Penn State Startup Week 2026

Tony Stewart is a former professional football tight end whose athletic career took him from the fields of Penn State University to the highest level of the game. A standout with the Nittany Lions, Stewart earned honorable mention All-America honors and second-team All-Big Ten recognition, including a record-setting senior season that made him the first tight end to lead Penn State in receiving since 1979. Selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2001 NFL Draft, Stewart went on to enjoy a decade-long professional career, playing 115 games across three franchises — the Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, and Oakland Raiders — before retiring in 2010. Following his football career, Stewart channeled the same discipline and team-first mentality that defined his time on the field into a remarkable second act. He founded Beyond The Locker, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching life skills to young people through the lens of sports, and established himself as a sought-after motivational speaker and consultant to the NFL, helping players and organizations navigate the challenges of both the game and life beyond it. Driven by his faith, Tony also shares his testimony with youth groups, men's groups, and has served in various capacities at the church he attends. He went on to become a successful Chick-fil-A franchisee in Orange County, California, growing his location to more than three times its original value and establishing it as one of the most successful franchises in the chain over the last decade. Tony credits the transferable skills from his SWEAT Mindset as the driving force behind his successful transition into the quick-service industry, operating his restaurant with a deep commitment to community, mentorship, and service. At the core of everything Tony does is his faith and his family — the two driving forces behind every decision he makes, on and off the field.