Former NFL Player Graduates from Ohio Fire Academy
Source Firehouse.com News
Former NFL player Antonio Pittman has traded his football helmet for a firefighter's helmet.
Pittman played college ball with the Ohio State Buckeyes before being drafted by the New Orleans Saints and was then picked up by the St. Louis Rams.
"I can say that throughout that class I met some guys that will be my friends for life," Pittman told local television station WTTE.
He graduated with 17 others who started the state fire academy in Reynoldsburg in May.
Pittman said there were a lot of similarities between the football field and training grounds, including physical demands and teamwork.
"With respect to the guy next to you, whether it is on the field on out fighting a fire you know everybody wants to go home, be safe, and everybody protects one another," Pittman said.
"I knew after I was done playing football that I would always need a job that was somewhat physical. I dibbled and dabbled, but once I found this profession I found my home."
"They will pay attention to what he has done," State Fire Marshal Larry Flowers said about the public's reaction to the former pro football player joining the fire service. "I think he could share that experience with maybe people thinking about it, if they are not sure, and if Antonio can do it, I can do it now too."
His hope is that Pittman's career path will help departments recruit more minorities and young people using the recruitment slogan "find the firefighter in you."
Pittman's next step is to apply and test with Ohio departments to land a job.
