LYNN — Salem native and NFLPA certified agent Sean Stellato keeps a busy schedule. On a daily basis, Stellato can play a handful of different roles that range from his duties as a NFL agent to those of an author. Tuesday afternoon at St. Mary’s Stellato took charge as a motivational speaker, treating the 95 Spartan seniors to an inspirational speech.
“I go in there as the blue-collar underdog,” Stellato said. “With St. Mary’s being a smaller school, it’s not about who you are but about where you’re from. I try to inspire these kids to put their goals on paper and read them on a daily basis, giving them aim toward what they want to accomplish. It’s not going to be handed, it takes time. If you have strong desire and faith, you can accomplish it.”
Stellato views himself as a local product who once walked in the shoes of the soon-to-be St. Mary’s graduates. He graduated from Salem High School in 1996, where he played football and basketball. He quarterbacked the football team to a Super Bowl run in 1994 amidst a teacher’s strike that threatened the team’s season. Those experiences are chronicled in a novel Stellato wrote titled “No Backing Down.”
Stellato won a state championship 1995 with Salem’s basketball team. The Witches were among the last teams to play at the old Boston Garden.
“I tried to harp in on my journey, being an underdog and where I came from,” Stellato, 40 years old, said. “Anything’s possible. We talked about the book and where it started, the vision and the publishing process. It’s a tutorial on never giving up and never backing down. Be grateful for what you do but use the core values St. Mary’s taught you as a benchmark to go far.
“I look at 21 years out of high school and I’m not too far removed,” Stellato said. “I know it sounds like a long time ago but I remember being one of those kids and having big goals. It’s extremely gratifying to be able to speak in front of them. I look at it as God’s work. I never forget where I came from.”
Stellato’s list of 16 NFL clients includes a handful of Patriots players in punter Ryan Allen, linebacker Marquis Flowers, defensive back Jonathan Jones and special teamer Brandon King. For Stellato, motivational speaking is high on his list of favorite hats to wear.
“Out of anything I do the speaking component is uplifting,” Stellato said. “I feel I can talk to these kids in a way they respect and understand. It’s really cool. When one of my clients gets placed on a team that’s uplifting, but I get the same emotional high when I talk to these kids.”
Stellato’s set to return to Lynn July 22 when he brings his annual “All-American Showcase” football camp to Manning Field. This year marks the 11th running of Stellato’s camp. Patriots players Jones, Flowers and linebackers coach Brian Flores are among those who’ll be at the camp teaching participants football skills and fundamentals.
“It’s going to be a great tutorial for kids ages 8-16,” Stellato said. “We really try to make it like Disney World for the kids. The kids compete but they don’t have to be all-stars to come.
He added, “It’s a great day to develop. They’ll be coached by NFL players, college players and top-notch area high school coaches.”
