Former NFL Linebacker Joins Minnesota State Patrol

(KNSI) — A former NFL linebacker is among the 38 new troopers being added Thursday to the ranks of the Minnesota State Patrol.

Nate Evans Jr. is originally from Louisiana and played college football at the University of Central Florida before being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020. He also played for the Seattle Seahawks and the LA Chargers before retiring in February 2023. His grandmother, a retired commander with the Jefferson Parish Police Department, recommended a career in law enforcement as a way for him to continue the camaraderie and brotherhood he missed from playing on a team.

The graduates completed the 71st State Patrol Academy at Camp Ripley over 14 weeks of training, including motor vehicle crash investigation, traffic law, emergency vehicle operations, scenario-based de-escalation, mental health crisis response, and defensive tactics.

The class includes traditional applicants and graduates of the Law Enforcement Training Opportunity (LETO) program, which provides law enforcement training to candidates who hold two- or four-year degrees in unrelated fields.

Following graduation, the new troopers will complete additional training at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension before beginning field training with a veteran trooper. Upon completing field training, they will begin solo patrols.

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