Imagine LeBron James suiting up in pads and cleats instead of an NBA uniform and basketball sneakers.

That was a real possibility in 2011, when the NBA experienced a 161-day lockout from July into December that delayed the 2011–12 regular season. The lockout also reduced the NBA regular season from 82 to 66 games that year.

The Lakers star joined Peyton and Eli Manning’s alternate “Monday Night Football” broadcast on ESPN2 during the Cowboys-Eagles game and said he was offered not one, but two NFL contracts, by the Cowboys and Seahawks, during the 2011 NBA lockout — and that he seriously considered a shift from the NBA to the NFL at the time.

James, 36, initially revealed Jerry Jones’ Cowboys offer last year.

“That’s true. [Cowboys owner] Jerry Jones offered me a contract. Also [Seahawks coach] Pete Carroll did as well in Seattle during our lockout time,” James said during the Week 3 broadcast, which that saw the Cowboys beat the Eagles, 41-21, in a dominant NFC East performance at home. “It definitely got my blood flowing again, and got my mind racing again, thinking about the game of football — you know, being out there on Sundays. … I still got the jersey too that Jerry and Pete Carroll sent me from 2011.”

James’ football career at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School is well-documented.

The 6’8″, 250-pounder was a first-team all-state wide receiver, whose highlights are still passed around the internet to this day.

James explained to the Manning brothers why he ultimately chose a path to the NBA instead of the NFL.

“I think if I would’ve had a better quarterback in high school, I might’ve continued to play football. But I took way too many hits that led me to the basketball court,” he said.

Peyton went on to reminisce what could have been if James had decided to join the NFL.

“I would have thrown so many touchdowns to LeBron down there in the end zone” Peyton said. “Put him out wide, throw the fade, jump ball … 75 touchdowns.”