Imagine Shaquille O’Neal dominating the American Football scene. Well, it was almost a reality! The Los Angeles Lakers legend was close to joining the NFL. Had it not been for one reason, football fans might have had the chance to witness the Dallas Cowboys fan take his skills and prowess to the gridiron instead of the hardwood. During the latest episode of ‘The Big Podcast with Shaq,’ the 4x NBA champion shared that his father also had some role in his choice.

During the conversation with guest, Kountry Wayne, the Big Aristotle shared the story with the listeners. When questioned about which position, he used to play in football, O’Neal said, “I started off playing football…I played tight end and I thought about going to the NFL.”

He revealed that his father once brought an article back home which detailed how one of the basketball players, Jon Koncak, earned 15 million over three years. That moment was when he decided to shift his focus to hooping. The basketball fans are fortunate that we were bestowed the Big Diesel.

“I was at the house on my father came in and hit me in the back of the head with this paper it was this player from Atlanta…his name was Jon Koncak and he signed the contract for 15 for three and my father went to watch him play. He was okay but I was already doing better than him in high school and I was like, had enough for football I’m going start playing basketball. That’s why I took that football physicality to basketball,“ revealed O’Neal.

While he played and thrived in the NBA, his passion for football remained alive in Shaq. His previous football skills shaped his career in the basketball world as well. The dedicated Cowboys fan even used to call Ed Too Tall Jones his father. Recently, he even had his farmland placed in a wager for the Cowboys. 

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Shaquille O’Neal is the biggest Dallas Cowboys fan

To show his loyalty and faith to the Cowboys, the 2000 NBA MVP had placed one of his precious assets as a wager. He boldly claimed that he would part with his 50-acre farmland if the team didn’t end its 27-season championship drought.

O’Neal proudly declared, “I live on a 50-acre farm right down here in Texas, if they don’t win the Super Bowl, you can have my farm,” he added, “Here is the paper to Tex Johnson’s farm. If we don’t win that Super Bowl, you can have it. You can have the deed and the trust, it’s all yours.”

Undoubtedly, quite a bold claim! What are your thoughts? Do tell us in the comments section below. 

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