Angelo Crowell is a former linebacker who played with the Buffalo Bills and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his decade-long professional football career. Now in his retirement days, Crowell has gone into the franchising business with his wife, Kim. Under the Kalo Companies umbrella, the Crowells own 68 Jersey Mike’s locations in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, employing more than 700 people across the three states. 

Recently, Kalo Companies has gotten into the Slim Chickens franchise and now owns two Slim Chickens restaurants in Tallahassee, Fla., with the second opening last summer. The Crowells hope to expand their Slim Chickens business in much the same way that they did Jersey Mike’s. 

Former Super Bowl XLVI champion and New York Giants wide receiver, Victor Cruz, got into restaurant franchising after signing a partnership with Krystal restaurants in 2021. Cruz has been tasked with bringing the burger chain out of the Southeast for the first time and will be opening restaurants in New Jersey, including in his hometown of Paterson, N.J. 

The first Krystal in New Jersey will open on Main Street in Paterson, though there is no word yet on exactly when this location of the nearly century-old brand will open.

NFL running back-turned professional chef Tobias Dorzon started his career as a football player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans. During the 2012 off-season, he attended culinary school at the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Washington.

Dorzon made a complete career switch from football to restaurants and is the only athlete on this list who became a professional chef. He has competed on cooking competition shows, “Chopped” and “Guy’s Grocery Games,” and has opened three restaurants: Union District Oyster Bar and Lounge in Washington, D.C., Thirteen Restaurant in Houston, Texas, and most recently, Huncho House in Hyattsville, Md. In 2022. 

Dorzon is executive head chef at Huncho House and was named Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Maryland this year.

John Elway — former quarterback and general manager of the Denver Broncos — opened a group of steakhouses in his retirement years. At its peak, Elway’s steakhouses had four locations in Colorado, though recently closed one due to a redevelopment project. 

Elway’s remaining steakhouses, owned in partnership with his business partner Tim Schmidt, serve seafood and chops and have locations in downtown Denver, Vail, and in the Denver International Airport. 

Michael Irvin, who sported number 88 for the Dallas Cowboys during his 12-year tenure as wide receiver for the team, used his well-known jersey number and nickname for his new sports bar venture. Playmakers88 is a sports bar that opened in The Colony, Texas this summer, with memorabilia from Irvin’s playing days on display throughout the venue, and a menu of wings, burgers, pasta, and Southern staples. 

Cameron Jordan is a current defensive end for the New Orleans Saints, and during the off-season this year, he became an investor with a Little Caesars franchise, that was acquired by franchisees Andrew Feghali and Michael Khalil. 

Jordan began his career with Little Caesars by appearing in commercials for the brand, which is the official pizza sponsor of the NFL. Now, his franchising investment in Little Caesars will be his first foray into the world of restaurant franchising: 

"I am excited to announce my partnership with Little Caesars as a franchise investor," said Jordan in a statement. "This collaboration aligns perfectly with my commitment to community, entrepreneurship, and fostering growth opportunities. I am thrilled to join a business that has had such a longstanding impact in my life."

Super Bowl champions and Kansas City Chiefs superstars, Travis Kelce (boyfriend to Taylor Swift), and Patrick Mahomes may still have another season of football to play coming up, but the two friends and athletes are looking toward their next venture: restaurant ownership. 

In early 2025, Kelce and Mahomes will be opening a modern American steakhouse in Kansas City called 1587 Prime (named after both of their jersey numbers). The steakhouse will be operated by Noble 33: known for its global hospitality portfolio with concepts like Toca Madera and Casa Madera, with locations in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, London, and beyond.

1587 Prime will be located inside Loews Hotel Kansas City with a 10,000-square-foot space across two floors and promises to be a “fine-dining destination” for steak lovers and sports fans.

Former NFL offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy, who used to play for the Atlanta Falcons and Oakland Raiders, now owns two Angry Crab Shack restaurants in Arizona and Nevada. Kennedy started his restaurant career while he was still playing football and has also previously owned Subway and Blimpie franchises. 

“I met Ron Lou [the founder of Angry Crab Shack and former NFL player] while I was the chapter president for the retired NFL Players Association,” Kennedy said during a previous interview with NRN. “We had our meetings at Ron's old seafood restaurant…Then, Ron told us about wanting to expand his restaurant business, and he got a few of us together and I said, “let’s do this, let's take a chance.” And lo and behold, we realized after not too short of a time [of building Angry Crab Shack] that people in Arizona loved the type of seafood that we brought, so we grew very quickly.” 

After a six-year NFL career playing for the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cincinnati Bengals, Garrett Mills got his MBA and decided to pursue entrepreneurship opportunities. 

First, he was president of Chandler Hospitality Group, and now is co-owner of Uncommon Brands: a new holding company formed earlier this year that completed its first acquisition, Fuego Tortilla Grill, in February. Fuego Tortillas Grill has four locations in Texas and Uncommon Brands plans to invest $100 million to expand the taco brand further.

In five years, Mills told NRN in a previous interview, he expects Uncommon Brands to have a full team in place, including restaurant finance people, another brand or two, and 20 more Fuego Tortilla Grill locations.   

 “Right now, our priority is taking this great first brand we have and making sure others we add are as good or in the same ballpark,” he said. 

Ben Powers is entering his sixth season with the NFL as a guard for the Denver Broncos, and is starting his first season as a franchisee. Powers is partnering with GVL Hospitality Group to bring 10 Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers franchises to South Carolina. He will also help college football players’ future careers by offering NIL Deals with them.

The first Freddy’s restaurant under Powers’ ownership will open in 2025, with the rest to be finished by 2031. 

“Growing up, I always wanted to do something business-related and prove that I could make a name for myself on and off the football field,” Powers, a Wichita native, said in a statement. “I’m excited for this business venture with Freddy’s; it’s one of the best burgers you can get and it’s a taste from home for me. I look forward to spreading the joy I have from my hometown with even more communities.”

Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, who spent most of his 15-year professional football career with the Dallas Cowboys, is gaining recognition as a restaurant operator in his retirement years. 

In Dec. 2021, Smith announced the opening of Emmitt’s Las Vegas: a 30,000+ square foot restaurant and event venue overlooking the Las Vegas Strip featuring a diverse menu of seafood and chops from executive chef Antwan Ellis. 

Recently, Emmitt’s Las Vegas was awarded a 2024 Diner’s Choice Award from OpenTable just six months after the restaurant officially opened. 

“Our goal has always been to create a dining experience that is not only memorable but also reflects the dedication of our incredible team and the loyalty of our guests who continue to support us,” Smith said in a statement.

Tim Tebow spent most of his NFL career as a famous quarterback for the Denver Broncos and now in his retirement, he uses his Christian faith as an entrepreneurial springboard for speaking and business opportunities. One of those business ventures is his work as a national brand ambassador for Clean Juice, which was founded by devout Christians, Landon and Kat Eckles.

Tebow joined the Clean Juice family in 2021 and starred in the juice brand’s first-ever national TV spot. He also is still working with the brand even after it was acquired by BRIX Holdings at the end of May this year.   

Donnell Thompson is a former defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts who turned toward restaurant franchising in his retirement from the NFL. He started with McDonald’s 20-30 years ago and now owns nine Checker’s & Rally’s stores.

“Three or four years ago, I was talking to some friends of mine in the business and a couple of them had some Checker’s restaurants, and they were talking about some of the profitability that the company had, the simplification of the branding, and the small footprint,” Thompson said in a May 2023 interview with NRN. “I am a developer, so that fit where I am right now. […] I had maybe half an acre of land left, so I thought Checker’s would be a good fit.”