Nick Foles. SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network

Nick Foles: From Super Bowl MVP to pickleball GOAT

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 12/9/23

When Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence went down with an ankle injury against the Cincinnati Bengals, many fans immediately thought of Nick Foles. Unfortunately, the MVP of Super Bowl LII has found another sport.

While Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson surely has Foles on speed dial, the 34-year-old quarterback could be too busy winning pickleball tournaments to return to Jacksonville.

Playing with his wife and friend Jim Davenport, Foles won a pair of gold medals at the PPA Finals in San Clemente, California last weekend.

Nick Foles. Super Bowl MVP. Professional Pickleball gold medalist.

Big Pickleball Nick. https://t.co/FeDL4ioiaI
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 8, 2023

Multi-sport success is really nothing new for Foles. While breaking many of Drew Brees’ records at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, he was also an excellent basketball player. After twice being named team MVP, he was recruited to play for Baylor, Georgetown and Texas.

He ultimately decided to play football for Michigan State before transferring to Arizona State where he made a fan out of one of the NFL’s greatest players.

During a recent appearance on WIP Sports Radio in Philadelphia, former Patriots and Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski expressed regret that he never got to share the field with Foles.

"Foles was actually my quarterback at the University of Arizona," Gronkowski said. "Foles was about to take over going into my junior year and we had a great connection going. Unfortunately, I had back surgery and missed my whole junior year and never got to play with Nick Foles.”

Perhaps they should team up on the pickleball court. Foles could do worse than a four-time All-Pro tight end as a doubles partner. Gronkowski’s buddy, Tom Brady, is an investor with Major League Pickleball, so let’s get these two together.

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