Comparing MLB Players To Their NFL Equivalents

Shohei Ohtani = Patrick Mahomes

Ohtani and Mahomes are regarded as the current faces of their respective sports and the greatest players of their generation. Both made their debuts in 2018 and energized their sports with their respective skill sets. Ohtani’s level of excellence as a two-way player was something that hadn't been seen since Babe Ruth, while Mahomes’ combination of athleticism, powerful arm strength, and unique throwing angles (for example his no-look throws) set the new standard for how quarterback play is viewed today.

Derek Jeter = Tom Brady

Jeter and Brady were the leaders of their respective “Evil Empire” dynasties, the 1990s-2000s Yankees and the New England Patriots 2001-2019 dynasty. Both also won at least five rings and had a clutch gene to their games. Both are often hated by fans who take every opportunity they can to discredit their careers. Baseball fans often call Jeter “overrated,” while two years after Brady’s retirement, NFL media and fans alike seemed ready to declare Mahomes the new GOAT QB until the Eagles blew out the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. Off the field, both have become successful businessmen during and after their playing careers.

Clayton Kershaw = Peyton Manning

Kershaw and Manning are considered to be among the greatest ever at their respective positions, but their great regular seasons have been written off because both often faltered when it mattered most: the postseason. If Jeter and Brady have the special clutch gene, these guys have the anti-clutch gene. Kershaw has 3 Cy Young Awards, an NL MVP award, and won the 2011 pitching triple crown, but is 13-13 in the postseason with an era of 4.49 and some awful playoff starts. Manning, likewise, has won five NFL MVPs, but also has a 14-13 playoff record with some ugly playoff games. However, despite their shortcomings, both have two championships (I imagine Kershaw will receive a ring despite not playing in the 2024 World Series).

Alex Rodriguez = Aaron Rodgers

The A-Rods of their respective sports share two things in common: ultra talented skill sets and difficult personalities. Rodriguez was often compared to Jeter during his playing career, and while it was universally agreed that Rodriguez was more talented, Jeter was seen as a better player because he won more titles. Similarly, Rodgers has been frequently compared to Brady, and though Rodgers is more talented, Brady is seen as the better quarterback because of his trophy case. Both were also seen as high maintenance players in their locker rooms. It was known during Rodriguez’s playing days that he struggled to get along with his Yankees teammates, with manager Joe Torre going as far to reveal that he was called “A-Fraud” by some of his teammates, while Rodgers' tumultuous relationships with certain teammates in both Green Bay and New York have been well documented.

Mookie Betts = Russell Wilson

Betts and Wilson are shorter players who overcame their smaller frames to be among the best, and most athletic, players of their generation. At his athletic peak, Betts’ speed and elite defense enabled him to become among the best outfielders in the game, though age and injuries have now moved him to an infield role. When he was at his best in Seattle, Wilson was among the game’s best escape artists and dual-threat players at the quarterback position, often overcoming subpar offensive lines to put up MVP-caliber seasons.

Freddie Freeman = Matthew Stafford

Freeman and Stafford are still putting up All-Star/Pro Bowl caliber numbers as they get older, despite their age showing at times. Despite being among the best players at their positions, both felt somewhat underrated during their tenures with their original teams due to the lack of media coverage they got compared to their peers. However, both got their long overdue respect after they joined Los Angeles-based teams later in their careers and won a championship (in Freeman’s case, a second).

Cal Ripken Jr. = Jerry Rice

Ripken and Rice were both stars who peaked in the 1980s and are known for their longevity and unbreakable records. Ripken played for 21 seasons, all with the Baltimore Orioles, and set the all-time record for most consecutive games played at 2,632. He also has the record for most consecutive innings played, with 8,243, and has most home runs ever for a shortstop, with 345. Rice, meanwhile, played for 20 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders. His longevity allowed him to rack up 1,549 career receptions, which he converted into 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns, all of which are the all time receiving records. Like Ripken’s consecutive games and innings played records, Rice’s records are deemed unbreakable.

Aaron Judge = Calvin Johnson

Judge and Johnson broke into the league as elite athletes due to their rare combinations of size and speed. Judge is 6’7 and weighs 282 pounds, while Johnson is 6’5 and 237 pounds. Both have also set prominent records during their careers, as Judge has the AL single season home run record with 62 while Johnson has the single season receiving record with 1,964. However, there is a little bit of a what if to their careers. Judge has had struggled to stay healthy at times, while Johnson spent his career on a lot of bad Detroit Lions teams that saw him be held back by bad quarterback play when Stafford wasn't throwing the ball.

Tony Gwynn = Larry Fitzgerald

Gwynn and Fitzgerald are all-time greats whose games specialized in being anything but flashy. Gwynn’s speciality was batting average over home runs, while Fitzgerald's game was more about receptions than touchdowns. Both also spent their entire career with one franchise and, despite not winning a championship, led them to their only World Series/Super Bowl appearances of the modern era. Finally, both are among their generation’s most beloved athletes due to their person and player they were.

Mike Trout = Christian McCaffrey

When healthy, Trout and McCaffrey are among the best players of their generation. Trout has three AL MVP awards while McCaffrey is an Offensive Player of the Year winner. However, the key word to their career is WHEN HEALTHY. Since his third MVP, Trout has largely struggled to stay on the diamond. Likewise, McCaffrey has struggled to stay healthy since 2020, having missed most of three different seasons. However, when McCaffrey did have a healthy season in 2023, he guided the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance while winning his OPOY award. While Trout is a HOF lock due to his great play before the injury struggles, it's easy to wonder whether or not McCaffrey would've been the same if he had just stayed healthy.

BONUS: Kris Bryant = Carson Wentz

I see Bryant and Wentz as one of their generation’s biggest what ifs. Both were No. 2 overall picks who played an integral role in their respective teams' first modern era title. By the end of his second season in 2016, Bryant had won Rookie of the Year, an NL MVP award, and a World Series. In Wentz's second year in 2017, he was an NFL MVP candidate and played a pivotal role in the Eagles gaining the No. 1 overall seed that year before going down with a season ending torn ACL late in the year. The Eagles would eventually win the Super Bowl under Nick Foles. Both looked like they had the potential to become among the best players of their generation. Here's the what if- neither player was the same after their second years. Bryant hasn't been the same player since his 2016 MVP and World Series season, having struggled with injuries and failing to recapture the electric play we saw in his early career. His seven year, $182 million deal with the Colorado Rockies is currently a candidate for worst contract in baseball because of his injury history and poor play in Colorado. Wentz also struggled to recapture his early form after his ACL injury. Despite productive 2018 and 2019 seasons, the Eagles traded him after a poor 2020 season. After underwhelming stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders, Wentz is currently a backup quarterback.

Serafino Diaz is a writer at Chaotically Intolerant, Phoenix's finest Vikings, Bucks, and Cubs fan, traveling everywhere I can.