NFL alum Brandon Bair traveled around the country playing football like many of us. He now is back home in Idaho enjoying his family and his quiet—for the most part– life.
Bair, 38, left Idaho to play his collegiate ball at the University of Oregon. He was good enough to start for the Ducks in the 2010 National Championship Game against Auburn. He also was smart enough to earn an Economics degree when he graduated from Oregon that same year.
The 6-6, 290-pound defensive tackle was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chiefs in 2011. He was waived after the 2012 preseason and signed by the Raiders. Bair tore his hamstring in 2013, and was released but did not give up his dream to succeed in pro ball.
Bair was picked up by the Eagles and was on their active roster for all 16 games in 2014. He made the team again the following year and finally had his first start against the Jets that September. Bair’s football career ended the following year and he returned to his native Idaho to settle in and start his post-NFL life.
While Bair’s NFL career never made the headlines, he certainly made a name for himself two years ago. He was driving to work and witnessed a semi-truck get violently hit by a moving train. His instincts kicked in and Bair ran and pulled the 25-year-old truck driver out of his fiery cab through the front windshield to help save the stranger’s life.
“It was a conscious decision that I’m going in because the driver needs help right now,” Bair reflects on that day. “I could see the driver in a seatbelt and was able to reach in and get it off him. He was talking and I told him we had to get out of there right away. We got away and within seconds the whole driver’s seat and cab went up in flames.”
For his heroic actions, Bair received a Carnegie Medal from the national Carnegie Hero Foundation. According to the Foundation, a Carnegie Medal is North America’s highest honor for civilian heroism. Bair also was recognized for his bravery with a state flag presented to him by Idaho Governor Brad Little.
While not every day is as exciting as that one in 2021, Bair does lead an interesting life. He and his wife Jordan are parents of four young girls. He is General Manager of the Henry’s Fork Homes franchise in St. Anthony (ID). He built the dealership on a portion of the farm where Bair grew up and where his family raised cattle for most of his young life. He sells modular and manufactured homes as well as recreational vehicles to his neighbors around the state. Bair also conveniently owns hundreds of one-to-six acre, near-by lots so his customers can buy land-home packages from him and settle into their new surroundings.
Bair also often gives back to the Idaho community he loves and has held an annual summer football camp since 2011 for local youngsters.
We at NFL Alumni salute a true American hero and wish our NFL alum brother much success in Idaho. We hope Brandon Bair’s young daughters will appreciate their dad’s athletic abilities and true bravery when they grow older. We sure do!
