Paul Challenges NFL
Jake Paul Claims He Could Be an NFL Player 'With Zero Training' Following Football Criticism
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Jake Paul says he could play in the NFL tomorrow — with zero practice. The boxer and former YouTube star made the bold claim recently, arguing that catching a touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes would prove that pro football is easier than boxing, according to The Spun.
Paul is currently on a break from boxing after losing to Anthony Joshua last year. But rather than stay quiet, he has turned his attention to criticizing the NFL — and claiming he could step in and play right now.
Paul's Specific Claim: One Route, One Pass, One Touchdown
Paul laid out a simple scenario to back up his point. He said: have Mahomes tell him to run 10 yards, then throw him the perfect pass. If Paul catches it for a touchdown, he argued, that proves the NFL is easier than boxing. He said he could do this with "zero training," according to Fresno Bee.
The claim is tied to his broader criticism of pro football players. Paul suggested that boxing demands more from an athlete than football does. He implied that NFL skills are more basic and easier to pick up on the fly, even for someone with no football background at all, The Spun reported.
Fans and Former NFL Players Push Back Hard
Not everyone bought Paul's argument. Fans and former NFL players quickly pointed out that boxing and football are completely different sports. They require different skills, different body types, and different types of training, according to Kentucky.com.
Critics noted that even catching one pass in an NFL game involves reading a defense, running a precise route, and handling a ball thrown at high speed — all while being covered by a trained cornerback. Doing that with zero preparation, they argued, is far harder than Paul suggests, Macon reported.
Paul's Boxing Career After the Joshua Loss
Paul lost to Anthony Joshua in a professional boxing match last year. The defeat was a significant blow. Joshua, a two-time world heavyweight champion, handed Paul one of his most high-profile losses. Since then, Paul has stepped back from active boxing competition, according to San Luis Obispo.
Paul built his name as a YouTube star before pivoting to boxing. He has fought several celebrity and professional opponents over the years. His NFL comments appear to be part of a pattern of making loud, provocative claims — a strategy that has long kept him in the spotlight, Mod Bee noted.
Why the Mahomes Comparison Falls Flat for Experts
Patrick Mahomes is widely considered the best quarterback in the NFL right now. He has won three Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs. Using him as the passer in Paul's hypothetical actually makes the scenario harder to evaluate — Mahomes can make almost any receiver look good, Star-Telegram reported.
Former players argue that even if Paul did catch a single pass, it would prove nothing about NFL readiness. Playing football at the professional level requires blocking, route running, conditioning, and football IQ built over years. One clean catch in practice is a long way from stepping onto an NFL field, according to Kentucky.com.
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