Giants Tackle Eluemunor Nearly Chose Soccer Over Football

New York Giants offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor spent his childhood in London with dreams of becoming a professional soccer player, but his physical stature ultimately redirected him toward a lucrative career in American football.

The 6-foot-4, 338-pound lineman, who signed a $39 million contract with the Giants in March, reflected on his early athletic aspirations during a recent interview. Born in London and raised in England until his teenage years, Eluemunor naturally gravitated toward soccer before discovering the sport that would define his professional career.

"I've always been a huge fan of the game. I wanted to play when I was a little kid. I was just too big," Eluemunor told TMZ Sports. The 31-year-old explained that the transition to American football revealed a different training culture than what he experienced as a youth soccer player in England.

"It's a lot harder to become a football soccer player because when I was a kid, I wasn't playing as much. I was playing maybe like once or twice a week. But when I came to America, I learned that you have to train every single day," Eluemunor told TMZ Sports.

Despite his early soccer ambitions, Eluemunor has found his calling on the gridiron. "I think that God put me on the earth to play American football. That's, you know, my love and passion," he told TMZ Sports.

The Giants tackle has emerged as one of the premier right tackles in the National Football League, validating his decision to pursue American football over soccer. His success has not diminished his appreciation for his first sporting love, however.

Eluemunor recently returned to England to host his second annual American football camp, an initiative he describes as deeply meaningful. The camps represent his effort to introduce young athletes in his native country to the sport that transformed his life.

During the interview, Eluemunor also discussed Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, one of soccer's most physically imposing players. When asked whether Haaland could have succeeded in American football, Eluemunor drew comparisons to former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

"He's a big physical guy. He's kind of like an anomaly," Eluemunor said of Haaland, per TMZ Sports. "You don't see 6'5 guys like that sprinting downfield. I'm sure if he were on a 40-yard dash, it would be like a 4.2 or 4.1. He is one of a kind, and I think that's why Americans have kind of fell in love with him because of how he plays the game. He's a real physical guy, but he also is a really cool guy, too, from what I've heard. So, yeah, I'm sure he would be like a [Rob] Gronkowski type guy."

Eluemunor will report to Giants training camp in the coming weeks as the team prepares for the upcoming season. His journey from London soccer fields to the National Football League stands as a testament to adaptability and the pursuit of opportunity across continents and sports.