In its third year, the Nike Kickoff Classic will showcase a game featuring the NFL Academy based in the UK and a flag football game.
For the third year, Nike and the NFL will partner to host high school football events to celebrate the beginning of the youth season. This year, it comes with an additional element: The boys game will be an international matchup.
Washington High School (Massillon, Ohio) will take on The NFL Academy based in the United Kingdom as the league works to expand its following to a broader international base. Washington Massillon, which has had a football team since 1894, according to the event’s press release, has the second-most wins in high school football history (948) and is coming off an undefeated, 16-0 season.
Washington Massillon finished No. 10 in the 2023 USA TODAY Sports Super 25. (USA TODAY Network)
The NFL Academy, which has a location in the United Kingdom and in Australia, is a football development program offering intensive training alongside full-time education. In total, 30 alumni have received a football scholarship in the United States, 19 of whom played for a Div. I program.
On the girls side, De La Salle High School (La.) will take on South Anchorage High School (Alaska) in a flag football game. De La Salle is coming off an undefeated championship season under the New Orleans Saints Girls High School Flag Football league, and South Anchorage went 12-4 in its inaugural season last year, according to MaxPreps.
These games will take place at the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, on Aug. 22. Each will be live-streamed on the NFL YouTube channel and then aired again on the NFL Network on Aug. 31.
Over the past two years, Nike and the NFL have used this game as an opportunity to introduce athletes to the business side of sports in the Nike facilities, provide mentoring and training opportunities, and grow flag football at the grassroots level.
“Growing things from a grassroots standpoint shows that you care about the future of the game in a tangible way, and celebrating it by actually playing a game on (Nike’s) campus is the best tribute to that,” said Roman Oben, a former NFL player who is the vice president of NFL Football Development, in an interview last year.
That will continue this year, with the international game incorporated into the programming for the first time.
In addition to this event, the NFL Academy has more games lined up against high school teams. Edgewater (Fla.), De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) and IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) will all travel to Europe to play against the academy during the season.
Ozzie Smith makes a Pick-6 at halftime of a Titans game.
The best tape to come from the Tennessee Titans preseason game on Saturday night came at halftime. It came from nine-year-old Ozzie Smith, who made quite the play during a flag football game held as part of the halftime entertainment.
And Titans head coach Brian Callahan might want a look at the halftime film in case he needs another defensive back.
The Titans were bottom third in the NFL last year with a -6 turnover differential. Smith? Well, the Titans might have found the solution to that at halftime of Saturday’s preseason game.
(The Titans beat the Seattle Seahawks 16-15 on Saturday and allowed just nine passing first downs…but didn’t create any turnovers…enter Smith).
Now, this is a pretty good highlight. Smith does a good job of dropping back into coverage, reaching up and making the interception.
The Arizona Cardinals will be the first NFL team to produce a girls high school flag football game of the week, a continuation of the sport’s growth.
In the wake of the Flag Championships held in July, the NFL and the Arizona Cardinals have announced the next in growing flag football.
The Cardinals, its stadium sponsor State Farm, and television station Arizona’s Family announced a partnership to produce and air a high school girls flag football game of the week for eight weeks during the season, they said in a press release Friday.
The games will air on Arizona’s Family Sports beginning on Sept. 17 for the Hamilton High School (Chandler, Ariz.) game against Xavier College Prep (Phoenix). All games will take place on Tuesday or Thursday nights through Nov. 7.
“We firmly believe that local sports act as the connective tissue of a community,” said Arizona’s Family VP and GM Debbie Bush in a statement. “This opportunity allows us to shine a light on young women across Arizona who are truly trailblazers in the sport of flag football while inspiring a new generation of young girls to believe that they can play too.”
This is a continuation of flag football progress in Arizona. The state is one of 11 to offer girls flag as a sanctioned high school sport; last season, 57 girls participated. More than 100 schools will be offering the sport this year, according to the press release.
The Arizona Cardinals host an NFL Flag College Showcase for local girls flag football players on Saturday, Mar 16, 2024 at State Farm Stadium. Photo: Cardinals
The Cardinals run camps and programs around the state and established a two-year partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance while pledging $70,000 to support girls’ flag football in efforts to address gender inequity in youth sports. In 2022 and 2023, the Cardinals hosted a Game of the Week, with flag football games played at State Farm Stadium during halftime.
This season will be an expansion from one game per season to eight.
“The growth of flag football has been explosive not only in our state and our country but worldwide,” Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said in a statement. “As an organization, we are proud to help grow the interest even more and shine a spotlight on those competing at such a high level in our own community.”
The NFL is prioritizing efforts to ramp up flag football participation ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, during which the sport will be played at the Games for the first time. In July, the league hosted 2,800 athletes at Hall of Fame Village for the NFL Flag Championships, a tournament in which each team was represented by its NFL counterpart from its hometown.
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, an announcer for some ESPN broadcasts during the tournament, said in an interview with USA TODAY High School Sports that the efforts of the league and broadcast partners in recent years give it a chance to grow both flag and traditional football.
“Now the NFL and ESPN have poured so many resources into it, Iundoubtedly believe there’s going to be a flag football professional league here soon as we gear up for the 2028 Olympics. And that makes it a much more inclusive sport,” Griffin said. “It grows the actual game of American football and makes it to where it becomes global.”
15U boys Metro Select won its second straight flag football championship while the 18U girls Staten Island team rose to the top.
The 2024 NFL Flag Championships had symbolism for both the 15U boys Metro Select and the 18U Staten Island Giants girls championship teams.
For the boys, representing the New Orleans Saints, this 2024 game was their second title in a row. Last year, Metro Select played the underdog, coming in and lighting up the competition en route to a victory many did not expect.
This year, the team proved they were not to be reckoned with.
“It feels amazing, I’m honored that we won. We trained hard,” said Daniel Berry, who had three total touchdowns and was named MVP for the second year in a row after the Select beat the Lockdown Legends (representing the Tennessee Titans) 38-13.
The Staten Island Giants, representing the New York Giants, were back at the same location where they won their first summer nationals in 2019. But this team is drastically improved from its ability five years ago.
“We were very bad,” said quarterback Valentina (Val) Fanetti with a laugh. “I wasn’t the brightest quarterback. I’d say my longest pass was five yards and I’d start clapping. All these girls would run maybe two-yard routes, and we’d all celebrate each other for making a catch like that. But now it’s like, 10-yard passes and we’re like, ‘You can do better.’”
Five years later, it’s night and day. Fanetti went 14-for-17 for 116 yards and four touchdown passes, impressing with her left-handed throwing arm and ability to lead receivers. With her passing and athletic receiving from her corps, the Giants beat the Apex Predators (Los Angeles Chargers) 28-7.
“We realized we really could be something and we are a family,” Fanetti said, referring to tournaments in years past. “From there, we worked so hard for the growth of this sport.”
Flag football is gaining momentum, with these NFL-sponsored championships bringing together 2,860 kids and the sport set to be in the 2028 Olympics.
“In the past five years, it grew enormous and this game is going to go (much) further,” said Giants head coach Michael Colt. “We have a lot of these athletes aspire to be in the 2028 Olympics, and that’s the next goal. When we set our mind to a goal, we go out there and work hard and we do what we can to help these girls achieve their goals.”
The boys, who are now set to shift to tackle football at the high school level, have seen training benefit from flag. Berry, whose primary position is slot receiver, said it helps with hand-eye coordination and foot movement, and head coach Yusef Pie said it helps learn skills without taking the body damage of tackle football.
“I believe flag football works on more skill work without taking a bunch of hits,” Pie said. “As people work on their skills, their skillset, and getting as many skills as you can without taking on hits, you’re going to last longer.”
Metro Select was a perfect conflagration of offense and defense. Berry had three interceptions, one a pick-six, and had two touchdown catches from Eli Frye. The quarterback completed all 10 passes he threw, half of which went for touchdowns.
“We’ve been playing for so long too, and our connection is so much better than everyone else’s,” Berry said about Frye’s quarterback work.
While Select only had possession for 1:54 of the first half, the lockdown defense gave them an advantage that the Legends couldn’t fight against. Pie credited Landon Brazell’s quick decision-making and sacks as factors in forcing the Legends into poor possessions.
Pie said that after playing on the national stage before, the team had rid itself of first-time jitters.
“This one right here felt like we were at home again,” he said.
The girls team, which won in 2019 and 2021, were back with a vengeance before going to college. Colt said every girl received a college scholarship, and nearly every one of them is aiming to participate in college athletics.
Olivia Rijo led the team with 55 receiving yards and scored a touchdown to increase the lead to 14-7. Allison Gandlin, who was named NFL Flag Player of the Year earlier this year, had a pair of touchdowns and an interception. The Predators took the first lead of the game, but the Giants answered and never looked back.
Fanetti, who is entering her second year at Kaiser University, is looking forward to the future of the sport.
“I think it’ll earn more respect by the year,” said said. “Within the 5 years of growth I’ve been in, it’s gained a lot of respect, and I think when it comes to the Olympics, much more people will take it seriously.”
Robert Griffin III will be on the call this week for ESPN’s coverage of the NFL Flag Championships. The former Heisman winner and NFL veteran sees the development of flag football as crucial in the development as well as the expansion of the sport.
The NFL Flag Championships will air on ESPN and will feature representatives for all 32 teams on the boys’ and girls’ side.
The growth of flag football in recent years has had multiple benefits for the game of football, Griffin says. Having played in the NFL for eight years and being a Pro Bowl selection in 2012, not many fans know that Griffin didn’t start playing football until he was 12 years old.
Flag football, he says, can help grow and develop young talent to play at the next level.
First, it is expanding the game beyond the traditional landscape of being primarily played by boys by giving girls a competitive platform. Second, Griffin said it is a good way to teach the fundamentals of football before putting on pads and a helmet.
And third, Griffin sees the importance of flag football in being able to expand football globally because all that is needed is a ball and flags for tackling.
In particular, Griffin said that women have always been able to play and compete in sports at the highest level, but they’ve often lacked the platform. He underscores that isn’t the case now, with ESPN getting behind this tournament.
“There’s a negative stigma sometimes around women’s sports that people have said (that) this is just not as exciting and they’re completely wrong,” Griffin told USA TODAY High School Sports this week.
“When you see the ability that some of these quarterbacks have and the ability to some of these wide receivers in their route running and their ability to catch the football, you’re going to be impressed because you’re going to say, ‘Oh, wow, I didn’t know that they were that talented.’
“Well, they’ve always been that talented. They just needed the platform and the space to showcase it, and now the NFL and ESPN have provided that. So we’re not talking about something that’s going to be aired on ‘ESPN the Ocho.’ We’re talking about something that’s going to be playing on the big ESPN.”
Griffin’s journey to appreciating flag football and the growing impact of women in the game began when he was in college.
Growing up in Texas, the involvement of girls in the game of football was limited to the annual powderpuff game played every year. But by the time he got to Baylor, Griffin was exposed to women not just playing the game but doing so at a high level that showcased their athleticism.
“Flag football has been able to highlight that in a much, much bigger way, because back in 2008, 2009, 2010 there wasn’t a flag football league for them to actually go play in and highlight those skills,” Griffin said.
“Well now the NFL and ESPN have poured so many resources into it, I undoubtedly believe there’s going to be a flag football professional league here soon as we gear up for the 2028 Olympics. And that makes it a much more inclusive sport.
“It grows the actual game of American football and makes it to where it becomes global.”
All 32 ESPN-produced games will also be available on ESPN+ and NFL+ as well as 20 of the games streaming on YouTube. A total of 10 games will be aired on either ESPN or ESPN2.
On Sunday, the girls’ and boys’ championship games will be available on ABC as well as ESPN’s other platforms.
The Colts Flag Football League is the latest major development for the growing sport.
Flag football continues to trend upward, and a significant development toward the impressive rise occurred on Wednesday when the Indianapolis Colts announced the launch of the official Colts Flag Football League.
The new statewide network aims to grow flag football in Indiana by helping to connect parents and athletes to the NFL FLAG-sanctioned programs in the area.
Working alongside RCX Sports, the inaugural operations will include eight leagues and one developing league.
Elkhart Flag Football (Ind.)
Ft. Wayne East Flag Football (New Haven, Ind.)
Ft. Wayne West Flag Football (Ind.)
Indy South Flag Football (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Pike/Indy West Flag Football (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Noblesville Flag Football (Ind.)
Louisville Flag Football (Ky.)
First Baptist Athletics (Indianapolis, Ind.)
YMCA of Greater Indianapolis (Ind.)
The sport continues to grow, from the youth levels to high school, partly due to efforts like the Colts organization over the past few years.
“Football brings people from all walks of life together for a common goal and teaches skills like teamwork, discipline and confidence that are important to success in life,” said Kalen Jackson, Colts Vice Chair and Owner, in a statement. “The Colts Flag Football League will provide kids a safe and fun way to learn the fundamentals of the game and help bring the sport to even more young people across our state.”
Jackson also added: “We’re especially excited about the new opportunities flag football offers for girls to learn and play the sport, which only will help grow the game in Indiana and beyond.”
Girls flag football at the Indiana high school level is currently in a pilot program phase, which is bringing the possibility of officially sanctioning the sport and joining the growing list of states—such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, New York, Arizona, Illinois, and California, to name a few—a much closer reality.
The NFL Flag Championships in July will showcase 2,800 flag football players from countries around the world at Hall of Fame Village.
With the progressively expanding sport coming to the 2028 Olympics, the NFL Flag is ramping up its efforts to accelerate flag football in lockstep with the growth of the traditional game.
Next month, Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Ohio, will host the new NFL Flag Championships from July 18-21. This tournament, which will include 2,800 boys and girls players from 280 NFL Flag regional teams and six international teams, is part of the NFL’s prioritization of efforts to grow the game at a grassroots level. According to a press release from the league, the tournament will include a total of 2,500 players from 280 NFL Flag regional teams and six international teams.
“(It) exemplifies that flag football at the grass roots level is inclusive and accessible, every girl or boy that wants to play will have every opportunity to play this game,” said Stephanie Kwok, vice president of NFL Flag, in a statement.
The domestic teams will represent NFL teams from their respective home state. The international division will be made of 14U co-ed teams from Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Great Britain and Mexico. Each international team won an NFL Flag tournament in their respective home country.
On Thursday, the 18U girls and 15U boys will play in the pool round before the Round of 16 on Friday. Pool play for all other 9U-15U teams will begin on Friday.
Saturday will feature the 18U girls and 15U boys quarterfinals, playoffs for the other U.S. age divisions, and the playoffs and finals for the international teams.
Sunday will be the semifinals and finals for the 18U girls and 15U boys, and the finals for all other age groups.
According to an ESPN press release, the company will air the 32 games of the 18U girls and 15U boys divisions, with announcers including former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III and play-by-play commentator Mark Jones on the girls tournament and former NFL linebacker Tedy Bruschi and play-by-play announcer Tom Hart on the boys’.
Reporter and analyst Phoebe Schecter—who is also an NFL Global Flag Ambassador from the U.K.—plus Kris Budden and Stormy Buonantony will handle the on-field reporting during the event.
All 32 games will be available on ESPN+ and NFL+, with 20 on YouTube, six on ESPN, and four on ESPN2. The full schedule can be found here.
Adding to the broadcast, ESPN’s production team plans to utilize video enhancements that will heighten the viewing experience, having the athletes equipped with chest cameras that will give fans an extra angle of action. And, following a popular trend during football broadcasts, the Worldwide Leader will also have the coaches mic’d up, providing fans a front-row seat to the sidelines and in-game strategy.
“Combining ESPN and Disney platforms with the NFL’s commitment to flag football, the NFL FLAG Championships presented by Toyota will be the showcase event of the summer for the world’s fastest-growing sport,” noted Julie Sobieski, ESPN Senior Vice President of League Programming and Acquisitions, about the overall production rollout partnership. “Through our presentation and robust global distribution, we will spotlight the incredibly talented boys and girls within the tournament while also highlighting the exciting, inclusive, and accessible nature of the sport. We look forward to being a gateway for many fans, including the peers of the participating athletes, to experience competitive flag football for the first time.”
“The NFL Flag Championships Presented by Toyota will be a wonderful opportunity for these athletes to play flag football on the biggest stage they’ve ever experienced,” added Izell Reese, executive director of NFL flag and CEO of RCX Sports, the operator of NFL Flag. “I’m so proud of each of these athletes for chasing their dreams in Ohio, and I’m grateful to our partners to showcase the game on the national stage.”
Flag football has grown substantially in recent years, particularly on the girls’ side, with more and more states sanctioning it as a high school sport. The approaching 2028 Olympics, in which the sport will debut in the global competition, presents the NFL with a chance to further promote the game and the United States with a chance to show American football against international competition.
This flag football tournament occurs around the same time as the Nike Kickoff Classic, which will feature a boys’ high school football game between a domestic team and a team from the United Kingdom and a flag football game between two U.S. girls’ high school teams.
The move sees Colorado become the eleventh state to approve flag football as a high school sport for girls.
“Thrilled doesn’t even begin to cover it,” CHSAA Commissioner Mike Krueger said about the decision to approve flag football for girls as a high school sport.
“This isn’t just about the game; it’s about empowerment, teamwork and breaking barriers. By embracing this sport, we’re not only fostering athleticism, but we’re remaining among the nation’s leaders in providing opportunities for female athletes to participate. We are cultivating leadership, confidence and equality – on and off the field – and we are igniting a new era of inclusivity and self-empowerment for every young lady that participates.”
The decision was praised across the state, including by the Denver Broncos. The NFL team has been very active in the community by their promoting flag football for girls.
“In addition to providing an amazing platform for empowerment, inclusion & teamwork, girls flag creates a powerful sense of belonging & community for our next generation of leaders.”
Broncos Owner Carrie Walton Penner on Colorado sanctioning girls flag football as a HS sport: pic.twitter.com/q7sesln9WC
Flag football has been a headliner among growing sports over the past several years, a positive trend in offering girls the opportunity to play the game at the high school level. And the trend isn’t slowing, with more states adding it to the list of officially sanctioned high school sports.
As of 2024, 28 of the 50 states have kicked off girls flag football, whether as a full-fledged competition or pilot program, and more are certainly on the way.
The HSSA is the country’s largest high school athletic recognition program, with 20 regional programs and one national awards program that honors athletic achievement. Part of that spotlight includes the talented flag football athletes, the trailblazers who are turning heads on the field.
Here is the 2024 watchlist for the HSSA Flag Football Player of the Year (so far).
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun)
Maycie Bassett — JR, ATH/LB | Canyon View High School | Waddell, Arizona
Samyah Berry — SR, RB/LB | Tri-Cities High School | East Point, Georiga
Angelina Briano — SR, QB | Roosevelt High School | Eastvale, California
Cameron Brock — JR, QB | South Forsyth High School | Cumming, Georgia
Nichelle Brown — JR, WR/DB | Bradford High School | Starke, Florida
Camille Candidate — JR, ATH/LB | Edison High School | Miami, Florida
Ella Casey — SR, ATH | Pompano Beach High School | Pompano Beach, Florida
Taylor Clark — SR, ATH | Mountain View High School | Lawrenceville , Georgia
Madison Coger — JR, WR/DB | Campo Verde High School | Gilbert, Arizona
Lahela Cornett — SR, WR | Lincoln Park Academy | Fort Pierce, Florida
Emma Corr — JR, ATH | New Smyrna Beach High School | New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Layla Crawford — JR, LB | Lennard High School | Ruskin, Florida
Kelis Durham — JR, WR | Miami Killian Senior High School | Miami, Florida
Abby Elwell — SR, ATH | Lennard High School | Ruskin, Florida
Julia Geis — SR, QB | Blessed Trinity High School | Roswell, Georgia
Liani Gill — JR, ATH | Oxbridge Academy of the Palm Beaches | West Palm Beach, Florida
Morgan Grace — SR, DB | Chocawhatchee High School | Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Arnayshia Griffin — SO, QB | Bradford High School | Starke, Florida
Sanaa Growe — SR, ATH/WR | East Coweta High School | Sharpsburgh, Gerogia
Trinity Hall — JR, WR/DB | Auburndale High School | Auburndale, Florida
Ki’ona Hatley — JR, | Liberty High School | Henderson, Nevada
Samiyah Hopkins — SR, RB | Bellflower High School | Bellflower, California
London Jenkins — SR, WR | Fleming Island High School | Fleming Island, Florida
Katelyn Jewell — JR, QB | Canyon View High School | Waddell, Arizona
Samerria Johnson — JR, DB | Deerfield Beach High School | Deerfield Beach, Florida
Madilyn Lam — SO, QB | Esperanza High School | Anaheim, California
Taimane Laolagi-Aloy — SR, | Chapparral High School | Las Vegas, Nevada
Ava Liaga — FR, WR/DB | Corona High School | Corona, California
Nadja Long — JR, LB/ATH | Osborne High School | Marietta, Georgia
Katie Meneses — SR, QB | Rosary Academy | Fullerton, California
Trystin Mitchell — JR, WR/ATH | Liberty High School | Henderson, Nevada
Kyla Moore — SR, QB/ATH | Shadow Ridge High School | Las Vegas, Nevada
Jaylani Palmer — SO, WR/DB | Shadow Ridge High School | Las Vegas, Nevada
Isabella Pap — SO, QB/DB | Campo Verde High School | Gilbert, Arizona
Sarah Pasquali — SR, QB/WR | Las Vegas High School | Las Vegas, Nevada
Kaylie Phillips — JR, QB | Liberty High School | Henderson, Nevada
Nandi Ramessar — SR, WR | Western High School | Davie, Florida
Halley Redd — SR, QB/LB | Basic High School | Henderson, Nevada
Jaylin Schmitt — JR, QB/WR | East Coweta High School | Sharpsburgh, Georgia
Nevaeh Shedrick — SR, RB/LB | Lithia Springs High School | Lithia Springs, Georgia
Angel Shell-Nabiau — SR, WR | Tarpon Springs High School | Tarpon Springs, Florida
Nami Singer — JR, LB/RB | Marana High School | Tuscon, Arizona
Kyleigh Sizemore — SR, QB | Long County High School | Ludowici, Georgia
Shanty Sloss — JR, RB | Atlantic High School | Port Orange, Florida
Haidyn Spano — JR, QB | Robinson High School | Tampa, Florida
Makenna Sturgis — JR, WR | Alonso High School | Tampa, Florida
Manasvi Vijayaraghavan — SR, WR | Robinson High School | Tampa, Florida
Madeline West — JR, LB | Palo Verde High School | Las Vegas, Nevada
Angelina Williams — JR, RB/ATH | Locust Grove High School | Locust Grove, Georgia
Grace Yager — JR, WR/DB | Bishop Gorman High School | Las Vegas, Nevada
From the HSSA
Nominees for both the regional and national programs are posted as they are selected. Regional nominees represent the best in their respective areas, while national nominees are recognized as the top high school athletes nationwide.
Sign up for email updates for your region or nationally to keep up with nominee selections, the awards programs and special announcements.
