Pro Sports Group

What Pro Sports Group does

Pro Sports Group (formerly Pro Gear Football) is a privately held Jacksonville, Florida-based manufacturer of football shoulder pads and protective accessories, founded in 2022 and currently employing 11-50 people. The company designs, engineers, and hand-assembles its products in a single U.S. manufacturing facility, with custom pad lead times of 10-14 days and stock pad shipping within 48 hours. Its portfolio spans stock shoulder pads across the 2.0 Series (Youth, Skill, All Purpose), ST Series (Skill, OL/DL), and budget SI Series; fully customizable Custom USA pads starting at $595 with lifetime warranty; and an accessories line including backplates, sternum pads, acromion/donut pads, rib protectors, Poron inserts, shoulder restraints, and support kits priced $40-$550. Core technology centers on a proprietary Air Management high-impact foam cushion system, HDPE Drop Plate attachments, and a Swivel Front Assembly, complemented by an industry-first custom logo backplate imprinting capability that produced 4,000+ units in the most recent season with a target of 6,000+ the following year.

The business operates a dual-channel go-to-market: direct-to-consumer e-commerce at progearfb.com (with a Custom Pad Builder launching Q2 2026 and a new Elite Pad line presale in 2026), and a B2B dealer and team-order channel anchored by an exclusive Sports Inc. relationship carrying dedicated 2.0 Series variants. Distribution is supplemented by event presence at AFCA and the Sports Inc. Fall Team Dealer Show and a sales rep partnership with Baker's Sports. Customer segments span the full football pyramid — Pop Warner youth (ages 5-12), middle and high school, college programs (including University of Georgia), and the NFL (including the Dallas Cowboys) — with revenue generated entirely through one-time hardware sales (stock pads, custom pads, and accessories) at unit pricing with no recurring component. In 2024 the company rebranded from Pro Gear to Pro Sports and produced 29,000 units, of which 19,000 had been sold in year one of the production run, with 10,000 pads in inventory heading into the buying season.

Name

Pro Sports Group

Legal name

Pro Sports Group

Website

https://progearfb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pro Sports Group designs, manufactures, and sells football shoulder pads and protective accessories in Jacksonville, FL, serving players from Pop Warner youth leagues through the NFL via direct e-commerce, an exclusive Sports Inc. dealer network, and custom USA-made products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Football Protective Equipment

NAICS

Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992), Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (339920), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

American Football Equipment Retail (CRAMAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Team Sports Protective Gear & Sports Medicine Retail (CRAMAEAJ)

Keywords

• Football shoulder pads
• Custom protective equipment
• Athletic protective gear
• Sports equipment manufacturing
• Made in USA football gear

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Stock Shoulder Pads: One-time purchase of pre-made, performance-ready stock football shoulder pads sold directly to consumers and through dealer networks. Stock pads ship within 48 hours. Product lines include 2.0 Series, ST Series, SI Series. Revenue is transactional, one-time hardware sales with no recurring component.
2. Custom USA Shoulder Pads: Premium custom-built shoulder pads engineered and hand-assembled in the USA. Full customization options including colors, logos, and position-optimized design. Higher price point ($595+) with lifetime warranty. Production time 10-14 days. Custom pad builder launching Q2 2026.
3. Accessories and Components: Aftermarket accessories including sternum pads, backplates, acromion/donut pads, rib protectors, shoulder restraints, Poron insert pads, and support kits. Sold as add-on purchases to existing pad buyers or standalone replacement parts.
4. Team and Dealer Orders (B2B): B2B wholesale and team order fulfillment for leagues, school programs, and sporting goods dealers. Dealer pricing available through Sports Inc. member portal. Team order page on website for bulk purchasing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Pro Sports Group designs, manufactures, and sells football shoulder pads and protective accessories. The portfolio includes stock shoulder pads (2.0 Series, ST Series, SI Series) that ship within 48 hours, and Custom USA pads that are hand-assembled in Jacksonville, FL with full color/logo/position customization and a lifetime warranty. A complete accessory line (sternum pads, backplates, rib protectors, acromion pads, Poron inserts, shoulder restraints, support kits) completes the protective setup.

Product overview

Pro Sports Group (operating as Pro Gear Football) offers a comprehensive portfolio of football shoulder pads and protective equipment across two main product lines: Stock Pads and Custom USA Pads. Stock pads include the 2.0 Series (Skill, All Purpose, Youth), ST Series (OL/DL, Skill), and SI Series (budget-friendly options), all performance-ready with quick ship options. Custom USA pads are hand-assembled with full customization including colors, logos, and position-optimized design, backed by a lifetime warranty. The accessory lineup includes shoulder pad backplates, sternum pads, acromion pads, rib protectors, Poron insert pads, shoulder restraints, and comprehensive support kits. The company also offers custom logo backplate imprinting and serves youth through professional levels including NFL teams and major college programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 2.0 Series: Stock shoulder pad series including Youth, Skill, and All Purpose models.
• ST Series
• SI Series
• PS Series

Products and services

• Youth Football Shoulder Pads - 2.0 Series Youth football shoulder pads for ages 5-12 (Pop Warner and recreational) with a comfortable mesh liner and swivel front assembly for range of motion. Available in sizes 2X-Small through X-Large.
• 2.0 Series - Skill Shoulder Pad Lightweight skill position shoulder pad for quarterbacks, running backs/defensive backs, wide receivers, and linebackers. Features 5/8" Air Management cushion, 3/8" closed cell foam top redundant cushion, deltoid auxiliary cushions, and reinforced HDPE Drop Plate attachments. Weight 6 lbs.
• 2.0 Series - All Purpose Shoulder Pad Versatile shoulder pad for offensive line, defensive line, and tight ends featuring an enlarged neck opening. Available in Medium through 3X-Large.
• ST Series - OL/DL Shoulder Pad Heavy-duty premium stock shoulder pad for offensive/defensive linemen and tight ends. Features 1/2" Air Management cushion, enlarged neck opening, EP20 SK Epaulets with Poron Impact cushions, and swiveled Biothane belts with cushioned stainless steel swivel buckles.
• ST Series - Skill Shoulder Pad Premium stock shoulder pad for quarterbacks, defensive backs, running backs, and linebackers. The highest quality stock shoulder pad option in the ST Series lineup.
• Custom USA Shoulder Pads Premium custom-built shoulder pads designed, engineered, and hand-assembled in the USA. Full customization of colors, logos, and position-optimized design, with a lifetime warranty. Production time 10-14 days.
• Shoulder Pad Backplate Lower back protection plate for football shoulder pads. Available in multiple sizes (Mini through Tear Drop) to fit Pop Warner players through NFL, with screw/nut hardware included for installation.
• Sternum Protective Pad High Impact Air-Management Foam pad inserted inside the front cushion for extra sternum protection. Velcro attachment for secure fit; primarily used by running backs and linebackers.
• Large Acromion (Donut) Pad [Pair] Acromion injury protection pad with 3/8" foam padding and velcro attachment; sold in pairs.
• Shoulder Pad Belt Rib Pads [Pair] Rib protector pads with 3/8" foam padding and Biothane belt attachment; works with 1" and 1.5" belts. Designed for running backs and linebackers.
• Poron Insert Pads Removable 1/4" thick High Impact Protection Foam pad placed on top of the cushion for extra shoulder protection. Inserted under the shell and attached with velcro.
• Shoulder Restraint Adjustable grommeted arm restraint for athletes who have experienced shoulder separation. Heavy duty nylon and neoprene construction to prevent slipping; available in S through 2XL based on bicep flex measurement.
• Shoulder Pad Support Kit Comprehensive accessory bundle available in Mega Kit or Mini Kit options. Includes Large Acromion Pads, Upgraded Memory Foam Boomers, Sternum Pad, Poron Top Redundant Inserts, Belt Rib Pads (Mega only), and Inside Neck Roll.
• Sports Inc. Exclusive 2.0 Series Line Sports Inc. dealer-exclusive product line featuring 2.0 Series variants (Youth, Rush, Skill, and All Purpose models) available only through the Sports Inc. dealer network at dealer pricing.
• PG-90 Pro Motion Custom Shoulder Pad Professional-grade custom shoulder pad featuring Performance Fit, sewn-in Epaulets and Cups, extra long belts, and team logo customization. Designed for NFL-level play; demonstrated by a Dallas Cowboys order for #58 Mazi Smith produced on a next-day timeline.
• Custom Logo Backplate Industry-first customizable backplate with custom logos imprinted directly onto the backplate cushion. Spans youth sports through NFL; produced 4,000+ units last season with plans for 6,000+ the following year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Air Management cushion system provides consistent impact absorption for player safety
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sports Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSports Inc. is a major dealer channel partner with exclusive access to certain 2.0 Series product variants (Youth, Rush, Skill, All Purpose). Dealer pricing available through Sports Inc. member portal. Orders submitted via email. Sports Inc. Fall Team Dealer Show is an annual event Pro Sports attends in Las Vegas. The partnership provides access to the dealer network and sporting goods retail channel.
• Baker's SportsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales representatives from Baker's Sports joined Pro Sports at the AFCA Show 2024 in Nashville, TN. Baker's Sports provides sales rep support for industry events and dealer relationships.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Riddell: Riddell is the dominant manufacturer of football helmets and shoulder pads, with deep NFL, NCAA, and high school program relationships. It is the most direct competitive threat to Pro Sports Group across both stock and custom pad lines, even though its portfolio extends well beyond shoulder pads.
• Rawlings: Rawlings is a major sporting goods manufacturer with team equipment spanning football, baseball, and basketball. Comparable in serving team and dealer channels but with a much broader multi-sport portfolio.
• Wilson Sporting Goods: Wilson is a major sporting goods manufacturer with footballs, protective gear, and a broad multi-sport portfolio. While not a direct pad specialist, it competes in adjacent football equipment categories and has significant distribution scale.

Direct peers

• Douglas Pads & Sports: Douglas Pads is a long-standing U.S. manufacturer of football shoulder pads and protective equipment serving youth through collegiate levels. Directly comparable product line, customer base, and go-to-market through dealers and team sales.
• Xenith: Xenith designs premium football helmets and shoulder pads with proprietary impact-absorption technology, similar to Pro Sports' Air Management cushion positioning. Both companies target the premium, technology-forward segment of football protective equipment.
• Schutt Sports: Schutt Sports manufactures football helmets, shoulder pads, and related protective equipment with a strong dealer network and broad sports presence. It is the most direct competitor to Pro Sports Group in protective football gear.

Emerging players

• Champro Sports: Champro produces team sports equipment including football pads, helmets, and accessories for youth through high school programs. Comparable business model with broad product portfolio and dealer channel focus.
• Battle Sports: Battle Sports manufactures football protective equipment including gloves, pads, and mouthguards. Comparable in size and product overlap with Pro Sports Group, particularly in team and youth segments.
• Cutters Sports: Cutters Sports manufactures football gloves, protective equipment, and accessories for athletes. Comparable in football accessories and youth/team segment overlap with Pro Sports Group.
• SG (formerly Shock Doctor): SG produces mouthguards, protective braces, and sports protective equipment across multiple sports. Overlaps with Pro Sports Group in football protection accessories and equipment, though SG has a broader multi-sport portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ProSports_Pads
• Facebookfacebook.com/prosportsgroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pro-sports-pads

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pro Sports Group