KC Royals: NFL Stars Drafted by the Royals

Chiefs mascot War Paint gets ready to take the field. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Later tonight, the NFL preseason begins in earnest. Yes, the Hall of Fame Game occurred last weekend, but none of the major stars on either the Vikings nor the Steelers played. Finally, the NFL will get to put Tom Brady and deflated balls aside, with focus being placed upon an actual slate of action throughout the weekend.

While attention may shift away from baseball for a period of time around the country, that does not mean there is not a tie in to the National Pastime. Every year, we see football players selected in the MLB Amateur Draft, giving a team their rights in the event that football does not pan out. After all, why else would the San Diego Padres have drafted Johnny Manziel?

Even though the day of the two sport star is likely over, especially given how the NFL has become a year round entity of “mandatory” mini-camps, there was a time when players were involved in both sports, even become stars in each. The KC Royals, in their history, have had a few football players in their system, with the immortal Bo Jackson emerging as a potential superstar before his career was cut short due to injury.

Now, in honor of the official beginning to the NFL season, let us take a look back at those NFL players who were connected to the KCRoyals system, either toiling away in the minor leagues as a draft pick.

Next: The honorable mentions

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Bo Jackson

Bo Jackson is the player that is easiest to recall. His incredible feats, both on the diamond and on the gridiron, were the stuff of legends. He would hit tape measure home runs, scale walls, fire darts from the outfield to eliminate the thought of even taking an extra base and shatter bats over his knee. On the gridiron, Bo would run over would-be tacklers as though they were not there. Who can forget when he ran through Brian Bosworth, or ran down the tunnel after scoring a touchdown? Bo was a player unlike any other.

Unlike the other players on this list, Bo also played for the KC Royals. During his time in Kansas City, Bo produced a .250/.308/.480 batting line, hitting 109 home runs and stealing 81 bases. He was an All-Star, and finished tenth in the 1989 MVP ballot. Considering that Bo was just starting to become a polished product when his hip injury occurred, one has to wonder what he would have been had he stayed healthy.

As a football player for the Oakland Raiders, Bo was equally impressive. he had a career 5.4 yards per carry average, amassing 2,782 rushing yards in 38 games. Three times in his four year career, Bo led the NFL with the longest rushing attempt, scoring from 91, 92, and 88 yards out. He made the Pro Bowl in 1990, the same year that he was able to make his first postseason appearance. Unfortunately, that game would mark the end of Bo Jackson as we knew him, as his hip injury required his hip to be replaced.

One has to wonder if modern medicine would have saved Bo, or what he would have been had he focused exclusively upon baseball. Yet, in his all too brief career, Bo Jackson was a player unlike any other, and someone that still evokes awe from his athletic exploits.

Next: Before he was Prime Time

Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Deion Sanders

Back before he was ‘Prime Time’ or ‘Neon Deion’ or any other nickname that he gave himself, Deion Sanders was a legitimate prospect in both baseball and football. While we can easily picture him playing for the Atlanta Braves, and may know that he was drafted by the New York Yankees, his connection with the KC Royals is not as easy to recall.

Back in 1985, Sanders was drafted by the Royals in the sixth round of the 1985 MLB Amateur Draft, but chose to head to college. The Yankees took him in the 30th round in the 1988 draft, and within a year, was in the major leagues. He was later placed on waivers following the 1990 season, signing with the Braves in January 1991. While he never played a full season due to his football career, Sanders led the National League in triples in 1992, and twice finished second in stolen bases. Sanders is also the only person to score a touchdown in the NFL and hit a major league home run in the same week.

An NFL Hall of Fame player, Sanders could be considered one of the best cornerbacks ever to play in the league. He earned eight pro Bowl nods, while being named a member of the All-Pro First Team on six occasions. He ranks second all time with 19 touchdowns scored on either defense or special teams, is fourth with 1,331 career interception yards and is 24th all time with 53 career interceptions. He was truly a special talent as a defensive back.

Deion Sanders may never have played with the KC Royals, but there is a connection to the NFL Hall of Famer. The idea that the Royals outfield could have had both Sanders and Bo Jackson at the same time is certainly interesting to imagine.

Next: One of the greatest to never win a Super Bowl

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Dan Marino

Dan Marino is remembered as the strong armed quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, someone who had slipped in the draft and was taken with the 27th overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft, the sixth quarterback taken overall. Dogged my unsubstantiated rumors of drug use and a difficult senior season at Pitt, Marino came into the NFL determined to become one of the all time greats.

He did just that. While he never managed to win a Super Bowl, Marino still became one of the greatest statistical players in NFL history. He held numerous career and single season records, was named to the Pro Bowl nine times and was a six time All-Pro member, including three appearances on the All-Pro First Team. Enshrined in Canton, Marino was voted as the 25th best player in NFL history.

However, prior to his football career, Marino was considered one of the better high school pitchers in the country. He was so highly thought of that he was selected in the fourth round of the 1979 MLB Amateur Draft by the KC Royals, and likely would have gone higher in the draft if not for concerns that he would head to Pitt to play football. Nonetheless, the Royals offered Marino a $35,000 signing in hopes that he would change his mind and play baseball instead.

While one never knows what Dan Marino’s career would have been like on the diamond, one has to imagine that he made the correct decision in sticking with football. The KC Royals selection of Marino in the fourth round of the 1979 Draft is an interesting footnote to a spectacular career.

Next: Linked in two different sports

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John Elway

Dan Marino and John Elway have been linked together throughout NFL history. Taken in the first round in the 1983 NFL Draft, Marino and Elway were among the best at their position during their time, and are both amongst the all time great NFL players.

They are also connected to one another via the KC Royals. In the same 1979 MLB Amateur Draft, Elway was an 18th round draft choice by Kansas City. Two years later, the New York Yankees selected Elway in the second round of the 1981 Amateur Draft. A pitcher/outfielder, Elway did eventually play professional baseball in the Yankees system, posting a stellar .318/.432/.464 batting line with four home runs and 13 steals for the Oneonta Yankees.

For as bright of a future as Elway appeared to have in professional baseball, it is hard to argue with his decision to play football. Traded to the Denver Broncos after threatening to focus on baseball when he was drafted by the Baltimore Colts, Elway was the 1987 NFL MVP and was named to the Pro Bowl nine times. Considered one of the more clutch quarterbacks ever to play the game, Elway retired on top, winning consecutive Super Bowls and, in his final game, won the 1998 Super Bowl MVP award.

Dan Marino and John Elway were linked to one another throughout the NFL careers, two top players sharing the stage at the same time. Yet, what many people may not have realized is that they are also linked with their selections by the KC Royals.

Next: Lorenzo Cain's Season Among Best in Royals History