From Football Field to Server Room: Former Cal Player Takes On New Role with San Francisco 49ers

Michael Lowe, a former Division I football player at UC Berkeley, has landed an apprenticeship with the San Francisco 49ers' Network Engineering team. The position is part of Cisco's Networking Academy program, which Lowe credits for helping him transition into a career in network engineering.

Lowe played for the Cal Bears from 2012 to 2014 and was even captain of the team during his senior year. After graduating with a degree in legal studies, he joined the Cisco Networking Academy, where he excelled and eventually became part of the Dream Team at Cisco Live in 2026.

As an apprentice for the 49ers, Lowe is gaining hands-on experience with network engineering, working closely with the team to ensure seamless connectivity and security throughout Levi's Stadium. He notes that his football background has given him a unique perspective on teamwork and leadership, which he believes has helped him excel in this new role.

According to Lowe, one of the most surprising aspects of working behind the scenes at the stadium is seeing how IT plays a crucial role in configuring technology systems used by various departments. He emphasizes that his experience with Cisco Networking Academy has been invaluable in helping him understand network engineering concepts and terminology.