Photo courtesy of Goodstock By Nolan Ryan.
When the bright lights fade from their sporting events, these Texas athletes have found success in opening up businesses serving food and drinks.
Athletes are used to having big moments on a field, floor, or court. Eventually, time catches up to them, and they must move on to the next chapter of their lives. For some, that means basking in the calm of retirement and enjoying a quiet, peaceful life. For others, it means starting a new business to serve fans in another way.
Texas-born athletes are no strangers to entrepreneurial success. We’ve rounded up ten athletes thriving across the food and beverage industry.
As a note, this list features athletes born and raised in Texas. So, while we love seeing a Dallas Cowboys legend like Troy Aikman creating his low-calorie EIGHT Elite Light Lager, he grew up in California. We’ll save stories like his for another time.
1-2: Brian Orakpo & Michael Griffin: Gigi’s Cupcakes
You probably don’t picture cupcakes when you think of hard-hitting linebackers and safeties. Yet when Brian Orakpo (born in Houston) and Michael Griffin (born in Austin) were winding down their NFL careers, the former Texas Longhorns turned to the baked goods. Now, you might find them behind the counter at Gigi’s Cupcakes in Austin, dishing out sweet treats to hungry customers. “There are so many aspects of the business we knew nothing about besides eating cupcakes,” Orakpo said when describing the endeavor. Griffin is the head baker, while Orakpo serves as head decorator. And, according to Orakpo, they’re both excellent at their roles—just like they were on the football field.
3. Earl Campbell: Earl Campbell Meat Products
Promising a taste “as big and bold as the man himself,” Earl Campbell has provided sausage and hot links that have delighted backyard BBQs, tailgates, family dinners, and fans who just want to snack on some smoked meat. Campbell was born in Tyler and won the Heisman Trophy while with the Texas Longhorns. The Houston Oilers selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 1978 NFL Draft. He won MVP in 1979 and was a three-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, rushing for 9,407 yards and 74 touchdowns in eight seasons. Campbell has been selling his smoked meats since 1990—you can find them across Texas in H-E-B, Randall’s, Walmart, and more.
4. Nolan Ryan: Nolan Ryan Beef
Nolan Ryan holds numerous MLB records, including seasons played (27), strikeouts (5,714), and no-hitters (7). The ace known as the Ryan Express was born in Refugio, a small town just south of Victoria. His family moved to Alvin when he was six weeks old; as Ryan grew up, he loved throwing objects around, so his father encouraged him to pursue baseball. Wise move. After Ryan’s career—which spanned four decades—he launched Nolan Ryan Beef in 2000 and first appeared in Kroger stores in 2002, unveiling his boutique butcher shop Goodstock By Nolan Ryan in 2020. Ryan bought his first calf when he was 10 and bought his first ranch in South Texas in 1970. By the looks of it, he doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.
5. George Foreman: George Foreman Grill
George Foreman was born in Marshall and grew up in the Fifth Ward community of Houston. His boxing career spanned from 1967 to 1997 and was quite impressive: 76 wins (including 68 knockouts) in 81 fights. Yet, it’s the company he started in 1994 that’s even better known. George Foreman Cooking launched an indoor grill that cooks both sides of an item at once and allows fat to drain into a separate reservoir, creating a healthier cooking experience. Foreman claimed he was making $8 million a month at peak grill-mania; in 1999, he sold the rights to use his name to Salton, Inc. for $138 million. Foreman has sold well over 100 million units of his grill and has likely made over $250 million from the company, far more than during his boxing career. Just don’t accidentally grill your foot.
6. Vince Young: Vince Young’s Steakhouse
Vince Young has a weak spot for The Cheesecake Factory; he reportedly spent $5,000 a week and even $15,000 in one sitting during his NFL playing days. The Houston native and Texas Longhorn legend has taken that fondness for dining out and partnered with his friends, Laura McIngvale-Brown and her husband, chef Phillip Brown. The result, Vince Young Steakhouse, has offered fine dining for many a Texan. A bonus fun fact: McIngvale-Brown is the daughter of Jim McIngvale, better known as Mattress Mack. Many Houston residents have scored a sweet deal off of his sports bet-related sales.
7. Selvin Young: Big Hot’s
Selvin Young was a member of the 2005 Texas Longhorns championship team alongside Vince Young, and he spent two seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos. Since retiring, he’s turned to food truck businesses—but not entirely in the way you’d think. Yes, Young does own a pair of food trucks, including Big Hot’s. In 2022, the food truck became the first vegan concept at Rodeo Houston. He also works with other food entrepreneurs, helping them find, rebuild, and renovate food trucks to help advance their businesses.
8. Michael Brockers: Quad Houston and The Den
Michael Brockers retired from the NFL earlier this year, though the Houston native is keeping himself busy. In 2023, he opened up Quad Houston Restaurant & Sports Lounge and the accompanying members-only cigar lounge, The Den. Quad also has a hookah lounge and plenty of TVs for sports fans to catch a game, and some of the dishes are fairly unique. The Smash Burger is adorned with a gold leaf, and the Dragon Fried Ribs make use of the restaurant’s dragon sauce. Thankfully, you don’t have to slay a dragon to enjoy them.
9. Drew Brees: So many restaurants
Some athletes hope to start new businesses, but sometimes, going with an established brand can work well, too. Drew Brees was born in Dallas and played high school football in Austin, winning Texas High School 5A Most Valuable Offensive Player in 1996 while at Westlake. Even during his playing days, Brees started getting involved with franchises around the country. He’s opened up the healthy build-your-own-bowl restaurant Everbowl, he’s a co-owner of the Louisiana-themed Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, and he’s delivered many a Dunkin’ to give folks their donut and coffee fixes. Brees also helped bring Jimmy John’s to New Orleans while playing with the Saints; he’s said he ordered the No. 9 Italian Night Club at least three times a week while in college. In total, Brees has owned over 150 locations of his various franchises.
10. Simone Biles: Taste of Gold
We’re getting ahead of ourselves with this one, but it’s an exciting development. Seven-time gold medalist Simone Biles, a self-proclaimed “foodie at heart,” is partnering with The Playmakers Group to open up Taste of Gold at Terminal A in Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The restaurant plans to open in the first quarter of 2025 and should see a ton of foot traffic; IAH welcomed 46.1 million visitors last year. As Biles explained in a press release, the restaurant will be “a beautiful dining experience that features award-winning, signature menu items with some of my favorite flavors sprinkled in for our guests.” Patrons eat free if they perform a 90-second floor routine before the check comes (just kidding, but that might be a fun promotion someday).
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
