MLB: Retired All-Star Could Have Been an NFL Star, and You Won't Believe How He Chose Baseball

All-Star pitcher Jeff Samardzija, who retired in 2020, had the potential to be an NFL star.

Jeff Samardzija, a former All-Star pitcher, had the potential to shine in the NFL but ultimately chose to play professional baseball.

Sometimes, the fate of an elite athlete hangs by a thread as thin as the flip of a coin. Don't believe it? Just ask Jeff Samardzija, the All-Star pitcher who hung up his cleats in 2020 after a solid 13-year career in MLB. The story of how he chose professional baseball over football will leave you wide-eyed.

Imagine for a moment a physical marvel capable of throwing a blazing fastball while also having the skills to stand out on the NFL gridiron. That was Jeff Samardzija, an athlete with a bright future in both sports. He played football and baseball at the University of Notre Dame, making it clear that his talent was serious business on any playing field.

As revealed in an MLB Network broadcast, Samardzija's decision to focus his career on professional baseball had an origin as peculiar as it was unexpected: a coin flip. Faced with the crossroads of choosing between two promising paths, his fate was left to chance.

Samardzija, who donned the jerseys of the Giants, Cubs, White Sox, and Athletics during his MLB career, acknowledged that he had the potential to be an impact player in the NFL. His athletic abilities and competitive mindset made him a coveted prospect for professional football teams.

However, the coin dictated another path. The flip favored baseball, and Samardzija decided to chase his dream on the diamond. While the question of how far he could have gone in the NFL will always linger, his career in the Major Leagues speaks volumes about his talent and dedication.