Jim Schwantz seems to be able to stretch each day to its limits with his many different roles in life. He is a husband, father, business man, coach, and radio commentator. Did we mention he is also running for Mayor of Palatine, Illinois? With an overflowing plate of responsibilities, he certainly doesn’t seem to shy away from a challenge. Schwantz grew up in Palatine and after his illustrious football career finished, there was no place he would rather be than home in the Chicago suburb.

Many remember Schwantz as a tough as nails linebacker during his career at Purdue University. While at Purdue, Schwantz received many honors including freshman All-American, All Big-Ten Player, team MVP and the Kiwanis Citizenship Award recipient. According to Schwantz, however, it was just as important what he learned off the field as on.  "To leave home for the first time and be on your own was definitely a point of growth for me. I had to learn to budget my time and make my own decisions and then deal with the consequences of those decisions. The hardest part for me was becoming acclimated to being a student-athlete without my parents to keep me on task." Evidently, he figured it out with great success as he completed his BA in Sociology in 1992 and turned his attention to the NFL, where he continued to play for 7 more seasons. When asked if he had any advice for incoming student-athletes, he said to take advantage of everything around them.  "A Purdue education is highly recognized and the network of support is far-reaching. I would suggest getting as much out of it as you can because the resources are phenomenal and, in my experience; people really do care and want to help you succeed at Purdue and beyond." Schwantz says that he still finds it amazing how well connected and supportive people with Purdue ties are.

Schwantz was drafted to the Chicago Bears in 1992, where he played 2 seasons before being traded to the World Champion Dallas Cowboys where he spent his next three seasons. Schwantz became a key contributor to the Cowboys success and played on the winning Super Bowl XXX team, set a single season team high 32 tackles on special teams and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1996. In his final two seasons, he played for the San Francisco Forty-Niners and then back home to the Bears in 1998. He attributes his success at the professional level to a number of factors, with the main factor being the great network of coaches and players during his time at Purdue. "I am truly fortunate to have had such a great career in the NFL because I certainly never thought that I would play a day in the pros, let alone 7 phenomenal years," said Schwantz. "I was able to get to know people who kept an eye on me and gave me a chance to prove myself. I was truly blessed to have not only been given an opportunity to play, but to also play with the best of the best."

During his football career, he had the opportunity to play with and learn from several NFL Hall of Famers including Steve Young, Michael Irvin, and Troy Aikman.  "These guys have work ethics that are second to none and I was able to observe and emulate these guys. They truly have passion from the heart and unbelievable internal motivation. It enabled me to grow as a person and take that with me in all aspects of life." According to Schwantz, his blessings  didn’t end with him just playing NFL football for seven seasons, he was fortunate to play for arguably the three best franchises in the NFL before retiring in 1999.

Upon ending his NFL career, Schwantz was given a great opportunity to begin another career, this time in marketing and sales for Von Sydow’s Moving and Storage, Inc located in Palatine. Schwantz has been the National Account Sales Manager since 2000. As Schwantz says, "The Von Sydow’s are great people and it is my goal every day to prove that hiring me was the right decision." Spoken like a true athlete, his competitive drive and passion for success continue to show through in everything he does.

Jim was actively involved in the community throughout his football career and continues to donate his time and energy to help those in need. Thus, the decision to run for Mayor was a logical one. After intense consideration and the ultimate approval from his family and employer, he announced his candidacy to run for Mayor in the 2009 election. "I’m a product of Palatine, " Schwantz says, "For the better part of 30 years, I have taken advantage of everything Palatine has to offer…I felt at this point, it’s time for me to start giving back." He feels that there is no one better qualified to represent Palatine, in that he and his wife, Brenda, have been life-long residents of Palatine. Their two children and both he and his wife’s parents reside in the Chicago suburb and are involved in numerous aspects of the community. "I feel that I have a pulse on all that is happening here from the youngest of our residents to the seniors."

In all the roles that make up the life of Jim Schwantz, his most prized is being a dad. He and his wife Brenda, whom he took to Prom at Fremd High School, have two great kids. "The greatest job in America is being a dad and I am blessed to have an amazing wife and mother to my children in Brenda. She makes it easy for me to be a great dad," says Schwantz. "I get to spend quality time with my kids and am involved in coaching their basketball, softball and baseball teams. It gets really hectic but this time goes so fast that we want to enjoy the experience while we can."

Schwantz truly embodies the spirit of Purdue Boilermakers. His continuous drive and energy showcase the unique nature of a Purdue education. The combination of high-caliber athletics and a prestigious academic program truly prepare our student-athletes for everything life has to offer.

Editor’s note: Jim Schwantz became mayor of Palatine on April 7, 2009. He began official duties on May 1, 2009.