Shaquille O’Neal was a cop, George Foreman swapped gloves for grills.. sports stars’ wacky job swaps

Athletes usually follow a traditional pathway once their bodies and minds can no longer keep up with the rigors of pro sports; fade off into the distance or opine on those who follow in their footsteps.

Though, there have been those who have ushered their lives in different directions, some even becoming more famous for their more recent jobs. 

A selection have taken up post-sports careers to fill time, cure boredom and even take up passions previously unable to follow. 

Most recently, former New York Jets three-time Pro Bowl left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson revealed he is now in nursing school, adding to the list of unexpected post-retirement progressions.

Here, Mail Sport looks at some of the most surprising moves once the curtain closed on athletes’ respective sports careers. 

D’Brickashaw Ferguson revealed he is now in nursing school after playing 10 years with NYJ

Shaquille O’Neal 

The Big Aristotle has had many careers since finishing his illustrious 19-year NBA career. 

While most notably a member of the beloved Inside the NBA team, O’Neal has been a DJ, rapper, pro wrestler, actor and law enforcement officer in his post-basketball life. 

O’Neal was a reserve officer for the Los Angeles Port Police while playing for the Lakers. He served in the same roles for Florida’s Miami Beach and Golden Beach departments. 

In 2016, he was sworn in as sheriff’s deputy in the Clayton County, Georgia Sheriff’s Department. In 2019, he was named an auxiliary sheriff with the Broward (FL) Sheriff’s office. Amusingly, O’Neal played the role of an officer in 2013 movie, Grown Ups 2. 

The Big Aristotle won four NBA championships, a feat he often repeats while on Inside the NBA

Shaquille O’Neal has had many careers since finishing his illustrious 19-year NBA career in 2011

Bruce Jenner 

Bruce Jenner won Olympic gold for the USA at the 1976 Montreal Games in the Decathlon — setting an Olympic record in the process.  Jenner is synonymous with starting the tradition of performing a victory lap with one’s nation’s flag after doing some with the US version.

Since, Jenner has changed careers, names and identities. Bruce briefly became a race car driver and then a reality star on Keeping Up With The Kardashians, thanks to his then-marriage with Kris Jenner. The two share daughters, Kylie and Kendall Jenner. 

Jenner became a stepfather – and later a stepmother – to Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian. Now identifying as Caitlin – and a transgender woman – Jenner has become a prominent voice in the defense and protection of women’s sports from biological men.   

Since, retiring from athletics Jenner has changed careers, names and identities. Bruce briefly became a race car driver before indulging in reality television with then-wife Kris Jenner

L to R: Khloe Kardashian, Lamar Odom, Kris Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Caitlin Jenner and Kylie Jenner at Yeezy Season 3 launch in 2016

George Foreman 

Big George may be a two-time world heavyweight champion but he may be better known in homes for his world-famous grill. 

The George Foreman Grill was born after he was brought on by Salton Inc. as a brand ambassador for its fat-reducing grill.

Foreman told AARP in 2014 that he was being paid as much as $8million in various months, and has made ‘much more’ than $200m. 

According to Afrotech, the Foreman Grill has sold over 100m units since it was released in 1994. 

The boxing legend (L) eating a right hand from Muhammad Ali during The Rumble in the Jungle

George Foreman has become a heavy hitter in the homeware space thanks to his famous grill

Myron Rolle 

Once an All-American safety, now Myron Rolle saves Americans as a brain surgeon. 

While many may suggest NFL players are far from such, Rolle has proved an outlier. Rolle was a sixth round pick by the Tennessee Titans in the 2010 NFL Draft out of Florida State, postponing his senior year to study at Oxford. 

He never played in the regular season for the AFC South franchise, nor his next team, Pittsburgh, during three years in the league. After undertaking medical school, Rolle is now a neurosurgery fellow at Harvard Medical School. 

Myron Rolle was taken in the sixth round of the 2010 Draft but never played a down in the NFL

After retiring from the NFL, Rolle has become a neurosurgery fellow at Harvard Medical School

Bill Bradley, Jim Bunning and Kane 

The trio are just some of many sports stars who have transitioned to political circles. 

Bill Bradley is a two-time NBA champion who played 11 seasons with the New York Knicks before serving three terms as a Democratic senator from New Jersey. Bradley also ran for the Democratic Party’s nomination in the 2000 Presidential Election but ultimately lost out to Al Gore. 

Jim Bunning, meanwhile, is the sole man to ever be elected to both the U.S. Senate and the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The former Detroit pitcher was a nine-time All-Star, pitched a perfect game in 1964 while with the Phillies. Bunning was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998 and served two terms as the Republican Junior Senator.

WWE legend Kane, otherwise known as Glenn Jacobs, has been the Republican Mayor of Knox County, TN since 2018. The Big Red Machine has long been a critic of mask mandates and said former President Donald Trump’s latest indictment ‘should terrify all Americans.’ He was pictured with the Republican Party’s leading 2024 candidate earlier this week. 

Bill Bradley is a two-time NBA champion who played 11 seasons with the New York Knicks before serving three terms as a Democratic senator from New Jersey

Bunning is the sole man to ever be elected to the U.S. Senate and the National Baseball HOF

WWE legend Glenn Jacobs, popularly known as Kane, is the Republican Mayor of Knox County