Former Light O'Brien moving on from football

Former Montana State University-Northern wide receiver Brandon O'Brien has done a lot of special things with his life. From serving two tours of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps, to catching touchdowns for the Lights the last three seasons, O'Brien is a unique athlete with a great story.

But never has O'Brien been about publicity or notoriety. He has always done what he does because of his strong beliefs, and his passion for life, humanity and the game of football. The accolades have never mattered to him.

Former Montana State University-Northern receiver Brandon O'Brien runs with the ball during a Frontier Conference game against Southern Oregon last October at Blue Pony Stadium in Havre. O'Brien, who left MSU-N after his junior season, has decided not to continue pursuing a professional football career.

And that's why Tuesday was such a strange and difficult day for O'Brien, who has spent the last several months at a sports training facility in Dallas, Texas, with hopes of making an NFL training camp this summer.

However, O'Brien recently decided life in the NFL, or pursuing a professional football career at the age of 30 wasn't what he wanted to do with his life. Instead, O'Brien, a Florida native has decided to pursue a career in the military, something he says has always been in the back of his mind.

But his pursuit of a lifelong military career took a strange turn on Tuesday when a report appeared on USA Today's website claiming O'Brien, affected by Monday's bombings at the Boston Marathon, had re-enlisted with the Marines. The report was based on comments made by O'Brien's agent and they started to circulate across Twitter and other social media outlets. O'Brien did say he spoke with his agent Wednesday morning and that he was quoted incorrectly.

O'Brien disputed the report.

"Those reports are absolutely not true. I haven't enlisted in any branch of the military at this time," O'Brien said from his home in Orlando Tuesday night. "I'm not sure how all this got started and got out there, but at this time, I'm not enlisted in any branch of the military. I'm a simple guy, and I don't serve in the military for publicity or for accolades. That's not what it's about for me."

O'Brien said he has decided to leave football behind, even after spending the last several months garnering interest in several NFL teams and working hard for a chance to be, at the very least, an un-drafted NFL free agent later this spring. He spent several months working out at Athletes' Performance in Dallas, and had had a desire to make an NFL training camp as a special team's player. He also recently participated in Montana State University's Pro Day in Bozeman, and he put up some outstanding numbers and marks while there.

"I have spent a lot of time working hard, chasing this dream of playing football professionally," O'Brien said. "I have trained hard, I've worked out for scouts, I've spoke with NFL GM's and I've had some interest shown in me by several teams. I've gone through the entire process.

"But I went home to Florida around March 30, and I was really wrestling with the decision on whether or not I wanted to keep chasing this dream," he continued. "Recently I had seen a different side of football, the business side of it. And so I wasn't sure that was for me. I'd always had this dream, for so long, and once I saw that side of it, I wasn't sure anymore. So I really did some soul searching, I prayed and prayed on it. I talked a lot with my family and spent a lot of time with them and I came to the conclusion that football isn't what I wanted to do with my life going forward. I love the game, I've been so fortunate to have played it for as long as I have. I'm so thankful to coach Mark Samson and Kyle Samson for giving me the opportunity to come to Northern and continue my career. I loved my time in Havre and at Northern and I miss it up there already. I love the community of Havre and all the people up there who have supported me the last three years. But I'm at peace now, and now I can just be a fan of the game and not a football player anymore. I really look forward to that."

As for his future path, O'Brien said, while the rumors surrounding his military career which surfaced Tuesday are untrue, he is looking forward to serving again, and possibly having a lifelong career in the military. He says he is looking at several options, including the Air Force Special Forces, but he reiterated, he hasn't enlisted in any branch of service at present time.

"I've been looking hard at the Air Force Para-Rescue team. I know that it will be a very difficult task to become a part of that special forces unit, but it is something that I will give 100% to so I can be a part of that team," O'Brien said.

But one thing is for certain, when O'Brien does make a career in the military official, it will be his and his alone to talk about and tell, and it won't be something that will go viral on the internet. That's not why he does what he does, or what he's ever been about.

"I want to help people, and for me, being in the military is a meaningful life. It's not for everybody, but it is for me," O'Brien said. "A life spent in the military, making a difference is something that would be very meaningful to me. Much more meaningful than playing a game for two or three years. And at the end of the day, that's what's important to me. As long as I have my family, and I know I'm making a difference, that's all that matters to me. It's the path God has called me to do, and it's been on my heart for a couple weeks since I got back home and away from ball, the Boston thing really just solidified it

"I really feel like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders," he added. "I've honestly never had this kind of clarity in my life. I just know this is my path and I'm cool with it, it's hard to explain and a lot of people won't understand me walking away before I find out if a team wants to bring me to camp. But I know my path in life now and that's what I'm going to focus on."