JACO Announces NFL's Jonathan Vilma as New Brand Ambassador

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla., Dec. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Glenn Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of JACO, the elite performance sports brand that designs apparel for high performance hybrid training, today announced that the NFL's Jonathan Vilma, linebacker for the Super Bowl XLIV Champions, the New Orleans Saints, has joined JACO as its newest Brand Ambassador.

Vilma joins Team JACO just as the company prepares for global expansion, as well as the debut of a new line of athletic apparel that covers training needs from head-to-toe.  Vilma will be among the very first to reveal and wear the new line of athletic wear slated for 2012 release, including new, yet-to-be-released JACO athletic footwear tailored specifically for hybrid training.

"I discovered JACO after seeing it on some of the MMA guys, and I tried it, both in training and just in wearing it around in everyday life, and it performs," said Vilma.  "For my NFL workouts, JACO gives me the smooth fit that all athletes want, but it also allows for motion and movement, not restricting working muscles, which is so important in professional sports. I like it, it looks sharp, and I can relate to JACO. I think it has great potential if we put in the hard work, and since Glenn Robinson is backing it, I think the sky is the limit with this company."

"It goes without saying that we are absolutely thrilled to welcome Jonathan Vilma to the JACO team," said Robinson. "I am so excited to have the opportunity to work with such a talented athlete and gain his insight as we continue to craft the new JACO for hybrid training, and introduce it to the world in 2012. With Jonathan's broad visibility and his depth of expertise as a high performance athlete, we are well on our way to establishing JACO as a major player in hybrid training."

Vilma joins former UFC light heavyweight champion "Suga" Rashad Evans as a JACO Brand Ambassador. In this capacity, Vilma will not only represent JACO as a professional football player, he will also provide input to the design team researching and developing the JACO line. He will often premiere new clothing and footwear via the JACO Clothing website, and he will appear in national advertising and public relations campaigns.

Vilma, a native of Coral Gables, Florida, has been an NFL linebacker for the New Orleans Saints since February 2009. Last year, he was a key defensive player as the Saints charged through the regular season. When the team met the Indianapolis Colts for the Super Bowl XLIV Championship, Vilma made a key defensive audible and deflected a pass on 3rd and 11 in the fourth quarter to lead the Saints to their victory.  In 2010, he competed in the Pro Bowl as a last-minute replacement for the injured Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers.

Originally drafted by the New York Jets, Vilma was selected 12th in the 2004 NFL Draft. That same year, he was named the Associated Press' NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Football Digest Defensive Rookie of the Year, Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team, and the AFC Defensive Rookie of the Month (November). The following year, 2005, he led the NFL in tackles with 169 and competed in the 2005 Pro Bowl.
Prior to joining the NFL, Vilma played college football at the University of Miami. Starting in 2000 as middle linebacker, he led the team in tackles for three straight years from 2001-2003.  Along with his success on the field, Vilma was a three-time Academic All-Big East Conference. He earned a Bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Miami's School of Business Administration.

In 2010, after the devastating earthquake struck the Island of Haiti, Vilma was moved to assist in the massive rebuilding efforts. He started "The Jonathan Vilma Foundation," to raise funds for Haiti, and remains very committed to this cause.
For more information about Jonathan Vilma, please visit www.JonVilma.com.


(prnewswire.com)