Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson, and Jim Thorpe. American sports legends. Men who changed the sports landscape forever. These men were sports players who dominated both football and baseball.
Another potential dual sport legend is brewing in Oklahoma: Heisman winner Kyler Murray.
Murray is a standout amongst his college sports counterparts. It is not because of the multiple trophies he has collected in college football this year. It is not the historic 50+ total touchdown season he just completed. It is not because of the 47 RBIs he had playing baseball this season. It is because he is arguably the best in both of these sports.
With the 9th pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, The Oakland Athletics selected Kyler Murray to be their next outfielder.
At Oklahoma, Murray was a standout player. He batted .296 and cranked out 47 RBIs. He led a mediocre Sooners team to 3rd place in the BIG 12 conference.
Though he is great at baseball, he did not become a household name until the 2018 CFB season started.
Taking up for last year’s Heisman winner Baker Mayfield, Murray had to prove he belonged. And that he did. He was responsible for 50+ touchdowns and led his Sooners to a number 4 ranking. Murray was everywhere. Throwing lasers in the end zone, scrambling in between defenders, and launching rockets deep down the field.
Though Kyler Murray was drafted very high into the MLB, he was not still fully committed to baseball. The Oakland Athletics also weren’t fully committed either. They only offered Murray a starting contract of around $2-3 million. This is normal because rookies might not be as good as the look in college; however, Kyler knows he will be amazing.
As Kyler picked up the attention of football owners and general managers around the league after the 2018 Orange Bowl, he demanded the Oakland Athletics pay up $15 million or he will declare for the draft. Hesitant with their decision, Murray declared for the 2019 NFL Draft.
Out the gate, Murray will definitely earn $15 million+ in the NFL. It is up to the Athletics to match.
With the potential to change American sports forever, Kyler Murray has to make a big decision: to play football, to play baseball, or become an American sports legend, like Deion Sanders, and play both.
