With the 2024 NFL season underway, it’s a good reminder that the athlete to restaurant franchising pipeline remains strong, particularly for former football players looking for their second career.
Former quarterbacks, running backs and more have turned their attention from the gridiron to the griddle after their days of tackling are over (though some athletes have gotten into the restaurant industry during their football careers), including former New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, and former defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts, Donnell Thompson.
Some former players have even gotten into the ownership side of things like former Denver Broncos quarterback, John Elway (who owns a small group of steakhouses) and recent Super Bowl Champions, Travis Kelce, and Jason Mahomes (who are opening a steakhouse in 2025). One former football player even became a chef who competed on “Chopped.”
Keep reading to learn more about NFL players who became restaurant operators, franchisees, chefs, and investors.
