His net worth is approximately $3 million.He did not make millions from NFL contracts. Unlike today’s superstars, Jon never played a single regular-season down in the NFL. So where does his money come from? After football, Jon built a quiet career in orthopedic medical sales. He represents SouthTech, a surgical device company in Raleigh .
Add in his NFL free agent signing bonuses andUFL earnings, and you get a solid, respectable net worth. But Jon’s real wealth is not money. It is a legacy. It is the story of his brother Luke, the number 5 jersey, and a Hollywood movie called The 5th Quarter. This is the complete story of Jon Abbate in 2026.
Who is Jon Abbate?
He is the former Wake Forest linebacker who became the face of one of college football’s most emotional stories.He is the brother who lost 15-year-old Luke in a car accident. He is the player who switched his jersey to #5. He is the reason thousands of fans held up five fingers before the 4th quarter .
Today, Jon is not on TV. You won’t see him on Sunday Night Football. But he is still working, still raising his family in Georgia, and still honoring his brother every single day .
~Jon Abbate Biography
He was born on June 18, 1985, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida .He grew up in Marietta, Georgia, and attended Harrison High School. His senior year, he led the entire state of Georgia in tackles. He made 207 stops, averaged 15 tackles per game, and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors .
He chose Wake Forest University. He redshirted his first year, then started immediately in 2004 .
Jon Abbate Age: How old is he?
Jon Abbate is 40 years old.He was born on June 18, 1985. That makes him a Gemini .
He is young enough to still look like he could play, but old enough to have a teenage son of his own now.
Family Legacy: Parents & Siblings
His parents are Steven and Maryanne Abbate. They raised four children in a close, faith-driven home .His siblings are Adam, Rachel, and Luke.
Luke was the youngest. He played lacrosse. He wore number 5. On February 13, 2006, Luke was in a car accident coming home from practice. He passed away two days later .The family never “moved on.” They moved forward. They started the Five Foundation. They turned their pain into purpose by teaching young drivers about road safety .
Jon Abbate Wife
Jon Abbate is married to Kimberly Junod.Kim is not just a football wife. She is a successful real estate agent with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. She knows the Metro Atlanta market inside and out—from Buckhead to Brookhaven to East Cobb.Together, Jon and Kim have two children: a son named Ashton and a son named Lucas .Yes, Lucas. Named after Luke.
Jon Abbate Wedding
He married Kimberly Junod on May 11, 2018.They held the ceremony at PrimRose Cottage in Roswell, Georgia. It was a small, beautiful day surrounded by family and close friends.
The couple registered at Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn Kids. The photos from their wedding are classic Southern charm, soft light, brick walls, and smiling faces .
~Jon Abbate NFL’s Career
Jon declared for the 2007 NFL Draft after his junior year. He knew the knock on him: 5-foot-11. Too short for an NFL linebacker. “Unless someone can promise me I’ll grow three inches,” he said, “the decision is easy” .Then he tore his hamstring at the NFL Combine.
He went undrafted. But the Houston Texans called. They signed him as a free agent and moved him to fullback .Injuries took over. An ankle landed him on season-ending IR in 2007.
Jon Abbate NFL’s Stats
Jon Abbate has zero NFL regular season stats.Zero tackles. Zero sacks. Zero games played.But his college stats tell a different story.
| Season | Tackles | Highlight |
| 2004 | 101 | 13 tackles for loss |
| 2005 | 77 | Played through injury |
| 2006 | 120 | 2nd in the ACC |
Jon Abbate Wake Forest
Wake Forest is where Jon Abbate became a legend.Not because of his size. Because of his heart.In 2006, he led the Deacons to their first ACC Championship in 36 years. He made 15 tackles against Georgia Tech in the title game. He made another 15 tackles against Louisville in the Orange Bowl .
But the stats were only half the story.The other half was #5.
~Jon Abbate 5th Quarter
The 5th Quarter is not just a movie. It is a promise Jon made to his brother.Before the 2006 season, Jon asked coach Jim Grobe for one thing: “Can I wear #5?”
Luke wore #5. Luke donated organs to five people. The number meant everything .Jon wore it all season. Then the tradition started. Before the 4th quarter, Jon and his family held up five fingers. Soon, the whole stadium did it. Even opposing fans joined in .
In 2011, Hollywood turned the story into a film called The 5th Quarter. Ryan Merriman played Jon. Aidan Quinn and Andie MacDowell played his parents. The budget was $6 million. It opened in 123 theaters ..
Jon Abbate Football
Jon Abbate played football the way it is meant to be played.Fast. Furious. Fearless.He was undersized, so he played oversized. He was overlooked, so he played over his head. He turned grief into tackles and pain into purpose.
His football career ended too soon. But his football identity never faded. He is still “Wake Forest #5” to fans who remember that 2006 run .
~Jon Abbate Net Worth 2026
His net worth is about $3 million .This does not come from NFL fame. It comes from 14 years in medical device sales.
Jon works as an Executive Sales Representative for SouthTech, a company in Raleigh that manufactures orthopedic surgical devices. He sells the tools that fix the very injuries he once suffered .
Jon Abbate Salary 2026
His current salary is estimated between $120,000 and $180,000 per year.
Base salaries in medical device sales vary by territory and commission. With Jon’s experience and his network in the sports medicine world, he sits comfortably in the senior tier .
Conclusion
He never became a household name like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. You will not find his jersey in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.But you will find his story in the hearts of Wake Forest fans. You will find his brother’s name on the Five Foundation. You will find his face on a movie screen, playing a role he never auditioned for: the grieving brother who chose to honor instead of quit.
Today, Jon lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia. He sells surgical equipment. He coaches his sons. He holds up five fingers not for a stadium, but for his family dinner table.That is not a sad ending. That is a victory.
FAQs
1. Did Jon Abbate ever play in an NFL regular season game?
No, Jon Abbate never played a regular season down in the NFL. He signed with four teams but career-ending injuries kept him off the field.
2. What does Jon Abbate do for a living now?
Jon works as an executive sales representative at SouthTech, an orthopedic surgical device company in Raleigh. He has worked in medical sales since retiring from football.
3. Is The 5th Quarter movie based on a true story?
Yes, the 2011 film stars Ryan Merriman and tells the real story of Jon Abbate honoring his late brother Luke by wearing jersey number 5 at Wake Forest.
4. Who is Jon Abbate married to?
Jon married Kimberly Junod on May 11, 2018 in Roswell, Georgia. Kim is a real estate professional with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty.
5. What is the Five Foundation?
The Abbate family started this nonprofit after Luke’s death to educate teenagers about the dangers of reckless driving and promote road safety.
