German sportswear manufacturer Adidas has agreed a multi-year deal to serve as a founding partner of Pacific Pro Football, a new American football league for players just out of high school in the US.
Adidas becomes the exclusive footwear and apparel supplier for Pacific Pro’s inaugural four teams. The company will also work with Pacific Pro’s management team on the formation of the new league and capture and share behind-the-scenes elements of developing Pacific Pro Football products and the creation of the competition itself.
Details of the league were first revealed in January 2017, and it is hoped the competition will offer an alternative route to the NFL than the college system. It is slated to begin its first season in the summer of 2019 with four teams based in Southern California.
Adidas North America president Mark King said: “We’re always looking to create new and different things for the industry. With Pacific Pro Football, we’re doing something that’s never been done before. We’re providing innovative opportunities for aspiring professional athletes and creating new avenues for them to reach the pros. Together we’re shaping the future of the sport. This is a future we believe in, and we’re excited to help create it.”
The league has been formed by Donald Yee, agent of New England Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady, in partnership with former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey.