Remember the guy in the pinstripe suit who became an internet meme during Tommy DeVito's breakout season? That's Sean Stellato, the agent who turned sideline fashion into a viral moment. Now, he's trading the gridiron for a different kind of field—flag football—with an eye on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Stellato, who turns 50 when the Games roll into LA, has been invited to training camp with the Italian men's national flag football team. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the 48-year-old former Marist College wide receiver will report to the Italian Olympic Committee headquarters in Rome next month. He'll compete for a roster spot at the IFAF Men's Flag Football World Championship in Germany, where the top three teams punch their tickets to the Olympics.
It's a long shot, no doubt. But Stellato's journey from NFL agent to Olympic hopeful has already sparked plenty of chatter—and not all of it positive. Social media lit up with accusations that this is nothing more than a publicity stunt to stretch his 15 minutes of fame.
“This is just a massive PR stunt to prolong his fifteen minutes of fame. There are younger, actual athletes who deserve this roster spot way more,” one user on X wrote. Another fan was less diplomatic: “Everything I’ve learned about this man has been against my will.” A third added, “The hat and gimmick wasn’t enough … He had to go to Italy to try out for a flag football team. Absolutely hilarious.”
But Stellato isn't just a suit and a smirk. He played college ball at Marist, and he's betting that his receiving skills—honed decades ago—can still compete on the international stage. The Italian team is likely looking for any edge it can get as flag football makes its Olympic debut.
The 2026 IFAF Men's Flag Football World Championship marks the 12th edition of the tournament. The United States enters as the five-time defending champions and the world's top-ranked team. However, the U.S. squad won't feature the NFL stars fans might expect. At the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in March, Team USA dominated exhibition games against teams that included Tom Brady, Saquon Barkley, Joe Burrow, and Jalen Hurts. But for the Olympic qualifiers, the roster will likely be filled with non-NFL players—making Stellato's bid seem slightly less far-fetched.
The Olympic dream is real, but the road goes through Germany first. If Italy finishes in the top three at the World Championship, they'll book their spot for LA 2028. Stellato will have to beat out younger, more active players to make the cut. And even if he does, he'll be 50 when the Games begin—an age that's ancient for most athletes, but maybe not for a flag football player with a chip on his shoulder.
Critics aside, Stellato's story has a certain underdog charm. He's already defied expectations by going from a small-college receiver to a prominent NFL agent. Now he's trying to do what few agents have ever attempted: become an Olympian. Whether it's a genuine athletic pursuit or a calculated PR move, it's certainly entertaining. And in the world of sports, that counts for something.
For those wondering about the state of flag football's growth, the sport is gaining serious momentum. The recent debates around college football expansion show how much the landscape is shifting, and flag football is riding that wave. Meanwhile, Stellato's former client Tommy DeVito is now a backup with the Giants, but his agent's Olympic quest might just steal the spotlight again.
Will Stellato make the team? The odds are long, but he's already proven he knows how to get attention. For now, he's trading Armani for azzurro—and the world is watching.
