New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has voiced his support for Harry Kane's long-held aspiration of becoming an NFL kicker. Maye spoke Thursday after practice at Bayern Munich's campus, where Kane plays his club soccer, and expressed optimism about the England captain's potential transition.
"It would be cool to see him try," Maye said. "He’s dealt with pressure, that's one of the biggest things about kicking in the National Football League is the pressure of it. He does that for a living. So, I don’t think he’d have any problem."
Kane, an England captain and longtime Patriots fan, recently became the first Englishman in 25 years to win soccer's Ballon d'Or award. He signed a contract extension with Bayern Munich that keeps him with the German club until 2029, making any immediate NFL ambitions unclear.
Maye, who has seen Kane practice kicking, believes the striker's experience with high-stakes soccer matches would translate well. "I think I’ve seen him maybe kick a few, and he looked pretty good," Maye said. "No doubt, he does that for a living, so I’m sure he’d be just fine."
Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little, who recently made a 57-yard game-winning field goal, suggested Kane's main adjustment would be shifting from a prominent role as a striker to the more specialized position of kicker. "You’re out there just to back everyone up basically," Little said.
Bayern Munich is celebrating its first Ballon d’Or winner in 45 years, and the first for any player at a German club since 1996. Patriots tight end Hunter Henry also expressed admiration for Kane, calling him "a dawg — lot of respect for Harry Kane."