Sean Stellato, Tommy DeVito’s agent, has captured the football nation’s attention nearly as much as his client. Stellato took time Tuesday to field a Q&A from The Post’s Steve Serby.
Q: Hollywood is calling?
A: Everyone’s coming out of the woodwork, and there’s a demand right now going on. A potential premium series documentary on Tommy pre-draft, through the process, like “Draft Day,” and then following post-draft.
Q: All the way up until today?
A: Correct.
Q: How would you describe today, what it’s like being Sean Stellato?
A: I’ve been involved with football for 39 years, 21 as a player, 18 as a sports agent. I’m living my bliss every day. I’m truly humbled, truly blessed to stay connected to a game that have me an opportunity — my dad handed me a football at 6 after I watched that (Doug Flutie) highlight, he said, “This football’s gotta be your compass. You’re not gonna be the biggest, strongest, wealthiest, but no one can ever outwork you and let this take you places.” And it really has. I just want to be the poster child for the underdog. … They often say circumstances don’t define a person, they reveal them.
I had a learning disability (dyslexia) as a kid, and I had tremendous love and support from my mom and dad, eight of us in a three-bedroom house, so I looked at it we were wealthy in that component, and my wife has been so amazing through the years. It’s an exciting time to be Sean Stellato, but I’m only as great as my clients, and just being able to deliver for my clients and help them achieve all their dreams — that’s my success and that’s my happiness. And be a really strong role model for my four daughters who are my greatest accomplishments.
Q: What did America learn about Sean Stellato on Monday night?
A: I’m very proud of my heritage, and I’m very passionate about the players I represent and my worksmanship as a sports agent. I like to dress a little bit outside the box at times. That’s my late grandmother Littizza who worked at a men’s clothing store ’til she was 86 years old. They used to bring me home goodies during the holidays and get dressed up. We called her “Owa,” she was my inspiration, and she loved with me ’til she passed.
Yesterday I went to her grave (Greenlawn Cemetary in Salem, Mass.) and I had just a really deep moment at her grave, and I put the (National Italian-American) Hall of Fame hat on her grave, and I prayed for Tommy and all my clients for the remaining part of the season. And I just was so grateful that I had the chance to be partially raised by her. I’ll never forget her.
The hat was for the heritage for all the Italianos that came before me that wore the fedora. The fedora’s a staple in Italy, and we’re trying to bring it back a little bit in America.
Q: Peyton and Eli Manning used the word slimy about you.
A: I don’t know if someone called in and called me slimy … on the field I was so slippery and I was very elusive. People used to think I wore Vaseline on my jersey. My signature two moves (as a receiver at Marist and in the Arena Football League) were the Willie Mays catch over the head and my ability to make people miss.
Q: But Peyton wasn’t talking about you on the football field.
A: Lookit, I live by lenses of be curious, not judgmental. … Some people are born into certain situations, others aren’t. Some people start at third base while others start in the batter’s box, and I think that’s what makes Tommy’s story and my story so unique is there haven’t been any handouts. We love that journey. We wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.
Q: What do you think America learned about Tommy DeVito on Monday night?
A: I think they learned that you know what, this is a true, gritty underdog that has cut teeth, that has never forgotten where he came from, and continues to prove the naysayers wrong. They often say luck is where preparation meets opportunity. It’s not overnight that Tommy DeVito was 17-for-21 against a really good football team. Tommy had prepped since he was 5 years old for that moment last night when his father had him on the field working on his throwing mechanics, to all the great coaches he’s had through the years. The best is yet to come for this kid. There’s a lot of underdogs in this country, and that’s what makes sports a language that everyone can understand and create opportunities that a lot of people might not ever get.
Q: Tommy has called you the Italian Stallion of sports agents.
A: It’s an honor. Being able to carry that baton of an Italian-American or an Italian Stallion … that’s a pretty special title from a pretty special quarterback.
Q: How long have you known Tommy DeVito?
A: I’ve known Tommy nearly a year. … This doesn’t surprise me at all what he’s doing. I stood on the table draft day for 32 teams and only four really teams were trying to listen.
Q: Which teams?
A: They were the Bears, the Rams, the Commanders and the Giants. And then the Jets called after the draft and the Jets wanted to bring him in on a tryout (laugh). Not even sign him to a contract!
Q: What did you tell them?
A: With all transparency, I said, “He’s gonna throw for 300 yards against you in the last preseason game,” and they got kinda mad at me, and I felt bad after ’cause I said it out of frustration because I have the utmost respect for Joe Douglas and (assistant GM) Rex Hogan has been a dear friend through the years.
Q: You have to sit next to Tommy’s father, Tom, every game now?
A: Oh man, Italians are very superstitious. I don’t want to change anything up … outside of the underwear.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Jesus Christ; my late grandfather Pasquale who I never got to meet; he lost his battle to leukemia when my dad was in his teens. I know the sacrifices he made for his family. I’m honored that I was his grandson; Sinatra; Rocky Balboa, no offense to Sylvester Stallone; Daniel LaRusso, no offense to Ralph Macchio. And then maybe after dinner, maybe they both can do a little sparring.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: I used to play the song of “The Natural” in my head before big moments in football games.
Q: Favorite actor?
A: I think it has to be Stallone, I mean he’s an Italian, we’re talking about Tommy DeVito, I can’t let him down.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Blake Lively.
Q: Favorite singer/rapper/entertainer?
A: We have a fedora to honor him, Frank Sinatra. I wear that fedora in honor of the old-time Italians that used to wear ’em to those Yankee games.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: My wife’s breaded gluten-free cutlets.