Harry Kane NFL Kicker: Why England’s Captain Is Taking the Idea Seriously

The Harry Kane NFL kicker idea has floated around for years. This week, the England captain made it sound a lot more real.

He spoke at England’s St. George’s Park base on Wednesday, September 23. The 33-year-old said he will look at the NFL “a bit more seriously” later in his career. He also floated a twist: pairing a kicking job with a late-career move to MLS.

To be clear, no NFL team has offered Kane a contract or a tryout. He is still Bayern Munich’s star striker. But the Harry Kane NFL dream now has a rough timeline, a training plan and a possible path.

Why Does Harry Kane Want to Become an NFL Kicker?

Kane is a genuine American football fan. He has long admired Tom Brady and supports the New England Patriots. England teammates have even seen him play quarterback during a team warm-up game at camp.

The kicking idea is not new. Back in 2015, a 22-year-old Kane was still at Tottenham. Even then, he said he would love to kick in the NFL after soccer. He has also talked about pro golf as a dream, and he plays to a two handicap.

His reasoning is simple. Kane is one of the best penalty takers in the world. Kicking is the one NFL job built around a single, precise strike of the ball.

What Has Harry Kane Said About Becoming an NFL Kicker?

Kane’s latest comments came as England prepared to host Spain in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday. He said any decision depends on his next five or six years in soccer, including his motivation.

He also ranked his two backup dreams. “The NFL is a lot more realistic than the golf one,” he told reporters, according to Reuters.

Here is what separates his new comments from the old ones:

• He gave a time frame of roughly five to six years before any move.
• He estimated he would need six months to a year of dedicated practice first.
• He admitted elite athletes make hard things look easy on TV.
• He named a possible route through MLS instead of simply retiring.

Earlier, Kane mostly said he might explore kicking near the end of his career. Now he is talking about preparation, timing and logistics. That is a real shift, even if nothing is planned.

Why Does Harry Kane Think Soccer Skills Could Transfer to NFL Kicking?

Kane’s argument starts with penalties. He told reporters that taking spot kicks brings “very similar pressure and technique” to NFL kicking. He added that it is the sport closest to what he already trains for.

The numbers back up his calm under pressure. Reuters reported he has 85 goals in 121 England appearances, with 25 coming from penalties. He is the designated taker for both Bayern and England.

Several skills could carry over:

• Ball striking: hitting a precise spot with power, over and over.
• Repetition: kickers and penalty takers both live on routine.
• Pressure: few NFL kicks match a World Cup penalty for nerves.
• Mental prep: blocking out crowds and trusting one set motion.

Where the Two Kicks Differ

A soccer penalty and an NFL field goal are not the same kick. A soccer ball is round and sits still on the spot. An NFL football is oval, snapped by a long snapper and placed by a holder.

Everything happens fast. The snap, hold and kick must be done in well under two seconds while linemen rush the kicker. The ball must also rise over a 10-foot crossbar and split narrow uprights.

Distance changes too. A penalty is taken 12 yards out. An NFL extra point is a 33-yard kick, and long field goals now reach past 60 yards. Kickoffs add another skill set entirely.

Could Harry Kane Actually Play in the NFL?

Honestly, nobody knows yet, including Kane. His ability to strike a ball is elite. But the NFL kicker job is one of the most specialized roles in sports.

There are only 32 NFL teams, and most carry one kicker. Those jobs are usually held by people who have kicked footballs since high school or college. Missing a few kicks can cost a veteran his job.

Kane would also need to master football-specific mechanics. That includes his approach angle, his plant foot and his timing with the snap and hold. Game situations, like a last-second kick in a playoff game, are a different kind of test.

Age is part of the picture too. If Kane waited five or six years, he would be in his late 30s. Some kickers play well into that age range, but starting fresh then would be unusual.

Brandon Aubrey Shows That the Soccer-to-NFL Path Is Possible

Kane pointed to Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey as proof the switch can work. Aubrey’s route is one of the wildest in the NFL.

He won a national title as a soccer player at Notre Dame. Toronto FC then took him 21st overall in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. He never played for Toronto’s first team. Instead, he spent time in the USL with Toronto FC II and Bethlehem Steel.

After leaving soccer, Aubrey worked as a software engineer at GM Financial in Texas. His wife suggested he could kick field goals, so he started training with a private kicking coach. The USFL’s Birmingham Stallions drafted him in 2022, and he won two league titles there.

The Cowboys signed him in 2023, and he quickly became one of the NFL’s best kickers. He set a rookie record with 19 straight made field goals.

Why the Comparison Only Goes So Far

Aubrey proves a soccer player can learn this job. It does not prove Kane will. Aubrey was a center-back who switched in his mid-20s, not a striker in his late 30s.

Aubrey also spent years building up to the NFL. He trained privately for a couple of years, then kicked two seasons in the USFL. Kane’s estimate of six months to a year is much shorter.

When Could Harry Kane Try to Become an NFL Kicker?

Not anytime soon. Kane has said he wants to keep playing soccer at the top level for as long as he can. His own window of five or six years points to the early 2030s at the earliest.

His immediate focus is Bayern Munich. His current deal runs until June 2027, and talks on an extension are underway. This week, Kane said the two sides are fairly close and an announcement should come soon. As of September 25, Bayern has not confirmed a new deal.

He has been in record form, too. The Bundesliga champions have little reason to picture him anywhere else right now.

Could Harry Kane Play in MLS and the NFL?

This is the most talked-about part of his comments. Kane suggested that a future MLS stint might let him connect the two sports around their seasons.

It is an idea, not a plan. No MLS club or NFL team has been linked to it. Kane himself framed it as something in the back of his mind.

The calendars would be the biggest hurdle. The NFL season runs from September into February, with training camp starting in summer. MLS is also changing its schedule, which matters for Kane’s timeline.

Starting with the 2027-28 season, MLS moves to a summer-to-spring calendar. Games will run from mid-to-late July through MLS Cup in late May.

That means MLS and the NFL would overlap for nearly the whole fall. The one gap is a planned MLS winter break from mid-December to early February. That break lines up with the end of the NFL season and its playoffs.

Any club would also need to agree. Teams protect star players closely, and injury risk would be a real conversation. For now, the Harry Kane MLS and NFL combo is fun to imagine but far from real.

Harry Kane NFL Kicker FAQs

Does Harry Kane Want to Play in the NFL?

Yes. Kane has said he would like to try being an NFL kicker later in his career. He called it far more realistic than his golf dream.

Has Harry Kane Ever Kicked in the NFL?

No. He has never played in an NFL game, and no team has offered him a contract or tryout.

How Long Would Harry Kane Need to Train as an NFL Kicker?

Kane estimated six months to a year of dedicated practice before trying to compete. That is his own guess, not a coach’s assessment.

Is Harry Kane Leaving Soccer?

No. He plans to keep playing as long as he can and is in contract talks with Bayern Munich.

Could Harry Kane Play in MLS and the NFL?

Kane has floated the idea of combining the two, possibly by working around their seasons. It remains a possibility he mentioned, not an arranged plan.