Home

NBA

“Who’s the Football Equivalent of Shaq?”: 4x Super Bowl Champ Named NFL’s Shaquille O’Neal

Published 01/24/2023, 4:50 PM EST

Follow Us

Ever imagined Shaquille O’Neal playing football? Although it is highly unlikely Shaq will ever step on the field, people have found his NFL equivalent. It is none other than NFL legend Rob Gronkowski. Gronk, as he is popularly known, is one of the most celebrated athletes in the NFL ever and has had a similar career to that of Shaq. In an Instagram reel featuring popular comedian Hasan Minhaj, the host, and the guest try to deduce why Gronk is the Shaq equivalent.

According to Julian Edelman, Gronk and Shaq have similar attributes such as being absolutely dominant during the game. Moreover, it seems the two also enjoy annihilating their opponents which makes Gronk similar to The Big Aristotle.

Former NFL star and comedian discuss the football equivalent of Shaquille O’Neal

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

With a 7-foot-1 inches tall frame and elite basketball prowess, Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal was destined to dominate the NBA. Safe to say, he did just that. Ever since his retirement and during his time in the league, there have been various discussions regarding the Shaq equivalent in other sports.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Games With Names (@gameswithnames)

According to Hasan Minhaj and Julian Edelman, the football equivalent is Rob Gronkowski. The 4 times Super Bowl champion was built like Shaq and dominated his opponents like the NBA legend.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

When Minhaj asked the question, Edelman promptly replied, “Gronk. Like when you would run by Gronk, it sounds like a f**king Clydesdale. You hear like (thumping sounds) and like, he would be giggling, laughing, guys would be bouncing off of him.”

READ MORE: “Shaq Never Gonna Grow Up”: Shaquille O’Neal’s Prank on Ex-NBA Star Has NBA Twitter “Crying”

Interestingly, Shaq and Gronk are great friends. A few years ago, the two collaborated on some fun games in a virtual format and the funds went to charity. Moreover, there are also numerous back-and-forths between the two legends on social media from time to time.

Who had a better career between Shaq and Gronk?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Rob Gronkowski has four Super Bowl rings to his name alongside five Pro Bowl titles and four All-Pro selections. Widely regarded as one of the greatest Tight Ends ever having 621 receptions, 92 touchdowns, and 9286 yards under his belt.

On the other hand, Shaq Diesel has four NBA titles, three finals MVP awards, a Rookie of the Year award, and 15 All-Star nominations to name a few. He retired averaging 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in his 20 years in the league. The margins between the two legends are too fine to distinguish the better between the two. However, considering Shaq has won more accolades, he does hold the edge over Gronk.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

WATCH THIS STORY: $400 Million Rich Shaquille O’Neal Used Elvis Presley Marilyn Monroe and Playboy to Earn Millions

Do you think Gronk is the Shaq equivalent? Let us know in the comments down below.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Abhinava Ghosh

1,823Articles

One take at a time

Abhinava is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor's in Journalism and Mass Communication. Abhinava has been following NBA for the past 6 years and is a huge fan of the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry.
Show More>