Blake Griffin, a recently retired NBA star, and Ryan Kalil, a former Pro Bowl NFL center, are embarking on an exciting new venture south of the border: owning a professional Mexico Football Team. This dynamic duo is leading a group that has acquired a majority stake in the Monterrey Fundidores, a team in Mexico’s Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA). While financial details remain undisclosed, Kalil confirmed the group’s investment in the club reached seven figures.
For Kalil, this move represents a chance to apply years of player perspective to team management. “Players, like fans, can be critical of management and ownership and how they might run a team,” Kalil stated. “This was an opportunity for us to put our critical thoughts to the test and see if we know what we’re talking about.” This isn’t Kalil’s first foray into team ownership, as he is also a limited partner in Angel City FC of the NWSL.
The ownership group boasts an impressive roster of athletes, primarily from Kalil’s Carolina Panthers days. Joining Griffin and Kalil are NFL luminaries including Luke Kuechly, Greg Olsen, Jonathan Stewart, and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Julius Peppers. Adding further star power are current NFL players Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Sam Darnold, along with former Panthers head coach Ron Rivera. Expanding beyond the gridiron, Barstool Sports personalities Dan “Big Cat” Katz and Eric Sollenberger (PFT Commenter) are also part of this diverse ownership group.
This acquisition marks another collaboration for Griffin and Kalil, who co-founded Mortal Media in 2016, a production house. In a move to broaden the team’s appeal, particularly to an international audience, the Fundidores will be rebranded as the Osos (Bears). Adding a creative layer to their ownership, Griffin and Kalil plan to produce a behind-the-scenes documentary, offering fans a unique look into their ownership journey and the team’s inaugural season under their leadership.
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