Being great at one sport is already hard, but now imagine being excellent at two or more! These athletes have taken the definition of versatile to new heights by conquering the world of more than one sport. Here are incredible talents that stand out in more than one sport.
Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson is perhaps the most famous two-sport athlete in history. He excelled as a football player in the NFL and as a baseball player in the MLB. In addition, he became an All-Star in both sports! Jackson’s career was unfortunately cut short by a hip injury, but he is still known for his incredible athleticism all over the world.
Deion Sanders
Known as “Prime Time,” Sanders excelled as a cornerback in the NFL while also enjoying a solid MLB career, making him one of the most versatile athletes ever. Notably, he is the only athlete to have played in both a Super Bowl, where he won two titles, and a World Series in 1992.
Jim Thorpe
If you are looking for multi-talented, Jim Thorpe is your guy! He was the very first Native American to win gold for America at the Olympics in 1912, one in the pentathlon and one in the decathlon. He also played several other sports professionally, including football, baseball, and even basketball!
Michael Jordan
For fans around the world, he is one of the greatest basketball players in history. Did you know that shortly after his retirement in 1993, he shocked the world by signing a minor league baseball gig? While his baseball career was brief, it remains a memorable part of his storied career.
Charlie Ward
Along with many other honors, Charlie Ward won the Heisman Trophy for the Florida State Seminoles. However, he chose to pursue a career in the NBA instead of the NFL. In 1994, He went on to have a solid NBA career with the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets.
Babe Didrikson Zaharias
Babe Didrikson Zaharias was a trailblazing female athlete who excelled in more than seven sports! Winning Olympic gold in track and field and later dominating professional golf, she was also proficient in diving, bowling, softball, baseball, and roller skating. In her time, she paved the way for future generations of female athletes.
Julius Peppers
This legend is mostly known for his career in the NFL, a sport that brought him many honors. But, going back to his earlier years in school, he played as a power forward in basketball for four years in a row. He was also the first student in his school to win the state championship in track as a sprinter and jumper.
Jackie Robinson
Being the first African-American to play for the MLB, Robinson broke the racial segregation and color barrier in professional baseball. Before all of this, Jackie excelled in multiple sports, including football, basketball, and broad jumping in track and field, during his college years.
John Elway
John Elway, famous for his Hall of Fame NFL career as a quarterback, was also a talented baseball player. Drafted by the New York Yankees in 1982, Elway briefly pursued a Major League Baseball career before choosing football, where he became one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. His excellence in both sports made him a formidable player.
Jameis Winston
Before becoming an NFL quarterback, Jameis Winston was a two-sport star at Florida State, playing both football and baseball. Showcasing his versatility, Winston was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL and by the Texas Rangers for the 2012 Major League Baseball draft right out of high school.
Tony Gonzalez
Tony Gonzalez, a Hall of Fame NFL tight end, also played college basketball at Cal. He even beat out Tiger Woods to claim the title of Orange County High School Athlete of the Year. His combination of size, strength, and agility made him dominant on the football field, but his basketball background helped shape his career significantly.
Bob Gibson
One of the best pitchers in MLB history, Bob Gibson was also a talented basketball player. He even overcame illness in his early years to excel at both sports. Gibson played for the Harlem Globetrotters before committing fully to baseball, where he became a Hall of Fame pitcher known for his fierce competitiveness and legendary performances.
Kyler Murray
As the first athlete to get drafted into the NFL and MLB in the first round itself, Kyler Murray made history. Although he was drafted by the Oakland Athletics, Murray chose to become a part of the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, but he retains his rights to the contract if he ever wishes to go back to baseball.
Bob Hayes
A two-sport superstar, he excelled in both track and football. He won Olympic gold in the 100-meter sprint at the 1964 Summer Olympics and even secured a place at the Hall of Fame NFL as part of the Dallas Cowboys team, using his world-class speed to dominate opposing defenses.
Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson is best known for his Super Bowl-winning NFL career as a quarterback, but he also played professional baseball for the Tri-City Dust Devils and Asheville Tourists minor leagues in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Drafted by the Colorado Rockies, Wilson eventually chose football but has continued to dabble in baseball throughout his career.
15 Athletes Who Excelled at More Than One Sport