Jake Paul's football ambitions met with brutal warning from NFL legend
Jake Paul's football ambitions met with brutal warning from NFL legend
Matthew NeschisThu, July 30, 2026 at 6:13 PM UTC
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Jake Paul expressed his desire to pursue a professional football career in the NFL -Credit:Getty Images
Atlanta Falcons legend Roddy White warned that Jake Paul will be in for a rude welcome to the NFL should the YouTuber-turned-boxer pursue a professional football career.
Earlier this week, Paul sensationally claimed that he’s spoken with several franchises about transitioning from the boxing ring to the NFL gridiron. "I have a couple of teams and coaches that I’ve already talked to that are interested in bringing me onto the team,” he said. “It’s really going to be quite easy.”
Paul proceeded to call out the widespread “mediocrity” throughout the league, adding: "I think there is a lot of super mediocrity in the NFL. A lot of not good athletes. Lot of people dropping passes on a consistent basis. I have better hands than them, I’m faster than them, I’m stronger than them, I work harder than them.
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"Really, all it’s going to take is just me after boxing practicing some routes."
Speaking to Hard Rock Bet, White advised Paul to think twice before taking his talents to the NFL, arguing that those around the league didn’t appreciate the 29-year-old’s unsubtle dig at football players.
“With the things he has said about NFL players in the past, I would advise him not to go out there,” said White, who enjoyed an 11-season NFL career with the Falcons.
“He’s been disrespectful to football players before, so it would not be good for him if he went out to play in the NFL. It could get really ugly when they put those pads on.”
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Roddy White warned that Jake Paul would receive a rude welcome to the NFL from fellow players -Credit:Getty Images
While White acknowledged that Paul is likely in good shape given his wrestling background and boxing career, the 44-year-old questioned where he’d even line up on the field.
“I don’t even know what position he would play,” White added. “I know he was a wrestler in high school before taking up boxing. I was also a wrestler, so I know he’ll have a good level of athleticism, which will maybe give him a chance.
“Maybe he could play linebacker, running back, or tight end, but I’ve never seen him catch. But I would say he wouldn’t make it in the NFL at this point in his life.”
Paul, to his credit, isn’t paying much attention to his doubters, likening the public reaction his NFL dreams generated to the reception he received in the early stages of his boxing career.
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"I mean, it’s pretty simple. Just like when I started boxing, it’s funny to see the tweet-and-deleters out there, the nonbelievers, the naysayers," Paul said.
As for which team Paul would like to play for in the NFL, the Cleveland, Ohio native said: "I mean I’d love to go to the Cleveland Browns, been a Browns fan my whole entire life. My mom is a diehard Browns fan and I think they could use some good receivers over there. No. 17, Browns, reserve the jersey now."
If Paul really is serious about playing football, White encouraged Paul to first showcase his skills in a league other than the NFL, such as the CFL or UFL.
“If he really wants to play, maybe he should look at playing in another league outside of the NFL,” White said. “I think he’d need to start there and work his way up to the next level.”
Source: “AOL Sports”
