Christian School Fires Former NFL Player From Coaching Job for Posing With Alcohol on Facebook
Strong Rock Christian School, a private Christian institution in Georgia on a mission to raise children to become followers of Jesus, fired former NFL corner back and Super Bowl champion Fernando Bryant just 20 days after hiring him due to a controversial social media post involving alcohol.
Bryant, 39, who played for several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers which won Super Bowl XLIII, told 11Alive that the school asked him to resign on Feb. 19 after parents had raised issues about his past on social media. When he refused to resign, Bryant, who identifies as a Christian, said he was terminated.
In a copy of his termination letter, the school raised concern about Bryant's social media presence without specifying anything in particular.
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"This letter will confirm that Strong Rock Christian School has made a decision not to move forward with your employment in the position of head coach of the football team and physical education teacher," the letter cited by 11 Alive stated.
"As we discussed, after we made the offer to you, some within our parent community raised concerns regarding your family's public presence on social media and the internet and questioned whether the postings and information were consistent with our Christian values. We're sorry that our relationship had to end before it started. We wish you the best," it added.
Bryant said he was told later that the concern was over a photo posted by his wife, Amber, some three years ago that feature them posing with a bottle of alcohol. Amber Bryant, was a television personality on Bravo's show Mother Funders which follows a PTO at Bethlehem Elementary School in Locust Grove, Georgia.
An unidentified source inside the Strong Rock football program showed 11Alive a screen shot of the photo that was posted on Amber's private Instagram account that a parent allegedly sent to the school's administration.
Bryant, who may pursue legal action against the school, said he was shocked and disappointed by the turn of events as he went through a vigorous hiring process that lasted two months. He also turned down two college coaching jobs and one high school head coaching job to accept the job at Strong Rock Christian School.
"If one parent or one part of a school can control it that much as far as Christianity, it makes you wonder what times we're in," he told 11Alive. "I am a Christian, that's the one thing that gives Christianity a bad name, when we start passing judgment on each other."
The Super Bowl champion confirmed that Strong Rock had done background checks including on the social media activity for both himself and his wife.
"I don't know if they went back three years. I know they went through her social media and everything. They actually called her in and spoke with her during the interview process, so I don't really know, to be honest," Bryant said.
"It is a little disheartening. I went through a long process," Bryant said. "I don't understand it from the standpoint of the day they hired me to the day they said they couldn't have me as their head coach. Nothing had changed. Nothing changed from the standpoint of anything they knew about me."
In announcing Bryant's hiring in a report earlier this month, Strong Rock Christian School praised Bryant's relationship with Christ.
"I think Fernando will be a great addition to the athletic staff at Strong Rock," Athletic Director Phil Roberts stated in a press release. "His playing experience speaks for itself, but as we went through the interview process, his relationships with Christ, student-athletes, and co-workers are what convinced us that he could be successful here. I'm excited to develop the next phase of strengthening our football program with a leader like Fernando Bryant."
Bryant most recently served as a Defensive Backs coach at Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina. He was also the Defensive Coordinator at Creekside Christian Academy in McDonough in 2014 and 2015.
In accepting the job at Strong Rock, he said it felt like a "calling."
"I wasn't looking for a job," Bryant stated in a press release. "I was happy at Limestone, but when this one came open, I felt like it was calling my name. Everything I've heard about Strong Rock is great. Once I had my first interview, I knew this was the place for me. I love the fact that it has a family environment. I'm looking forward to building men of God and great football players at Strong Rock."
The Christian Post reached out to Strong Rock via telephone several times on Friday and no one answered. All social media accounts for the school have also been disabled.
