Sports Switching: Athletes Who Played Two Professional Sports

By Will Brown Contributor Updated: 20 January 2025

Will Brown Contributor

William Brown is a Content Writer with strong expertise in US and global gambling industry trends. Having covered the local sports betting market since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, William approaches his gambling guides with passion and diligence. He is a keen player of online slots, blackjack, and a regular sports bettor.

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Athletes Who Changed Sports

For some of sport’s most elite athletes, dominating one field simply isn’t challenging enough. There are several athletes who played two professional sports in modern history, with some making career switches so large they have shocked fans, pundits, and the wider sporting community. In this guide, we’ve looked at the most notable cases of sports switching in the modern sports era, covering the successes, disappointments, consequences, and intrigue that surrounded these decisions.

Intro to Athletes Who Switched Sports

Before covering the most famous pro players who changed sports mid-career, we have delved into the numerous reasons why these shifts occur. We have then covered eight of the most drastic shifts in athletic history, beginning with none other than Michael Jordan.

From there, we’ve discussed the career changes of everyone from Conor McGregor to Bo Jackson. What you’ll find is that the success rate of these shifts is unpredictable. While some quickly floundered under the new roles, others went on to become greats in their new fields.

• Why Athletes Switch Sports
• NBA to MLB: Michael Jordan
• MMA to Boxing: Conor McGregor
• Rowing to Cycling: Rebecca Romero
• NFL to MMA: Greg Hardy
• Cycling to Horse Racing: Victoria Pendleton
• NFL to MLB: Bo Jackson
• Other Switching Athletes

Pro Players That Changed Sports: Why Do They Do It?

There are no limits to why an athlete may want to change sport. In some cases, athletes have been forced into retirement due to an injury or poor performance, with the physical demands of the new sports more suitable to their hindered physicality. In other cases, athletes simply lose interest in their sport and want to find a new challenge.

There’s also the question of finances, with some icons being offered record amounts of cash to bring their profile to a new league. At times, the athletes who switched sports already had a deep passion and skill for the new sport and were inspired to try their luck at something different. The following examples tend to represent one or more of these motivations.

Michael Jordan

Of all the sportsmen who changed sports mid-career, none were more iconic than Michael Jordan. In 1993, Jordan made the leap from basketball to baseball, leaving the Chicago Bulls to sign with the Chicago White Sox’s minor league affiliate, the Birmingham Barons. What was most surprising is that Jordan had just won his third consecutive NBA championship before the move.

He cited his late father’s influence and his childhood dream of playing baseball as reasons for the unexpected decision, though it’s likely that he was also fuelled by his famous ambition to dominate. However, it wouldn’t be smooth sailing for Jordan on the field. During his single season with the Barons, he batted .202 with 3 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases.

Though Jordan never reached the major league and his performance was ridiculed at the time, looking back we can respect Jordan’s dedication to testing his limits. In 1995, Jordan returned to basketball and continued his dominance, winning three more championships with the Chicago Bulls and becoming the highest-paid athlete in the world at the time.

Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor’s transition from MMA to boxing garnered significant attention when it was announced. The Irish fighter’s charisma, trash-talking, and undeniable fighting skills had already established him as a global superstar in the world of MMA, so he seemed the perfect fit for boxing’s high-stakes world.

In August 2017, McGregor took on boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a highly anticipated and lucrative bout, aptly named “The Money Fight.” Though McGregor had no professional boxing experience, his confidence and fighting spirit were on full display during the event.

He entered the ring with a unique style, attempting to implement his striking techniques from MMA. Despite ultimately being defeated in the 10th round by technical knockout, McGregor’s ability to hold his own against a seasoned boxer demonstrated his commitment to pushing the boundaries of combat sports.

The fight generated enormous revenue, and as one of several high-profile athletes who played two professional sports, he created a bridge between the worlds of MMA and boxing. This crossover event also expanded McGregor’s personal brand, solidifying him as a versatile and daring athlete unafraid to take risks.

Rebecca Romero

English athlete Rebecca Romero is one of the most successful athletes to change careers, winning Olympic medals for both her pursuits. After winning silver for rowing at Athens in 2004 and becoming World Champion in 2005, Romero transitioned into cycling.

Romero cited a back injury and interest in a new challenge for the change at the peak of her career. Amazingly, it didn’t take long for her to find success on the velodrome. In 2006, Romero won a silver at the Track World Cup, following it with a silver in 2007 at the Cycling World Championship.

The following year saw her win the individual and team pursuits at the 2008 Track Cycling World Championships. In 2008, Romero became the second woman to medal in two different Olympic sports. To viewers’ surprise, she won gold in Beijing’s individual pursuit race, proving that her second sport was more successful than the first.

Greg Hardy

Greg Hardy’s transition from the NFL to the world of MMA exemplified the potential for athletes to reinvent themselves after leaving their initial sport. Once a feared defensive end in the NFL, Hardy’s career was damaged by off-field issues that saw his football career coming to an end in 2016.

Hardy’s rapid rise in the sport showcased his impressive physical abilities and the dedication required to adapt to a new discipline. By 2019, Hardy had a 3-0 undefeated personal record and was promoted to the UFC. After being disqualified in his first fight, Hardy performed strongly for the rest of 2019.

However, his transition to MMA was ultimately controversial, and Hardy was released from the UFC after an argument with a league employee. Despite finding success in both sports, Hardy is among the pro players who changed sports whose personal behavior spelled their repeated downfall.

Victoria Pendleton

When thinking of athletes who switched sports, English sportswoman Victoria Pendleton may not be a name that would immediately come to mind. Pendleton switched from track cycling to horse racing after winning multiple Olympic medals. Her final race at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, setting a new speed record in the qualifiers.

In 2015, Pendleton took on the challenge to compete in the Cheltenham Festival, one of the most prestigious events in the horse racing calendar. This was despite only training for one year. Her journey from novice to jockey was documented in a series called “Switching Saddles,” which showcased her dedication to learning a new sport and the challenges she faced along the way.

Under the eye of renowned trainers, Pendleton quickly developed her riding skills. While her transition was met with skepticism, she competed in the Foxhunter Chase in Cheltenham in 2016 and finished in an impressive fifth place.

Bo Jackson

Long before there were online sportsbooks with NFL betting options, Bo Jackson was a force to be reckoned with in football. It’s amazing to think that at the same time, Jackson was also a star player in MLB, playing for the Kansas City Royals in MLB and the Los Angeles Raiders in the NFL simultaneously from 1987.

In 1986, Jackson made the unprecedented decision to play for both major league teams. Jackson had already proven to be a skilled player in both sports in college, even winning the Heisman Trophy at Auburn University before his drafting. Jackson would go on to become the only athlete to be named an All-Star in two major professional leagues.

His run as one of the two sport professional athletes came to an end after a hip injury in 1991. He retired from the NFL after the injury and played baseball until 1994. Jackson remains one of the most successful and iconic athletes in US history, with his cultural influence peaking during his famous Nike “Bo Knows” campaign.

Other Famous Sports-Switching Athletes

Deion Sanders was another athlete to dominate both baseball and football simultaneously in the early 1990s, becoming the only athlete to play in both a Super Bowl and World Series. His achievements include earning eight NFL Pro Bowl selections while hitting .263 lifetime as an outfielder in baseball.

Marion Jones excelled in both basketball and track and field, playing as the starting point guard for North Carolina’s national championship basketball team in 1994 before winning five medals at the 2000 Olympics for track. Unlike the athletes who played two professional sports, former NFL player Herschel Walker pursued many, including bobsled racing, mixed martial arts, and sprint training, proving there’s no limit to athletic ambition.