The NFL is home to some of the greatest sporting names in history. Tom Brady, Jim Brown, Jerry Rice, and Peyton Manning are some of the hardcore names in the sport. They influenced a whole community to take up the sport and follow their dreams. Even the great Michael Phelps dreamt of becoming an NFL player. However, when he went to his mother for advice, she broke down the benefits of following a sport he excelled.

Phelps broke records in junior-level swimming competitions from a young age. At first, Phelps inclined his goals to football after watching his friends play the sport. During that time, Michael’s mother Ms. Deborah Phelps interfered and pointed out the problems of competing in the NFL. 

Michael Phelps’ NFL dream

Ms. Phelps did not stop him from playing football when Phelps came out with his suggestion. Instead, she focused on players who get to the NFL after working their way to the top. Of course, swimming is not a sport with less competition. But starting as a swimmer at a young age, he understood the blueprint to win. Therefore, his mom played a significant role in making him focus on the sport. 

“I told him, ‘Only a small percentage of varsity football players get a scholarship to a D-I school and an even smaller percentage make the NFL.’ Then I told him, ‘Think about what you have already accomplished in your sport and where you could possibly go.’ I thought the best way of teaching would be to explain his options and help him make the right choice,” mentioned Deborah, who inspired him to follow swimming.  

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Ms. Phelps was right in terms of players making it to the NFL. According to LeagueSide, only the top 8% of the top 1% of the top 1% of high school football players will make it to NFL. Likewise, the drop-offs from college to pros help players to understand a better perspective on how hard it is to make it to the next level. Only 1.2% of college-level players get drafted to the NFL. 

Positions he could play?

For a quarterback, it’s a dream to have a tall wide receiver with long arms like Michael on the flanks. Peyton Manning or Tom Brady would have been very interested in that prospect. The options were there for him to play several positions. As a center, his visualization would probably act as a catalyst to make game-changing offensive plays. His strength could have assisted him in becoming a middle linebacker. The options are endless. But, he stuck onto his roots and arguably became the greatest Olympian of all time. 

At the end of his swimming career, Phelps won 69 gold, 16 silver, and nine bronze medals in renowned swimming competitions. The astonishing legacy he established helped young swimmers to take up the sport. Probably, without him, swimming wouldn’t have become a famous sport globally. Do you agree?

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