LOCALS IN THE NFL
Former Utah, NFL Lineman Looks To Be Part Of Something Bigger, Begins Law Enforcement Career
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former University of Utah and Miami Dolphins offensive lineman, Isaac Asiata, is taking on a new challenge. After stunningly pulling the plug on a young and exciting NFL career, Asista will take his talents down to the Provo City Police Departement with ambitions to help and provide for others.
It all began in 2015 when Asiata was a junior at the University of Utah and was contemplating marrying his long-time girlfriend. Much like any good, young aspiring husband, Asiata approached his soon-to-be father in law for permission to put a ring on his daughter’s finger.
That conversation sparked what would ultimately be the start of the end for Asiata’s football career.
His father-in-law asked Asiata how he would provide for his family if and when football came to an end.
“I will do everything in my power to provide for my family,” Asiata answered.
The answer seemed short, although, his father-in-law put him out of his misery and allowed Asiata to put a ring on Angel.
That one question became cemented into Asiata’s brain. He could not stop thinking about it. What would I do when football inevitably ends? He would ask himself multiple times a day. Fear and anxiety started.
Fast forward to 2016, Asiata and Angel get hitched and start preparing for a life together, forever.
“I got married in 2016, it was the first time that I had found something outside of football,” Asiata said.
He was then drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft, and the excitement to play football started to come back.
“I was very grateful to be drafted. As my football career progressed, I realized that I could not stop. There was no option to stop. Despite my brain telling me that maybe this is not for me, my brain was also telling me to continue and to push through the difficult times. I wanted to live up to the expectations, I certainly did not want to be remembered because I was a bust. I was constantly worried about what people thought of me,” said Asiata.
Unfortunately, the pain and agony his brain was going through was taking a toll on his day-to-day life. He felt trapped and overwhelmed 24/7.
The passion to play the game of football was slowly dwindling and the realization that I had a family to take care of was growing. He was conflicted. If he wanted to provide for his family, give his wife, daughter and future children the life that he had dreamt for them, then he was in the right profession. Playing professional football is a lucrative business, with gigantic contracts growing as the years go by.
Asiata did not love the game, however. His love was lost. His emotions and head were elsewhere.
Asiata then suffered a back injury while lifting weights during March of 2019 and was consequently cut from the Miami Dolphins roster.
It was everything that Asiata needed.
A breath of fresh air and a break from the chaos. However, Asiata would not give up. He knew that once his back had recovered, there would still be an opportunity for him to play in the NFL. He was worried that if he did not at least give it another go then he would regret that decision for the rest of his life.
So he did, and shortly after being cleared by the doctors to return, he was signed by the Bills. The second NFL stint lasted only a few days.
“When you’re done, you’re done. Your body knows and for me, I knew. My time in the NFL was over. In hindsight, my NFL career was probably over well before it ended, although, I had seen so many people over the years give it everything they had and never get an opportunity. I could not quit on the game, knowing that I had an opportunity that so many people would want,” he continued.
Provo City Police Departement
The concern that Asiata would not be able to provide for his family without football was in front of his mind. Naturally, Asiata started pondering potential career paths that he believed would make himself and his family the most money. He was offered a local sales job in which he was interested, but only for a split second. His wife, Angel, then approached him and questioned why he was looking for career paths that would make the most money when he just retired from a job that provided that.
Angel wanted her husband to pursue a career that he was passionate about.
Asiata prayed and spoke to loved ones ad nauseam about his future and what he must do.
“A really close friend of mine brought up law enforcement and introduced me to the thought of becoming a police officer. I had never thought of becoming a police officer until then, it was the last thing on my mind. But it clicked, it all just started to make sense.” Asiata said. “I knew I wanted to help people, to be a part of something that was bigger than me and that benefited a lot of people. I knew that I wanted to do something that mattered.”
Asiata knows that in today’s day and age, police offers are often painted in dark light. Asiata knows that his service and dedication to the Provo City Police Departement will not change the way the public views police officers. He just hopes that his small amount of good can hopefully benefit and change the lives of those that need him.
On Monday, January 6, Asiata will join the Provo City Police training academy where he will spend the following three months learning the ropes. Asiata will be asked to sit in a classroom and learn intricate details about becoming a police officer while also getting out into the field and experiencing it all unfold first hand.
Asiata is excited about the new challenge. “I have learned so much from my football days that I cannot wait to transition into my police department career.”
New challenges and new beginnings bring fresh air. For Asiata and his family, this new chapter in his life could not come at a better time. Asiata is poised to serve the Provo City Police Departement for many years to come, with ambitions to climb the Police Departement business ladder.
“Serving other people is genuinely a passion of mine. I love it. I am thrilled to continue my passion for helping others and being able to do that on a daily basis is something that I am thrilled about.” Asiata said.
