Roman Reigns Reveals He Would’ve Chosen Football Over Wrestling If Given the Chance

Roman Reigns is known to the world as one of the greatest WWE superstars of all time. However, the wrestling world might have not witnessed the magnanimous aura of its Tribal Chief if his love for American Football had led him to success.

Before ascending to his current status as 4th longest reigning WWE champion of all time, Roman Reigns pursued a career in football showcasing his athletic prowess as a defensive tackle at Georgia Tech and earning recognition as a first-time All-ACC player in 2006. Despite his collegiate success, Reigns faced disappointment when he went undrafted in the 2007 NFL draft.

But the Head of the Table secured a spot with the Minnesota Vikings that same year. However, his football aspirations were abruptly halted when he received a leukemia diagnosis during a routine physical, leading to his release from the team. Following a period of remission, Reigns attempted to revive his football career with the Jacksonville Jaguars but was ultimately cut during training camp.

Despite these setbacks, Reigns briefly found solace in the Canadian Football League before ultimately deciding to retire from football altogether.

In an illuminating profile by Harry Lyles Jr for ESPN, Reigns reflects on his football journey, offering insights into his experiences and receiving commentary from those who knew him during his time at Georgia Tech. In a candid moment, Roman admitted that had football unfolded differently, he likely wouldn’t have ventured into the world of professional wrestling.

“I wanted to have an impact on young men. I wanted to be the way Emmitt Smith and Michael Jordan and Joe Montana and the stars of when I was a child, the way they made me feel. I wanted to make other young athletes feel that way. But no matter what, it was either you’re going to be a wrestler, or you’re going to be a football player. A superstar of some sort.”

Looking forward, Roman Reigns is set to team up with his cousin, The Rock to battle Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on WrestleMania 40 Night 1. Following that, he is scheduled to defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Rhodes in the main event of Night 2 with stipulations based on the match result of Night 1.

What are your thoughts on Roman Reigns putting his football aspirations over wrestling? Sound off in the comments!