World Cup 2026: NFL players at a crossroads who could have helped Team USA, including former All-Pro receivers
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- Team USA was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in a 4-1 Round of 16 loss to Belgium, a result sparked by goalkeeper Matt Freese's miscue on Belgium's third goal.
- Tyreek Hill, an 8-time Pro Bowler and 5-time first-team All-Pro, was listed among NFL athletes who could pivot to soccer; he tore his ACL and dislocated his knee in Week 4 of last season, and the piece argues soccer's pacing could extend his prime.
- Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2023 by the Indianapolis Colts, requested a trade this offseason after losing a quarterback competition to Daniel Jones and throwing just two passes in 2025; his 6-4, 244-pound frame was compared to Norway's 6-5 Erling Haaland, who has 7 World Cup goals — one behind Lionel Messi's 8.
- Jalen Milroe, drafted in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft by Seattle, has been stuck behind Super Bowl-winning Pro Bowl QB Sam Darnold; the article cites his 71 total touchdowns (39 passing, 32 rushing) across two Alabama seasons as evidence his speed and agility would translate to soccer.
- Taylen Green, a 2026 NFL Draft QB prospect, posted a 9.99 out of 10 relative athletic score at the Scouting Combine — the second-best by a QB in combine history — and registered 37 turnovers (20 INTs, 17 fumbles) since 2024, with evaluators already discussing a wide receiver conversion.
- DeAndre Hopkins was floated as a potential goalkeeper option, with NFL Media reporting his glove size is XXXXL and Hopkins saying people have compared his wingspan to someone 6-8 or 6-9 — a direct response to Freese's Belgium meltdown.
- Kadarius Toney logged the longest punt return in Super Bowl history (65 yards) but has not played in the NFL since a three-game 2024 stint with the Cleveland Browns, with the piece framing his speed as a fit for Team USA's attack.
Why it matters: The piece underscores a cultural gap the World Cup exposed: NFL games accounted for 83 of the United States' top 100 most-watched broadcasts in 2025, yet America's soccer team lacked comparable elite athleticism. For the 11 profiled players, soccer represents an alternative stage where stalled careers could continue producing highlight moments.
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