JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Former NFL wide receiver Laveranues Coles has traded in his football gear for a badge, joining the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, NBC’s Pro Football Talk reported.
Coles, a 10-year NFL veteran known for his time with the New York Jets, Washington and the Cincinnati Bengals, is one of nine former NFL players now serving in the department, according to the report. Among them is former linebacker Jeff Kopp, who played in the league from 1995 to 1999 and now works as a detective.
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“This job allows me to feel like I’m a part of something greater than myself, like I was when I was in the NFL,” Coles said in a recent interview with NBC News.
Though they come from the physically demanding world of professional sports, both Coles and Kopp say the police academy presented a different kind of challenge.
“There’s a lot more running,” joked Kopp. “We didn’t run as much in the NFL.”
The transition from football to law enforcement may seem unlikely, but for these former athletes, the structure, teamwork and community focus offer a natural fit, according to the report.
“The pay’s not as good as the NFL, but they’re working on it,” Kopp added, laughing alongside Coles, who reportedly earned more than $42 million during his football career.
Coles, now 47, played in the NFL from 2000 to 2009, recording three 1,000-yard seasons, including two with over 1,200 receiving yards.
