What is the LFA? Christian McCaffrey and other NFL stars purchase football team from fledgling league with unique content in mind

A group of current and former NFL stars including Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Sam Darnold, Luke Kuechly, and others have purchased a professional football team in Mexico: The Monterrey Osos (Bears).

The team competes in the fledgling LFA, a professional football league in Mexico entering its eighth season in 2025. The purchase was announced in a press release on Monday.

The purchase was spearheaded by former Carolina Panthers center and five-time Pro Bowler Ryan Kalil and NBA star Blake Griffin. The ownership group of the Osos, formerly called "Fundidores" (Smelters), includes the following owners, per the team's announcement: 

• Christian McCaffrey
• George Kittle
• Sam Darnold
• Greg Olsen
• Luke Kuechly
• Julius Peppers
• Jonathan Stewart
• Ron Rivera
• Dan "Big Cat" Katz (from Pardon My Take)
• Eric Sollenberger (PFT Commenter from Pardon My Take)

Kalil, who is of Lebanese and Mexican descent, "is a committed supporter of New Story, a nonprofit actively building homes for families in need in Mexico. has been involved," per the release. 

Documentary in the making

The new ownership group has big plans for the football team it purchased but it'll be accompanied of unique content: Mortal Media, the company co-owned by Kalil and Griffin is set to "produce a documentary capturing the team's transformation and their unique journey as new owners." 

There's no question the documentary is set to be special. Football players in Mexico are passionate and are closer to being "regular Joes" than NFL players are. In most cases, playing is their second job and do it more for the pure love of the game than anything else. Storylines will be easy to find for Mortal Media. 

Teams in the LFA are formed mostly by Mexican players, though 16 foreign players are allowed. Most of the time, these are American players given the popularity and quality of football played in the United States. 

Monterrey is considered a top pipeline of football talent and is known for its two college football programs, which are the powerhouses of Mexico's collegiate level, facing each other in the national championship three years in a row and having a history of continued success. 

The Fundidores (now rebranded to Osos) won the Tazón México V in 2022. In the last couple of years, they've been eliminated in the semifinals by the reigning back-to-back undefeated champions, the Chihuahua Caudillos (Warlords). 

What is the LFA? 

The LFA is a growing professional football league in Mexico founded in 2016. It currently consists of nine teams and will kick off its 2025 season in May. It's gone through some ups and downs and just like the NFL did in its early days, some teams have come and gone. Financial stability is arguably the biggest goal of the league right now. Its striving for continuity and a project like the Osos' should only help its growth. 

The reigning champs are the Chihuahua Caudillos, who have done big things themselves, winning back-to-back undefeated championships with former Auburn Tigers quarterback Jeremy Johnson. 

Former NFL players to have played in the LFA

• Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson: Played two games for the Fundidores in the LFA's second season in an effort to promote the league. 
• Terrence Williams: The former Cowboys WR played for the Tijuana Galgos in 2024. 
• Trevone Boykin: Former undrafted QB for the Seahawks, he has played the last couple of seasons in Tijuana. 

Trent Richardson, former No. 3 overall pick, played professional football in Mexico, though in a different competing league to the LFA, which has since then disappeared with multiple teams from it joining the LFA.