LOS ANGELES, Jan. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Donald Yee, agent for New England Patriots QB Tom Brady, along with former Super Bowl champion wide receiver Ed McCaffrey and others have formed Pacific Pro Football, (www.pacprofootball.com), a first of its kind league for players directly from high school. For the first time, emerging football players will have a choice in determining their best path for professional development.

Pac Pro (#pacpro) is America's first professional football league to utilize - and compensate - players not eligible for other professional leagues. Average annual salary and benefits for each player is projected at $50,000, with four teams initially based in Southern California's most populous counties. Initial player employment offers are projected for Winter 2017 and will also include one year paid tuition and books at local community colleges. Pac Pro players will play and develop under professional football rules, protocols, and style. Each Pac Pro team is projected to have 50 players, coached by former professional and college coaches.

Pac Pro expands the football industry by creating hundreds of new jobs, and enhances safety by playing a short 8-game season. Pac Pro will also be a development ground for coaches, officials, and executives and a 'football lab' for new technologies, smart apparel, and content distributors.

A primary off-field Pac Pro objective is to help players develop their life paths. "Pac Pro's concept of 'education' is expansive. Every team will have a counselor to help players develop their interests academically and/or vocationally, and assist with coordinating meaningful internships in their fields of interest," said Yee.

Pac Pro's Advisory Board includes Super Bowl champion head coach Mike Shanahan, former NFL Senior VP and Super Bowl czar Jim Steeg, officiating expert Mike Pereira, and preeminent football reporter Adam Schefter. Steve Schmidt, MSNBC commentator and former lead campaign strategist for the McCain presidential campaign also joins the Advisory Board.

"Professional football is a very specialized game; it demands precise techniques and a certain mental approach," said Shanahan. "Pac Pro's time has come, and these fantastic athletes will be well trained for the pro game on and off the field."

Pac Pro, a single entity league, is led by CEO Donald Yee, Chief Operating Officer and former NFL and ESPN executive Bradley Edwards, Chief Content Officer and former Executive VP of Fox Sports Digital Jeffrey Husvar, and Chief Financial Officer John Chung.

Pac Pro recently closed its angel round of financing and has commenced discussions with content distributors, sponsors, facilities, and local political leaders. "We are gratified by the positive reception to Pac Pro in the investment, media, government, and sponsorship communities," says Edwards. "We look forward to stimulating the Southern California economy by working with local leaders."

Contact
Bradley T. Edwards, COO - 140974@email4pr.com
213 316 6260

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/football-industry-veterans-launch-innovative-professional-league-pacific-pro-football-for-players-directly-from-high-school-300388897.html

SOURCE Pacific Pro Football League