Jon-Paul Wheatley, a UK native, turned a quarantine hobby into a thriving business with his handcrafted footballs, created through his company 12 Pentagons. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Wheatley’s passion for making custom footballs quickly gained traction online, with his TikTok videos going viral and catching the attention of major brands like Adidas and FIFA.
Wheatley initially had no plans to sell his unique creations, but demand grew after his designs, such as a goth-inspired “Spike Ball” and a ball made from 96 Tetris shapes, captivated audiences. His company, 12 Pentagons, launched in 2023 with his wife, Allison Diaz Wheatley, and their first product, the Original 92 football, made waves. Crafted from Italian leather with 92 panels, including 12 pentagons and 80 hexagons, the football was priced at $275 and sold out within five hours.
Despite the high price tag, Wheatley’s vision is for customers to actively use the footballs, not just keep them as collector’s items. He hopes to see his products enjoyed in muddy fields, not sitting on shelves.
TikTok has played a significant role in the company’s growth, serving as a testing ground for new designs and ideas. Wheatley uses viewer feedback and video comments to gauge which designs resonate most. With plans to release a new ball every few months, 12 Pentagons aims to offer a range of price points and designs to appeal to all football enthusiasts.
As Wheatley’s handcrafted footballs continue to gain popularity, the couple is preparing for their next product drop in November, which will feature a new design with even more panels than the Original 92.
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