CBS Sports shared an interesting story about an NFL player who is calling it a day and stepping into a completely new chapter—becoming a Chicago firefighter. The player in question is Tom Zbikowski, a former safety who spent five years in the league before being let go by the Bears in August.

Zbikowski, who played college football at Notre Dame, admitted to the Chicago Tribune’s David Haugh that he had lost his passion for the game long before his release. “No, not really,” he said. “It hasn’t been for a while. Football got old to me. I enjoyed my first two years in the NFL because it was a challenge. I was playing with the best. But after a while, you don’t care whether you win or lose because you’re still getting a paycheck. I enjoyed high school and college much more.”

His NFL career started in Baltimore, where he played for four seasons before joining the Colts in 2012. That one year with Indianapolis turned out to be the most difficult for him. To cope, he turned to heavy drinking. “I’m the only guy who can drink six beers, then spar 10 rounds on the same day,” he joked, noting that he was also an accomplished boxer.

The drinking became so intense that he would often have a few drinks the night before games, which he treated almost like a ritual. According to Haugh, his ideal mix was “four glasses of scotch and four Guinnesses.” Out of the 64 games he played in the NFL, Zbikowski estimated that at least 12 were played with a hangover. “Get a little messed up, sneak a girl into your room, feel on top of the world,” he said. “I had some of my best games off of benders—some of my worst too. My two best seasons ever were 2005 (at Notre Dame) and 2009 (in Baltimore) when I was the most out of control drinking, so I thought, hey, maybe I should go back to that.”

Unfortunately, the drinking led to weight gain, and to lose weight, Zbikowski took what he called a “water pill”—a substance banned by the NFL. He ended up serving a four-game suspension, which likely contributed to the Bears’ decision to cut him.

Now, Zbikowski says he has left that lifestyle behind. He no longer binge drinks or relies on painkillers and is preparing to start training at the Chicago Fire Department academy next month.

“I’ve had an extremely blessed life, and I saved three-quarters of my money, so I can do whatever I want. I want to be of service to a community,” he said. “Firefighters show up in scary situations. They’re symbols of pride, of faith, of what’s good in society. I like to live dangerously.”

With a legacy of service in his family—Zbikowski would be a third-generation firefighter—he’s ready for a fresh start, one that brings purpose, danger, and a sense of duty. His journey from the field to the firehouse is a powerful reminder of how life can change, and how people can reinvent themselves when they're ready for something more meaningful.

Thanks Dan

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