Luke Musgrave: AthleteAnd Pilot
“Since I was a little kid, I’ve always loved flying.”
For Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave, aviation has long been a fascination.
"There's a picture of me from when I was five years old in a full pilot's uniform. Pretty cool that I have the opportunity to actually fly now," Musgrave said.
Still, flying was a dream that had remained just out of reach — until recently.
In November 2023, during a Week 11 home game, Musgrave suffered a Grade 4 kidney laceration after landing awkwardly on the nose of the football. The injury sidelined the then-rookie just as he was beginning to find his rhythm, forcing him to step away from the field and focus on recovery.
While the setback was difficult, it also opened a new door.
“My wife told me I needed to find something to do to keep me productive,” Musgrave said. “So, it dawned on me, ‘Why not start ground school?’ I enrolled in an online course, and I really thought it was super interesting. From there, I set up flight school in the offseason, started flying and loved it.”
What began as a way to stay busy during rehab has since become a true passion. Now, when he’s not catching passes or studying game film, Musgrave can often be found in the cockpit chasing the same thrill and focus that football brings him.
Musgrave said the pressure you face as a professional football player can help you with the pressures of flying a plane.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking, especially when you’re new,” Musgrave explained. “But at a certain point you just have to tell yourself that you’re going to do it. You can’t think too much about it — you just have to do it. And I think that carries over from football.”
Now in his third season, Musgrave sees a future where flying becomes more than just a hobby. His goal is to one day pilot corporate jets and he plans to log hours and experience — possibly by working part-time as a second-in-command (right seat) pilot in the offseason — to help him progress toward becoming a full-fledged corporate pilot.
Whether on the field or in the sky, Musgrave continues to chase excellence — proving that sometimes, an unexpected detour can lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.
The NFLPA joined Luke in the cockpit for a quick flight around Green Bay. You can watch the full video here.
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