Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Stewart argues that the primary value of youth sports is not athletic development but the creation of a supportive community for young people. Stewart, who spent 11 seasons in the NFL, now coaches a middle school football team in North Carolina, emphasizing that sports provide the structure and social bonds necessary for children to become responsible young adults. He is joined on the coaching staff by former Carolina Panthers teammates Greg Olsen and Luke Kuechly.
Stewart stated in an interview with OutKick that youth sports are not about producing future professional stars or collegiate athletes. Instead, he believes the activities teach prioritization and life skills. "You are a kid, you have to make time to play," Stewart said. "You have to make time to study, you have to make time to take care of the things at home." He noted that these responsibilities help children mature and find their footing during the transition to adolescence.
The coaching staff works at Charlotte Christian School, where Stewart highlighted the unique impressionability of middle school students. He described this age group as "sponges" who are eager to learn and willing to be pushed. Unlike high schoolers, who may require different communication styles, middle schoolers can be addressed like adults and tend to trust and internalize the guidance they receive. Stewart said this dynamic allows mentors to make a lasting impact on character development.
Stewart also pointed to the social benefits of team sports, noting that they offer a platform for belonging and purpose. He observed that many of his players rely on the team for fellowship after school, preventing isolation during a potentially lonely period of life. "If it wasn't for football, who knows where this kid would be," Stewart said. He described scenes of players laughing and playing together before practice, which helps them build friendships and find a sense of identity among their peers.
For Stewart, coaching was an unexpected role. He initially did not consider coaching because he has two daughters rather than sons. However, when his daughters began attending Charlotte Christian School, he joined Olsen and Kuechly on the staff. His involvement has had a positive ripple effect on his family, with his daughters showing increased interest in the sport. They now enjoy attending games and asking questions about practice, allowing them to better understand their father's career and the family's connection to football.
Stewart views football as a vehicle for teaching broader life lessons, including selflessness, responsibility, and prioritization. He cited one player, Jack, as an example of this growth. Despite being physically small, Jack demonstrated loyalty and effort that impressed Stewart. Over the course of a year, Jack grew in confidence, becoming more vocal in helping younger teammates and making significant plays on the field. Stewart said watching Jack's development, from a quiet seventh grader to an active eighth grader who scored a touchdown on his first carry, was rewarding.
The former running back also connected the discipline of sports to general health habits. In a segment promoting an NFL partnership with Oral-B and Crest, Stewart emphasized that oral hygiene is as important as physical training and diet for overall health. He shared that he uses mouthwash multiple times a day, noting that proper self-care is a standard he tries to model for his players.
Stewart's career included 134 games with 7,335 rushing yards and 51 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl in 2015 after spending 10 seasons with the Panthers and one with the New York Giants.