By Eric Jackson
Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil have a new passion project.
Griffin, a recently retired former NBA star, and Kalil, a former Pro Bowl NFL center, are leading a group that purchased a majority stake in the Monterrey Fundidores, a team in Mexico’s pro American football league, Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA). Kalil declined to provide financial details but said the group purchased the club for a seven-figure sum.
“Players, like fans, can be critical of management and ownership and how they might run a team,” Kalil, who is also a limited partner of NWSL club Angel City FC, said in a video interview. “I know I’ve been guilty of it. This was an opportunity for us to put our critical thoughts to the test and see if we know what we’re talking about.”
The athlete-led ownership group includes Kalil’s former Carolina Panthers teammates Luke Kuechly, Greg Olsen, Jonathan Stewart and 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Julius Peppers. Former Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold—all former Panthers—are also in the ownership group. Rounding out the cap table are Barstool Sports personalities Dan “Big Cat” Katz and Eric Sollenberger (PFT Commenter).
This is the latest collaboration between Griffin and Kalil, who are the co-founders of production house Mortal Media, founded in 2016. The Fundidores name will be rebranded to the Osos (Bears) as ownership looks to connect to a broader and more international audience. Additionally, Griffin and Kalil are planning to produce a behind-the-scenes documentary chronicling their ownership journey and the team’s first season under new leadership.