The
New York Jets selected Sweeney in the second round, with the 37th overall selection in the
1984 NFL draft. Sweeney played for the Jets from 1984 to 1994. With the Jets, he played in ten games with two starts as a rookie in
1984. In
1985, he started all 16 games at left guard. In 1986 and 1987, Sweeney was the starting left tackle. From 1988 to 1994, he started at center for the Jets. Sweeney signed a three-year contract for $2.8 million with the
Seattle Seahawks. In
1995, Sweeney started all 16 games at center. He played the final four seasons of his career with his hometown
Pittsburgh Steelers from 1996 to 1999, this time mostly off the bench with one start each in 1997 and 1998. ==Coaching career==