JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It’s a one in a million chance to play in the NFL, but for one local man, it was one of many dreams.
From NFL athlete to businessman, William Sweet is proof that there is life after football.
Sweet hasn’t just changed careers, he’s changed the lives of others for the better.
Sweet retired from the NFL at 24 years old. For some athletes, that’s the end, but for Sweet, it was the beginning of a new chapter. That chapter has been getting attention from big financial businessmen like John Hope Bryant.
Sweet switched from football to cars through Uber.
“I’m buying the cars. We are providing the cars, and they are providing the drivers, so it’s the perfect relationship,” Sweet, business owner, Sweet EV Rides said.
This is his second business. His first was real estate in 2019. He invested in housing to help people transitioning out of prison, going back into a normal life in Jacksonville.
He said he’s helped hundreds of people.
“We’ve helped hundreds of people throughout the transitional program, getting out of prison,” he said.
They have over 40 beds.
And then there’s the Next Level Boys Academy, a diversion program that prevents children from going to prison.
Sweet attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, despite 30 division one offers.
“My number one goal was to set up life after football. You never know how many years you’re going to play. It’s not even guaranteed if youre going or play the next level. But for me, I wanted to secure my education and secure my foundation for business,” said Sweet.
He got an internship as a 17-year-old with Peter Fox, who owned the most Jimmy John’s in the country at that time.
Now he has a fleet of 40 cars and real estate.
Sweet said other athletes don’t have to take the same path because success comes in many forms.
“Figure out a way, how to make an impact and add value to other people,” Sweet said.
On this Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Sweet said it all comes together by having the ability to live out his own dreams.
“Because of him [Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.] and people like him, it motivates me to keep going on, and if I can inspire at least one person who is watching or in my life, then I served a purpose,” Sweet said.
Sweet is not stopping there. He recently traced his lineage to Ghana, and he has mentors there, too.
So, there might be a sweet business in Africa soon.