Arizona Cardinals might remember Matt Shaughnessy, who played outside linebacker for the team in 2013 and 2014. Retired from the NFL in 2016, he is back in Phoenix as a first responder.
He is a Phoenix firefighter now, as Dana Scott of the Arizona Republic writes.
Shaughnessy played two seasons for the Cardinals in 2013 and 2014. He played in 24 games, starting 19 of them, and had 53 tackles, 12 for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and a touchdown.
He was known as a very good run defender.
After being cut after the 2015 preseason, he didn’t get re-signed until August 2016 by the New Orleans Saints. He was cut before the season began and he retired.
It was then Shaughnessy “ventured into his fire apprenticeship.”
He is now a rover for the Phoenix FD and lives in Chandler with his wife and three children.
He is one of several former professional athletes who are now firefighters.
Shaughnessy was always intrigued by the profession.
“It was something that I was always interested ever since I was a kid,” said Shaughnessy in the article. “I lived right down the street from the Central (Fire) Station on Chestnut Street, walking by it to the YMCA with my mom and wanted to see what was going on at the fire station.”