Keanu Reeves as a pro quarterback? You bet! Before he was dodging bullets in The Matrix or laying down vengeance in John Wick, Reeves stepped into the cleats of a football star in The Replacements. Apparently, his on-screen QB skills were so on point that the Baltimore Ravens actually considered hiring him! Yep, the real NFL team was so impressed by his fictional playbook that they thought he could handle the real deal. Talk about life imitating art!

Keanu Reeves as Shane Falco in The Replacements | Credits: Bel Air Entertainment

Who knew the humble Canadian actor could almost have gone from throwing scripted TDs to throwing real ones? While Reeves didn’t trade in Hollywood for the NFL, the legend of his QB prowess still gets fans talking.

When Keanu Reeves Almost Became a Ravens QB: The Wild Tale Behind The Replacements

Keanu Reeves in John Wick 4 | Credits: Lionsgate

Keanu Reeves once snagged the attention of the Ravens because of his stellar performance as quarterback Shane Falco in the 2000 film The Replacements. A Reddit user pointed out that Reeves was so convincing in the role that he was actually invited to try out for the team.

Keanu Reeves was reportedly so good at the quarterback while shooting the movie “The Replacements” that the Baltimore Ravens invited him to a tryout in 2000.

While filming in Baltimore, the cast underwent some serious training to nail those football scenes. With football coordinators Allan Graf and Mark Ellis at the helm, Reeves showed off his impressive footwork and ability to maneuver in the pocket. NFL coaches took notice, and that buzz eventually landed him a tryout invite from Ravens HC Brian Billick.

ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Matt Miller confirmed the whole saga on X, saying, “Keanu Reeves was offered a tryout at QB with the #Ravens while filming The Replacements.” When some fans raised an eyebrow, he shot back, insisting it was 100 percent true.

Sadly, Reeves passed on the opportunity to don a Ravens jersey, citing other Hollywood gigs. Just imagine it—Keanu Reeves as your favorite QB! While we’ll never see that happen, it adds a damn cool chapter to his already legendary career. Who knew the guy from The Matrix could’ve been slinging TDs too?

Fans Go Wild Over Keanu Reeves’ NFL Tryout: The Most Talented Actor in Sports

Keanu Reeves as John Wick in John Wick: Chapter 4 | Lionsgate

Fans are buzzing over the news that Keanu Reeves almost got a tryout with the Ravens! Seriously, how cool is that? He’s a total beast—surfing, martial arts, hockey, and 3-gun shooting? He does it all!

Keanu Reeves can literally do anything! What’s wild, though, is that he’d never even touched a football before filming Point Break. Rewatch it, and you’ll notice they totally dodged any full shots of him throwing the ball. Talk about impressive!