Tom Zbikowski is trying to become a firefighter in Chicago, but his first impression was not a good one.
Zbikowski, a Chicago Bears safety from Park Ridge, Ill., applied to the Chicago Fire Department in 2006 while he was still at Notre Dame, the South Bend Tribune reports. He was on a very long waiting list of applicants but finally got a call from the department recently.
Zbikowski apparently went to the department’s academy on Friday but was turned away because he was not wearing proper business casual attire. Zbikowski was dressed in a polo shirt, khakis, and gym shoes, his dad told The Tribune.
Though Zbikowski may have made a bad first impression, he will at least be allowed to report back on Tuesday as long as he is dressed more to their liking. The fifth-year player will even miss part of the team’s organized activities to report to the fire academy.
Zbikowski was a third-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2008. He spent four seasons with the Ravens and last season with the Indianapolis Colts.
This is not Zbikowski’s first foray into a career outside of football. You may recall that he is 4-0 as a professional boxer; he fought once in 2006 while playing at Notre Dame, and three times in 2011 during the NFL lockout.
The Tribune says Zbikowski is attempting to become a firefighter to fulfill a promise to his late grandfather, who was a Chicago firefighter. Zbikowski’s brother is also a firefighter.
Via SbB Live
