NEW YORK JETS AND CHICAGO BEARS EXPAND GIRLS NFL FLAG LEAGUE AHEAD OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 

·      The two NFL Franchises launched second year of the Jets and Bears NFL Girls Flag football league, at AFC Wimbledon’s Cherry Red Records Stadium, with over 200 girls from 21 schools in attendance 

·      The girls were joined by prominent figures from the NFL, including Quincy Williams (New York Jets), Tremaine Edmunds (Chicago Bears), Jason Bell (Former NFL player and UK broadcaster) and members of the Great Britain Women’s Flag Football Team Ellie Thorpe, Kellie Barrett and Kate Bruinvels 

·      The expanded league has been designed to provide girls with access to sport and the ability to develop unique skills that will have a positive impact on their lives 

·      Flag football will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles

7 March 2024 – Ahead of International Women’s Day, the New York Jets and the Chicago Bears have announced the expansion of the Jets and Bears NFL Girls Flag league, the first UK all-girls competition of its kind. 

Over 200 girls from 21 participating schools kicked off the league with a unique NFL Flag football experience at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in Southwest London, home to AFC Wimbledon. The league returns following a successful inaugural season in 2023 based in the London borough of Ealing, with participation numbers more than doubling from 120 to 260 and now including multiple London boroughs.

The girls were joined at the launch by current New York Jets Team MVP Quincy Williams and Chicago Bears Defensive Captain Tremaine Edmunds. Also in attendance were current Great Britain Women’s Flag stars Ellie Thorpe, Kellie Barrett and Kate Bruinvels - hoping to inspire the next generation of flag football stars ahead of the sport’s Olympic debut at LA28.

Former NFL player and current UK broadcaster Jason Bell, a father to a young daughter himself, joined the players on the day to witness the unique experience offered to the girls.   

Flag football is the non-contact format of American football that empowers young athletes, both boys and girls, around the world. The game is fun, exciting, and accessible for all, with women and girls driving some of the fastest growth in the sport. 

The Jets and Bears aim to empower girls through NFL Flag, a game that offers a supportive team environment and a great social atmosphere. Together, the girls plan and execute winning plays, building life-long psychological skills in strategy, communication, and resilience, and can promote healthy mental wellbeing for the future.   

At the launch event, the girls received their official team kit from Nike who are the league presenting partner and had an NFL Flag taster session led by NFL coaches as well as a host of other fun skill-based activities, including Cornhole, Shuffleboard, 360 Photo Booth, and a bespoke Media workshop. 

Starting from the 15th of April, the second year will see over 260 girls from 21 schools compete in two conferences across the London boroughs of Ealing and Lambeth. The Jets and Bears will each run a conference, with the winners going head-to-head in a Championship Event on May 20th. 

The eventual winners of the league will follow in the footsteps of last year's champions, Ealing Fields, and receive an invite to attend the 2024 London Games as special guests. 

New York Jets stated: “We are delighted to strengthen our commitment to the UK youth this year and expand the Girls Flag league. As a franchise, we are committed to growing female participation in sports at every opportunity. NFL Flag provides a sustainable way to achieve this while teaching young girls life lessons that will have an impact far beyond the football field. We have seen Jets fandom in the UK grow over the past few years, and we hope that these girls can drive a new wave of female fans in the years to come.”  

Chicago Bears stated: “Girls’ flag football continues to grow locally and internationally. Last month, we witnessed the sport become sanctioned in Chicago (US) and the state of Illinois. The game will also be introduced to the Olympic Games in 2028. As flag football progresses, the Chicago Bears will remain committed to championing the sport's growth.  We are thrilled to be back in the UK for a second year with the Jets. To see the enthusiasm and engagement for American Football is incredible, and we are excited for what the second year of the league will bring, especially ahead of the Bears playing a game in London in October.”

NFL International Flag Football Development Manager, Afia Law, added: “It’s fantastic to see participation in NFL Flag throughout the UK continuing to grow at pace. Initiatives such as the Jets and Bears NFL Girls Flag league are fundamental to the sport's development here and to driving female participation. The experiences and friendships young people make today in flag football have the potential to last a lifetime, and we hope their stories can go on to inspire more and more young girls to find their place in the sport.”  

To learn more about the Jets and Bears NFL Girls Flag League, please visit www.chicagobears.com and https://nyjetsinuk.com/girls-flag. To know more about NFL Flag in the UK, please visit https://www.nfl.com/uk/nfl-flag.  

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About Chicago Bears 

One of the founding franchises of the National Football League, the Chicago Bears, was established in 1920 as the Decatur Staleys by legendary player, coach and owner George S. Halas. The team moved to Chicago in 1921. In 1922, Halas changed the team’s name from the Staleys to the Bears, and the team has gone on to win nine NFL Championships, including one Super Bowl. The Bears 30 Hall of Famers are the most of any team in the NFL. A pillar in the community for more than a century, the Bears strive to be civic leaders throughout Chicago and its suburbs by supporting initiatives focused on social justice, youth and high school football, the military, health equity, education, volunteerism and civic involvement.  

About the New York Jets 

The New York Jets were founded in 1959 as the New York Titans, an original member of the American Football League (AFL). The Jets won Super Bowl III, defeating the NFL’s Baltimore Colts in 1969. In 1970, the franchise joined the National Football League in the historic AFL–NFL merger that set the foundation for today’s league. As part of a commitment to its fan base through innovation and experiences, the team has created initiatives such as its trailblazing Jets Rewards program, a state-of-the-art mobile app, and Jets 360 Productions, a comprehensive content platform that gives fans greater access to the team across all digital and social platforms. The organization takes great pride in a long-standing, year-round commitment to their community. The New York Jets Foundation funds these programs and looks to positively influence the lives of young men and women, particularly in disadvantaged communities. The organization supports the efforts of the Lupus Research Alliance, youth football and numerous established charitable organizations and causes sponsored by the NFL. The New York Jets play in MetLife Stadium, which opened in 2010, and are headquartered at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, New Jersey. For more information about the New York Jets, visit newyorkjets.com.