Tom Zbikowski Thomas Michael Zbikowski ( born May 22 , 1985 ) is an American football safety for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League , and a professional boxer . He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round ( 86th overall ) of the 2008 NFL Draft . He earned All - American honors playing college football for the University of Notre Dame from 2003 to 2007 . Early years . Thomas Michael Zbikowski was born on May 22 , 1985 , in Park Ridge , Illinois , the youngest of four children born to Edmund Richard Zbikowski and Susan Lois ( née Schatz ) Zbikowski . His siblings are Kristen Zbikowski , Edmund Joseph " E . J . " Zbikowski , and Stephen Zbikowski , who died in infancy in 1980 . He is of Polish descent on his father ' s side of the family and of German descent on his mother ' s side of the family . He grew up in Arlington Heights , Illinois . He attended Greenbrier Elementary School and Thomas Middle School in Arlington Heights , Illinois and then high school at Buffalo Grove High School in Buffalo Grove , Illinois . He graduated from Buffalo Grove in 2003 . He played youth football with the Buffalo Grove Bills during elementary and middle school . At Buffalo Grove High School , he played quarterback where he set the school records in scoring ( 202 total points ) , and rushing ( 2357 yards , 7 . 4 average , 32 tds ) before becoming a defensive back as well . College career . Zbikowski played college football at Notre Dame Zbikowski made his collegiate debut as a sophomore in 2005 , appearing in all 12 games and finished fourth best of the roster with 70 total tackles ( 37 solo , 33 assisted ) with two forced fumbles . He was named Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week on Sept . 19 following his performance at Michigan State as he had a team - high nine tackles , forced a fumble and returned it for a 75 - yard TD and recorded his first career interception . Zbikowski broke out as one of college football ' s best utility players during his junior season , excelling as a safety and a return man . Zbikowski accounted for four TDs ( two interception returns and two punt returns ) in 12 games played . He finished fourth on the team with 71 total tackles and led the defense with five interceptions while leading the Irish to the Fiesta Bowl . Following the seasons , Zbikowski earned Third - Team Associated Press All - America honors . He served as 2006 team captain alongside Brady Quinn and Travis Thomas and was selected to the second - team All - American squad by the Walter Camp Football Foundation after helping the Irish earn a bid in the Sugar Bowl . Zbikowski was also named a third - team All - American by the Associated Press and was a semi - finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award , presented annually to the nation ' s best defensive back . He ended the year with 79 tackles , recovered a fumble for a touchdown against Penn State , and recorded his third career punt return touchdown with 52 - yard return against North Carolina . Zbikowski returned to Notre Dame for his fifth year in 2007 , recording a career high 80 total tackles with a pair of interceptions and fumble recoveries . He continued to shine as a return man , racking up 234 return yards on punts . He graduated in May with degrees in sociology and computer applications . Professional career . Baltimore Ravens . Zbikowski was selected with the 86th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens . He made his professional debut on September 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals , posting his first career tackle on special teams during a 17 - 10 win . He had two interceptions in 2009 , and helped as a returner . Indianapolis Colts . Zbikowski signed with the Indianapolis Colts on March 16 , 2012 . He was released from the team on March 15 , 2013 . Chicago Bears . On March 23 , 2013 , Zbikowski was signed by the Chicago Bears to a one - year deal with $ 715 , 000 . Boxing . On June 10 , 2006 , Zbikowski made his professional boxing debut at Madison Square Garden in New York City , beating his opponent , Robert Bell of Akron , Ohio , by TKO within 49 . 0 seconds of the first round . The fight was compliant with NCAA guidelines . Bell , who is an Ohio State fan , wore an Ohio State football jersey into the ring . He signed a three - fight contract and has one fight left . Zbikowski boxed a three - round exhibition fight against Ryan St . Germain on March 2 , 2007 at the Century Center in South Bend , Indiana . After the 2008 NFL season he decided to put his boxing career on hold to focus on football . On March 12 , 2011 , Zbikowski returned to the ring for the first time since 2007 , taking on 1 - 2 35 - year - old Richard Bryant in Las Vegas , amidst ongoing NFL labor contract discord . Zbikowski won by TKO after 1 minute 45 seconds in the first round of the scheduled four - round fight . After that , he trained under the instruction of his new trainer Emanuel Steward , an inductee both of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame , and won via a unanimous decision at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City , New Jersey on March 26 , 2011 to extend his winning streak to three in a row . He extended his win streak to 4 - 0 in a first - round knock out against Blake Warner at the Winstar Casino in Thackerville , Okla . on April 23 , 2011 . After testing positive for a substance in marijuana , he was suspended . After taking a second test , his suspension was lifted . Bob Arum said , " I think that the commission did the right thing by lifting the suspension . . . The tests that were taken were very unreliable . Now Tommy has taken a proper test , and as a result , you know that he ' s clean . So they did the right thing . "