Former Chicago Bears Player "Peanut" Tillman...FBI Special Agent??

News broke earlier today that former Chicago Bears star, Charles "Peanut" Tillman, is training to become an FBI agent? Is this real, or just a gimmick? How hard will it be for him to get in? Is he even eligible? All fair questions. Let's take a look...

Age Restrictions

Tillman needs to be under 37 years old by the time he is appointed.  It's likely that Tillman has been working on this for a considerable period of time; probably shortly after his retirement from the NFL last summer. It's been reported that he's been training with agents in Quantico (FBI headquarters) on/off for years. As the application and initial testing process is lengthy (lasting over 18 months usually from the initial steps to actual appointment), Tillman needs to be pretty far along in the process at this time. While he could get an age waiver, that is usually granted to veterans only.

Photo: http://media2.newsnet5.com//photo/2012/12/05/FBIquanticoWEB_20121205102030_640_480.JPG

Educational Requirements

Tillman has a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette while he played college football there form 199-2002.  Amazingly, even while excelling on the field he managed to complete his degree in just three and a half years. That being said, in whatever field of the FBI he wants to enter, he must be able to pass a stringent written and oral exam.  That usually requires intensive studying and a thorough mastery of the selected subject (see below).

Physical Requirements

It's a bit of a joke to think that "Peanut" wouldn't be fit enough to pass the FBI's physical tests.  These include testing in sit-ups, push-ups, sprints, and endurance running. If you'd like to take a gander at the recommended fitness levels, take a look here.

Work Experience

This is where the FBI is going to have to be somewhat lenient with Tillman.  While it's been reported that he's "trained" with the FBI in various off-seasons while he was in the NFL, I'm not sure how much of that he can equate to actual work experience. That being said, I'm quite confident that Tillman would have already been granted either an exemption or the proper credit that he needs to have this requirement fulfilled before he got very far in the application process.

What FBI Position Would He Want?

It's not enough to simply be able to pass all the requirements for becoming an FBI agent. He has to be actually needed by the FBI in the field he wants to enter.  This is from the FBI hiring site:

 "While the FBI encourages applicants from all backgrounds to become Special Agents, we are currently looking for Special Agent applicants with skills in the following areas:

• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
• Foreign Languages
• Law
• Emergency Medicine
• Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)
• Attorneys
• Engineers
• Detectives
• Military (specifically Special Forces, Explosives, WMD and Intelligence Experts)
• Scientists (lab experience)
• Foreign Language(s) speakers
• Pilots (helicopter, fixed-wing)"

This is where I see Tillman faltering. It's not so much that he can't pass the testing; it's whether or not he has a particular set of skills that the FBI can utilize right now. I wish him all the best, however. It would be an amazing accomplishment to become an FBI special agent.