Tyler Witt, CEO/Chairperson

I grew up in Joliet, Illinois, where my passion for football ignited at the age of nine. During high school at Joliet Catholic Academy, I excelled on the field, earning All-American honors (MaxPreps, Esmark) by my senior year. In 2016, I committed to Western Kentucky University, where I became a 4-year starter as an offensive guard. In 2021, I transferred to Purdue University for my final year of eligibility, extended due to COVID. There, I was named a unanimous All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, capping off my college career with 55 consecutive starts.

After going undrafted, I received invitations to NFL Rookie Mini-Camps with the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons but wasn’t selected by either team. I then played in the Indoor Football League with the Vegas Knighthawks, starting three games at center. My next opportunity came with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL, where I made one start. After the CFL season, I was drafted in the 7th round by the DC Defenders in the XFL, though I was cut during training camp.

Football had been the focus of my life, and stepping away left me feeling lost and without a sense of identity. I turned to therapy, which played a crucial role in my recovery. Through this journey, I developed the idea for Afterlete, born from my personal experience of transitioning away from sports and the lack of resources to help me heal. I truly hope that Afterlete can help you realize you are not alone, and that you are worth more than just an athlete.