Former NFL player to Albany firefighter
ALBANY, Ga. – Most people dream to have one amazing career.
Montavious Stanley had 2.
A former NFL Player and firefighter in Albany, Georgia.
In his football career he had a long list of accolades.
Such as 1st team all Big East at Louisville. Getting drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and playing for 5 seasons before retiring.
But, now he’s accomplishing what he set out to do ever since he was a child.
“Well, first of all, I wanted to serve a community. And, as a kid, I used to write down my goals. I wanted to be a pro football player. So kind of a first responder and a football coach. And, I felt like this was the place for me to be to finish achieving my goals. because I’ve been there, supported me throughout my college career, high school and pro, and I feel like I owe it to the community to come back,” said Montavious Stanley, former NFL player, Albany fire inspector.
While both careers have some similarities.
Stanley says there are some big differences between the two.
“Well, when we have training as a firefighter, it’s like life and death. How we train as football players to have fun and go out there, relax,” said Stanley.
Montavious Stanley returned to Albany to become a firefighter 10 years ago.
But, this isn’t the first time he came back close to home.
You came back to Albany, but you also got to play for Atlanta and Jacksonville. How did it feel coming back close to home?
“I mean, a lot to me, you know, because those are the teams I grew up watching pretty much, and they’re like, living the dream, you know, I’m always trying to live my life in the moment. And, at that time, you know, I was on cloud nine,” said Stanley.
What’s your favorite thing about being a firefighter?
“It’s really just the community….. Yeah, the community,” said Stanley.
Montavious Stanley is the current Fire Safety Inspector in Albany and Dougherty High School football coach.
As he continues to give back to where he grew up.
Gabe Hutton reporting.
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