro 2028. He has suggested a future move to MLS could make the transition easier, but that is speculation for now.
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