Former NFL Pro Bowl wide receiver Laveranues Coles has a new career in law enforcement.
Coles, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, has joined his hometown Jacksonville Police Department as an officer.
“This job allows me to feel like I’m a part of something greater than myself, like when I was in the NFL,” Coles told NBC News’ Kathy Park.
“It’s giving me a sense of purpose and I feel good about it,” he added.
Coles, a 10-year NFL veteran for the New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals and Washington, isn’t the only former football player with JPD.
JPD’s staff includes Detective Jeff Kopp, a former NFL linebacker who played five seasons from 1995-99, including three with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Officer Ernest Wilford, who played seven seasons at wide receiver for the Jaguars and Miami Dolphins from 2004-10. Former Oklahoma State guard Victor Salako, who spent time on the practice squad rosters with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Washington, and Buffalo Bills from 2017-20, is also an officer at JPD.
“The people who call us, it’s probably their worst day,” Kopp told Park. “And you just get to go in there and bring calm [and] peace, de-escalate the situation, and then just help people figure stuff out.”
When asked about comparing careers in law enforcement and the NFL, Kopp said “it’s a totally natural fit,” but there’s “a lot more running” in police academy.
“We didn’t run as much in the NFL,” he said. “I ran more miles in the academy than I ever ran in my life.”
Coles finished his NFL career with 674 receptions for 8,609 yards and 49 touchdowns in 152 games with the Jets, Washington and the Bengals. He earned his lone career Pro Bowl in 2003 with Washington when he made 82 catches for 1,204 yards and six touchdowns.
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