CBS Sports shared an interesting story about an NFL player who is retiring and pursuing a new career as a firefighter. The article highlights the journey of Tom Zbikowski, a former safety who recently left the Chicago Bears and is now preparing to join the Chicago Fire Department academy.
Zbikowski, who played college football at Notre Dame, had a five-year NFL career that ended abruptly this August when he was released by the Bears. He has since decided to step away from the game and focus on becoming a firefighter — a path that runs in his family, as he would be the third generation to serve in the profession.
According to a report from the Chicago Tribune’s David Haugh, Zbikowski admitted that he wasn’t fully committed to football anymore when the Bears let him go. “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.â€
Zbikowski spent his first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before signing with the Indianapolis Colts in 2012. That year turned out to be the most difficult for him professionally, and he struggled with personal issues, including heavy drinking. “I’m the only guy who can drink six beers, then spar 10 rounds on the same day,†he joked, highlighting his background as a boxer.
His drinking habits became so extreme that he would often consume alcohol the night before games, which he described as almost like a superstition. According to Haugh, his ideal pre-game cocktail was “four glasses of scotch and four Guinnesses.†Zbikowski estimated that out of the 64 games he played in the NFL, 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.â€
However, his drinking eventually led to weight gain, prompting him to take a “water pill†— a banned substance in the NFL. This resulted in a four-game suspension, which likely contributed to the Bears’ decision to release him.
Zbikowski now claims he no longer relies on binge drinking or painkillers, and he's looking forward to starting 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 and I want to be of service to a community,†he said. “Firemen show up in scary situations. They’re symbols of pride, of faith, of what’s good in society. I like to live dangerously.â€
With a fresh start ahead, Zbikowski is ready to leave behind the pressures of professional sports and embrace a new calling that aligns with his values and long-term goals.
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