NFL, Nike Announce Girls Flag Football Initiative

The NFL and Nike are joining forces to inspire the next generation of female athletes.

The corporations announced a new partnership Tuesday, a grant initiative to grow girls flag football throughout the United States.

Committing a total of $5 million over the multi-year program, one-time donations of up to $100,000 in product will be provided to high school athletic associations that already or are working towards offering flag football for girls.

The NFL and @usnikefootball are pledging $5 million to grow girls high school flag football in the U.S. #PlayFootball

Join us by voting to bring flag football to your state: https://t.co/nmdCveetqP pic.twitter.com/chIRhQRlY4

— NFL (@NFL) February 2, 2021

The state of Florida will be the first beneficiary of the initiative, having already offered girls flag football at the high school level for over a decade. Only five other states (Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and New York) offer the sport.

Products to be donated include uniforms, socks and necessary accessories, such as sports bras. The program is also working to assist state high school athletic associations that may not currently have girls flag football programs due to financial limitations.

“The expansion of girls flag football is essential to the growth of the game and preservation of the values it has contributed to society for decades,” said Troy Vincent, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations. “Girls flag demonstrates that football is for all, and the greater the participation, the stronger the game, and the more young women can build the transferrable skills football provides for achieving success in life.”

Nike is also creating an 11-Online football training series, which will include crucial instruction for flag football training, team building and leadership development.

Nike will also be launching its “Stronger Than One” Series, aimed at “highlighting women and young girls who are blazing paths forward in football.”

Women in football that will be featured are as follows: Titans Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Cristi Bartlett, NFL Network Lead Analytics Analyst Cynthia Frelund, Buccaneers Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Maral Javadifar, Buccaneers Co-Owner Darcie Glazer, Washington Assistant Running Backs Coach Jennifer King, Buccaneers Assistant Defensive Line Coach Lori Locust, Rams Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Chelsea Romero, former 49ers Offensive Assistant Katie Sowers, NFL Network host Colleen Wolfe and Broncos Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Emily Zaler.

1 million more boys than girls get to play sports in HS.

Because they have football.

Nike and the @NFL pledge $5 million to the pursuit of Women’s Flag as a national varsity sport.

Join us by voting to bring flag football to your state.https://t.co/5nMHYyEKm0#SBLV pic.twitter.com/VvNpysedPM

— Nike Football (@usnikefootball) February 2, 2021