MLB All-NFL Team: The Best Football Talents Baseball Has to Offer

MLB All-NFL Team: Quarterback

–Ideal size: 6’2”, 225 LBs

–Skills: Arm strength, accuracy, elusiveness, savvy, leadership

Third-string QB: J.T. Realmuto – 6’1”, 212 LBs

Today, J.T. Realmuto receives the ball from behind home plate for the Philadelphia Phillies. Back in high school, however, he grabbed it from under center.

Realmuto was a first-team all-state quarterback out of Carl Albert High School in Oklahoma in 2009. He threw 20 touchdowns and averaged over 100 yards rushing his senior year. It just so happened that the same year he lit up the football scoreboard, he hit .595 with 28 home runs and 119 RBIs as a shortstop for the Carl Albert baseball team.

He chose wisely to pursue a career in baseball.

While watching him thrive as a MLB catcher, one can observe the characteristics of a quarterback. He’s a leader in the clubhouse, and his success in commanding pitching staffs and executing game plans proves his keen intellect.

In action, the former QB has swift feet and a quick release from behind the plate. Additionally, his arm strength and accuracy led to the highest caught stealing percentage in MLB in 2019.

Backup QB: Archie Bradley – 6’4”, 215 LBs

While Archie Bradley was mowing hitters down at an extraordinary rate as a high school pitcher, he was also dropping dimes on the football field.

According to 247 Sports, Bradley was the 15th-ranked Pro-Style Quarterback in the nation his junior year, rated as a three-star prospect. He was a member of the Elite 11 in 2010, which pinned him up against top-rated QB prospects – including Teddy Bridgewater and Jeff Driskel – in a resilient, last-man-standing competition.

Bradley committed to The University of Oklahoma to play football and baseball. Though, he took the shortcut to professional baseball after being drafted 7th overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of high school.

Observing Bradley from the mound, he has the build of an NFL quarterback. At 6’4”, 215 LBs, he heaves the baseball consistently in the 95 mph range. He has excellent control, and his wiry, fluid motion portrays an all-around athlete.

His MLB career has been a tremendous success, but he’s always kept football in the back of his mind:

"“I hope I get to play a long and healthy baseball career, but if I’m out of the game before 30, you’d better believe I’m going to be back in pads somewhere, at least giving it a try.” – Bradley told The Athletic"

Bradley recently joined the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent. He’ll be throwing to catcher and fellow Oklahoma football star J.T. Realmuto in a matter of days.

Starting QB: Byron Buxton – 6’2”, 190 LBs

As the #2 pick in the 2012 MLB draft, Byron Buxton’s baseball pursuit was a no-brainer. He hit .513 and stole 38 bases in 39 games during his senior year at Appling County High School in Georgia. His athleticism was far superior to anyone that shared the field with him. He stood out like a mustang among ponies.

Such claims remain true for Buxton, the football player. He made all-region as a quarterback his junior year and all-state as a defensive back and a wide receiver his senior year.

A 2012 Sports Illustrated article tells of the young man’s unfathomable abilities. How he casually launched a football 82 yards one day before practice. How his 3.89-second sprint from home to first matched Bo Jackson‘s as the fastest recorded for a right-handed hitter.

Buxton had full control of his destiny as an athlete. Had he voiced a desire to play college football, recruiters would have formed a line the length of a football field to get his John Hancock on an offer letter.

It is easy to view him as Lamar Jackson-like. With Buxton’s worldly talent, he could have won a Heisman trophy or two. He could be playing 16 regular-season games a year instead of 162.