Shaquille O’Neal is once again branching out into a new career and, having completed his training at the FBI National Academy, can now call himself an honorary agent of the FBI.
This was announced on social media by FBI Director Kash Patel himself. “This intake is historic. The FBI considered it an honour to have one of the country’s greatest supporters of law enforcement – Shaquille O’Neal – among us. He graduated with this intake and has been appointed an honorary FBI agent,” Patel wrote on X.
As the title suggests, Shaq is not an official FBI agent as a result of the training, but merely holds this rank in an honorary capacity. At the FBI National Academy, he completed a form of advanced training for senior police officers and executives from local, state and international law enforcement agencies. This should not be confused with the training to become an FBI Special Agent at the FBI Academy in Quantico.
Shaq therefore undertook this further training as an external participant, which is likely due to his role as a reserve police officer.
Congratulations to our newest cohort of FBI National Academy graduates, Session 299 – comprising 265 law enforcement officers from across the country.
This session is historic – the FBI was honoured to be joined by one of the country’s greatest supporters of law enforcement –… pic.twitter.com/GeIBiBf9Sr
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) 17 September 2026
Shaq has been serving as a reserve police officer for many years
The Big Man has long been interested in the work of law enforcement agencies and, whilst playing for the Miami Heat in 2006, was sworn in as a reserve police officer in Miami Beach following the relevant training. Prior to that, he had already served as a reserve officer in Los Angeles, and since 2015 has also been a reserve officer in Doral, Florida.
In the past, he has spoken on several occasions about his interest in the field and explained that he intends to learn the job properly, rather than simply receiving some honorary title on the basis of his fame.
As well as working as an NBA analyst on the programme “Inside the NBA”, Shaq has been touring the world as a DJ for many years and owns several fast-food restaurants.