“I was a hell of a tight end,” Shaquille O’Neal once proudly reminisced about his time as a football player before the world knew him as a basketball legend. Long before he became a household name in the NBA, Shaq’s athletic talents extended beyond the basketball court, with a deep passion for football that still runs through his veins today. Now, Shaq is channeling his energy into the future of his young family member, cheering for his pursuit of a successful football career as he has already issued notice to colleges.

The Basketball Hall of Famer gave fans a sneak peek into an exciting moment on his Instagram as he shared a video from his high school football game visit, where the action was intense on the field. Interestingly, the highlight of the clip was a standout play by the right back in white, who effortlessly dodged opponents and sprinted down the sideline to score a touchdown while Shaq, throughout the play, could be heard cheering and celebrating in the background. Guess who was he? Shaq’s nephew!

The post was captioned, “Damn my nephew strong💪🏾💪🏾 He out there dragging them boys on the field. He came out in the playoff’s and played like a champ. He is Definitely the top RB of the 2027 class. Keep working hard nephew you’re on your way @elijah.wilson.official And keep listening to your pops @jamesthebeastwilson All colleges better take notice, and he’s only a sophomore.”

Shaquille O’Neal’s excitement was clearly visible as he cheered for his nephew, Elijah Wilson, a standout sophomore running back for St. Monica’s High School. Elijah has been gaining attention for his remarkable performances on the field, already putting up 887 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in just eight games. While it’s unclear if they share a direct blood relation, Shaq has referred to Elijah as his nephew, and Elijah, in turn, calls Shaq his uncle.

The 4x NBA champion has been a big supporter of Elijah from the very beginning. Last year, during Elijah’s freshman year, the NBA legend took to his Instagram story to give a special shout-out to his nephew, sharing a video clip that highlighted Elijah’s impressive rise on the field. While Shaq has been fully backing his nephew’s football career, his own football journey only took a surprising turn, courtesy of an unusual contract in basketball history.

Shaquille O’Neal’s football dreams: How an infamous contract changed Hall of Famer’s path to basketball stardom

The former Los Angeles Lakers star’s path to basketball superstardom might have been very different if not for one infamous contract, which many consider one of the worst in sports history. Back in high school, Shaq was already towering at 7 feet tall as a senior and was recognized as one of the top basketball prospects in the country. But basketball wasn’t his only talent—he was also a standout tight end on his school’s football team. But he revealed what actually brought him completely to the basketball side.

“I actually started out playing football… As you know, I have wonderful hands, my hands are impeccable, and I like to punish people. But then a guy your size, hit me in my knee one day, I was all bummed out, and my dream came true. I was sitting on the couch and Jon Koncak signs for $15 million for three years. I was thinking, ‘If I can make $5 million doing the basketball thing, I think I am going to switch up now’ … true story,” Shaq revealed almost a decade back on The Dan Patrick Show.

In 1989, the Atlanta Hawks made an infamous signing, giving Jon Koncak a six-year, $13 million contract despite his unimpressive stats—averaging just 4.7 points and 6.1 rebounds the previous season. This deal, which surpassed the salaries of legends like Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, earned Koncak the nickname “Jon Contract.” The absurdity of this contract reportedly influenced high school star Shaquille O’Neal to quit football and focus solely on basketball to protect his future.

Although having built a legendary basketball career, Shaq may have some regret over not pursuing football, which is why he’s now fully supporting his nephew’s football aspirations, encouraging college programs to take notice.