Lawrence Okoye has never played football, but that didn’t stop the San Francisco 49ers from signing the Olympic discus finalist as an undrafted free agent this week. The defending NFC champions plan to train the 21-year-old former rugby player to become a defensive lineman after the 6-foot-6, 304-pound Briton impressed scouts with his vertical jump (35 inches) and broad jump (10-foot-5) at the combine. He’s not the first Olympic athlete to make the jump to another sport—but it won’t take much for him to be among the most successful....
...3. Jimmy Hines
Track cred: 100m gold medalist (1968 Olympics)
Pro career: Wide receiver, Miami Dolphins (1968-69) and Kansas City Chiefs (1970)
The first sprinter to break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters — he ran a 9.95 at the Mexico City Olympics — Hines was taken in the sixth round by the Miami Dolphins in the 1968 NFL Draft. But after spending his entire rookie season in the practice squad (and earning the nickname “Oops” for his lack of ability), the Texas Southern product appeared in 10 games with the Dolphins in 1969, catching two passes for 23 yards and rushing once for seven yards. After a one-game stint with the Chiefs in 1970, he was finished.
Read the full article: http://extramustard.si.com/2013/05/02/lawrence-okoye-and-eight-other-track-stars-who-crossed-over-to-different-sports/
...3. Jimmy Hines
Track cred: 100m gold medalist (1968 Olympics)
Pro career: Wide receiver, Miami Dolphins (1968-69) and Kansas City Chiefs (1970)
The first sprinter to break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters — he ran a 9.95 at the Mexico City Olympics — Hines was taken in the sixth round by the Miami Dolphins in the 1968 NFL Draft. But after spending his entire rookie season in the practice squad (and earning the nickname “Oops” for his lack of ability), the Texas Southern product appeared in 10 games with the Dolphins in 1969, catching two passes for 23 yards and rushing once for seven yards. After a one-game stint with the Chiefs in 1970, he was finished.
Read the full article: http://extramustard.si.com/2013/05/02/lawrence-okoye-and-eight-other-track-stars-who-crossed-over-to-different-sports/