By NFL Communications
Former NFL tackle Scott Gragg (1995-2005) thought things could not get any better when he joined the coaching staff at the University of Montana - his alma mater - in 2010.
Five years later, a funny thing happened. The new head coach there decided to bring in his own coaches and Gragg was out of a job this winter.
“I had to decide what the next steps would be,” he recalls. “My family (wife Toni and two teenage kids) had sacrificed for 20 years with me moving around the country for football. I didn’t want to uproot them again.”
“I read in the local paper on Easter Sunday morning that the high school down the road in Fort Benton, Montana was looking for a new principal. I had experience teaching math on the high school level so I thought I would apply.”
Meet Scott Gragg, the new principal at Fort Benton High.
“Scott came across as a true leader. A genuine, high-integrity, kind individual,” says Fort Benton schools Superintendent Jory Thompson. “His energy and drive made him stand out from the other 20 candidates.”
Gragg had laid the foundation for his new post by teaching (and coaching) high school after his NFL career ended 10 years ago. He also obtained a Master’s degree in Education in 2009.
“After I was named, I spent this summer out on the road recruiting like I did when I coached Montana,” Gragg says. “However, this time I was looking for teachers for the high school instead of student-athletes for the university.”
It’s not unusual for players to transition from one job to another during their post-NFL careers. Players have many assets that translate into new employment possibilities. Scott Gragg will tell you that you need to look for the opportunity when it surfaces…even if it’s on Easter Sunday.