At 6 ft 6 in and 240 lbs, D’Brickashaw Ferguson was built for the gridiron. Legendary left tackle for the New York Jets, three-time Pro Bowler and a man who never missed a start in his ten-season NFL career. UVA Today
But today, the uniform has changed — and the mission as well. After retiring from football, Ferguson has embarked on his next act: becoming a registered nurse.
From stadium lights to hospital lights
After graduating from University of Virginia in 2006 and dominating as a college athlete, Ferguson entered the NFL. UVA Today He later found himself drawn to a different kind of field: healthcare. With both his mother and grandmother having worked as nurses, the profession was in his blood. UVA Today
He found the “why” when he landed an internship with the Jets’ strength & conditioning team — realizing that his passion lay in supporting and caring for others, not just dominating opponents. UVA Today
The journey back to school
Late 30s when he shifted gears, Ferguson didn’t skip the steps. He started with the prerequisites at community college, then enrolled in the nursing program at Thomas Jefferson University – College of Nursing (Philadelphia) in fall 2023. UVA Today
“I didn’t skip any steps… it felt good because I felt like I was earning it.” he said. UVA Today
During his externship in the cardiac ICU at Jefferson Health, he brought something unique: personal experience. At age 9, he had open-heart surgery to correct a defect. That, paired with his athletic tenacity, helped him connect with patients in ways others might not. UVA Today
One nurse manager described how his ability to relate—“he could relate to them from what he went through as a child”—made a difference in the high-stress ICU setting. UVA Today
Leading by example at home
Beyond the clinical setting, Ferguson is using his life shift as a teaching moment for his daughters. He didn’t just tell them to study — he studied alongside them. “If I’m telling my daughters to study, I’m studying with them,” he said. UVA Today
It underscores a key truth of nursing: the profession isn’t just about clinical care—it’s about modeling resilience, dedication, and service.
Why his story matters
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Reinvention is possible. Ferguson’s transition from pro athlete to nursing professional is a powerful reminder that meaningful second careers are real.
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Unique backgrounds enrich healthcare. His childhood surgery, athletic discipline, and stature mean he brings empathy and strength into scrubs.
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Representation matters. Having someone of his profile stepping into nursing helps break stereotypes and shows that nursing is for people of all walks of life.
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Service is foundational. At the heart of his shift is a desire to serve — echoing the core values of nursing: compassion, dedication, and advocacy.
What we can take away
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View challenges as transitions: skills from one career (teamwork, resiliency, leadership) transfer into nursing.
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Embrace the “why”. Ferguson’s move was grounded in personal experience and family legacy.
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Embody humility. Despite his fame, he started at the beginning of the nursing pathway and let the work speak for itself.
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Inspire others. His story will resonate with aspiring nurses who think it may be too late or too different to join the profession.
D’Brickashaw Ferguson didn’t just change job titles — he changed hats. From left tackle guarding quarterbacks to nurse advocating for patients, his story is the kind we need to hear during Nurses Week and beyond. Because at its core, nursing is about stepping into someone else’s crisis with calm, strength, and empathy — and Ferguson is doing just that.
— Congratulations to the Class of 2025 and all nurses who bring their full selves, every day, into care.
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