By Anne DeVries
Pro Athlete Community (PAC) held its most recent event from September 14th-19th in Austin at Hotel ZaZa. The event, titled Next Chapter U Business Combine, was attended by 76 former professional athletes who engaged in a six-day comprehensive agenda designed by the dedicated PAC team.
Statistics reveal that 78% of NFL players face bankruptcy or financial difficulties within two years of retirement. PAC hopes to address this issue through innovative programs and community-focused approaches, empowering athletes to create legacies beyond their sports careers. They believe that by harnessing the already existing skill sets of elite athletes, a transition into life after a sporting career can provide a fulfilling and prosperous future.
PAC was founded in 2022 by Chip Paucek and former NFL player Kaleb Thornhill. Travis Key, another former pro athlete, quickly joined them. Together with a team of dedicated professionals at PAC, they have built a top-tier platform that combines high-quality education and curated experiential learning for existing and former pro athletes. Their mission is to provide mentorship and community as they equip professional athletes to relentlessly pursue what is next in their careers.
The Next Chapter U Business Combine, held in Austin, was an in-person event for former athletes that included networking opportunities, hands-on workshops, and expert-led panels. A full day was spent at Dell Technologies; entrepreneurs from around the country made presentations, performance coaches worked with attendees, and specific industries such as real estate and industry deep dives were featured. During the week, an excursion to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) Formula-1 track provided an evening of fun for attendees and their families.
Travis Key, PAC’s Cheif Operating Officer and a standout player at the University of Michigan and in the NFL, expressed enthusiasm about the event’s impact. “The education, networking, and exposure to different career environments and opportunities are great.” Key noted. “But the magic in what we have built—is the community aspect. It’s the beginning of something new.”
Malcolm Brown, a former star player at the University of Texas who went on to play in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams and Miami Dolphins, attended the event and echoed similar sentiments. “Exposure breeds expansion, and I live by that,” Brown said. “At these events, we learn about ourselves a little bit, and that’s been amazing for me. Also, this group is like a ‘second locker room.’ A lot of retired athletes miss that the most—being around others with the same mindset.”
Former professional NFL athletes now residing in Austin include former University of Texas elite player MJ McFarland and Peyton Thompson, formerly with the Jacksonville Jaguars. McFarland is a luxury real estate agent and investor, and Thompson is a home builder and broker. In 2019, these two former NFL players founded the Players Reach Foundation (www.playersreach.com) to support and inspire the youth of Austin to greatness by giving back to their community.
Initially grounded in the National Football League, PAC has quickly expanded its reach to other professional sports, including the NBA, MLB, MLS, and MMA. Plans are underway to include women in the professional arena as well. For more information about PAC, visit www.proathletecommunity.com.
