Jonathan Vilma, linebacker for the New Orleans Saints, has joined Jaco, the performance sports brand, 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 Glenn Robinson, chief executive officer of Jaco. “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.