Carli Lloyd is an absolute soccer rock star. And then the U.S. Women’s National Team’s two-time World Cup champ showed up to the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice and casually kicked a 55-yard field goal that left fans in awe.
Lloyd is a big Eagles fan — she gave them a “Fly Eagles Fly” shoutout at the World Cup parade in July — and, in an interview with Planet Futbol TV on Thursday, she said the team invited her to their joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens.
She explained how her viral field goal came about: “I was casually just, you know, wanting to bang in a few field goals because I’m a competitor and I actually really enjoy doing it. … I started at 25 yards and I just kept moving back and was aiming for (Eagles kicker Jake) Elliott and (Ravens kicker Justin) Tucker’s 61-yarder record.”
Is there more to @CarliLloyd's field goal kicking than just a viral highlight? The #USWNT star shares her story of her long-range connection and the interest it's drummed up since on this week's Planet Fútbol TV.
— Planet Fútbol (@si_soccer) August 23, 2019
Watch the full episode for FREE here: https://t.co/I3JE0kR9lY pic.twitter.com/ZkvVyjjzUS
Lloyd didn’t quite get there, admitting she missed her 57-yard attempt, which she said had the length but didn’t make it through the uprights.
Doesn’t really matter because the 37-year-old soccer star’s good field goal was so impressive, and it now has people talking about the possibility of a woman playing in the NFL.
When Planet Futbol TV asked if teams have reached out to her with a serious interest in her playing for them, Lloyd said: “There’s been some interesting chatter about it. I think anything is possible. It’s been really interesting because for me, I’m just an athlete. I’m a competitor. But for so many other people, I think they’re starting to think, will there ever be a female in the NFL at some point? And I think we’re kind of at that crossroads as far as equality and, you know, just women empowerment, so you’re kind of being in the crosshairs of that.
”And I’ve definitely got some inquiries, I’ve definitely got some people talking. Anything’s possible, but right now, I’m strictly a soccer player, and we’ll see what the future holds.”
Carli Lloyd told SI she's "definitely got some inquiries" from NFL teams after kicking a 55-yard field goal.
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) August 23, 2019
Could she end up in a Bears uniform in the future? https://t.co/85WEDPe1Wl pic.twitter.com/iofbeYCUV4
Soccer fans have known for a while that Lloyd has quite a range. Remember this World Cup final goal in 2015?
After Lloyd’s kick, Pro Bowl kicker Martin Gramatica called it “impressive” and said she could earn a roster spot. And former Dallas Cowboys’ vice president of player personnel tweeted that the Bears should “give her an honest tryout.”
Read more at usatoday.com
