From the Gridiron to the Hospital: Former NFL Players' Surprising Career Shift to Nursing

Strategic Insights -

D'Brickashaw Ferguson, a former NFL player, is just one of several athletes who have made the unexpected switch to nursing after hanging up their cleats. The journey from a collegiate all-American and three-time Pro Bowler to a nurse at Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health in New Jersey has been a challenging yet rewarding one for Ferguson. He credits his mother, a nurse herself, with suggesting he consider the field, and his experience has been a testament to the transferable skills gained from playing football.

Nursing is a career path that many former NFL players are exploring, and for good reason. Players like Patrick Hill, a former fullback and running back for the Tennessee Titans, are finding that the mental toughness and resiliency they developed on the field serve them well in the high-stakes environment of nursing. Hill, who is now an inpatient psychiatric nurse at U.C.L.A. Medical Center, notes that the quick decision-making and physical stamina required in football are also valuable assets in a nursing career.

The number of male nurses is slowly increasing, up from 8 percent a decade ago, but there is still a nationwide nursing shortage, according to Dr. Jason Mott, a professor at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh College of Nursing and president of the American Association for Men in Nursing. The field is in need of male role models, and men are less likely to seek medical care and are often reluctant to talk about health issues. Sports, however, can be an equalizer, and stories like Ferguson's and Hill's are helping to break down barriers and dispel stigmas.

Key Takeaways:

  • D'Brickashaw Ferguson, a former NFL player, graduated from Thomas Jefferson University College of Nursing in Philadelphia and is now a nurse at Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health in New Jersey.
  • Ferguson credits his mother, a nurse herself, with suggesting he consider the field, and his experience has been a testament to the transferable skills gained from playing football.
  • Players like Patrick Hill, a former fullback and running back for the Tennessee Titans, are finding that the mental toughness and resiliency they developed on the field serve them well in the high-stakes environment of nursing.
  • The number of male nurses is slowly increasing, up from 8 percent a decade ago, but there is still a nationwide nursing shortage, according to Dr. Jason Mott.
  • Sports can be an equalizer in helping men break down barriers and dispel stigmas related to health issues.
  • Players are turning to nursing as a way to make a positive impact in their communities and pursue a career that aligns with their values.
  • Nursing is a field that requires adaptability, physical stamina, and quick problem-solving, making it an attractive career path for former athletes.

Statistics:

  • The average NFL player's career lasts around 4.5 years, according to a representative for the NFL.
  • 13 percent of registered nurses are men, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • The number of male nurses has increased from 8 percent a decade ago.
  • There is a nationwide nursing shortage, according to Dr. Jason Mott.
  • Male nurses are more likely to pursue specialties like emergency and critical care, according to a 2024 report from NurseJournal.

Sources:

  • Ferguson, D. (2025, Spring). From the Gridiron to the Hospital: My Journey to Nursing. New York Times.
  • Perlman, T. (2025, Spring). Student Profile: Former NFL Player Pursues Nursing Degree. New York Times.
  • Mott, J. (2024, January). The Future of Nursing: Trends and Challenges. American Association for Men in Nursing.
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, March). Registered Nurses.
  • NurseJournal. (2024, November). Male Nurses in Critical Care: Breaking Down Barriers.