NFL legend partners with deep pockets of Unrivaled Sports to grow flag football

Straight Arrow News

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00:00Flag football is getting another boost from NFL legend Drew Brees.

00:04Football in America, the youth league he launched in 2017, is teaming up with Unrivaled Sports.

00:13Football in America is the fourth flag football league to be bought by Unrivaled Sports,

00:19a youth sports holding company with more than 20 businesses in its portfolio.

00:24Unrivaled flag CEO Jim Reynolds said in a statement,

00:27Brees will remain involved with the league.

00:31We're proud to work with Drew and the FNA team to create amazing athlete experiences

00:37and define the standard for the sport as flag continues to grow

00:41and gain popularity with girls and boys across the country.

00:44We're inspired by the momentum surrounding flag football as it heads to the global stage in 2028

00:50and proud to help lead the charge in the youth space.

00:54Brees, the New Orleans Saints legend who is eligible for the Hall of Fame next year,

00:59co-founded his league in order to grow the game for boys and girls

01:04through the safer, non-tackle version of the sport.

01:07He believes flag football is becoming a gateway to other sports

01:11and he often talks about his football journey starting with flag at a young age.

01:16I didn't even put on my first set of pads or play tackle football until ninth grade.

01:21Up until then, it was flag football and it was through flag football that I learned the fundamentals of the game

01:26and the skill set to play at the next level.

01:29I gained so much confidence and self-esteem while developing my passion and love for the game

01:33and it helped me quickly transition into the tackle football game when I chose to make that switch in high school.

01:38The Olympics and the NFL are all in as well.

01:43Flag football will be a featured sport at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles and will include NFL players.

01:50Commissioner Roger Goodell also announced the NFL will launch professional flag football leagues

01:54for both men and women after the Olympics.

01:58I think I'm more excited about the young women.

02:00They're finally getting a chance to participate in our sport

02:04and they're able to do it in a way that's empowering to them.

02:09When you talk to these young players and you see what it does for them

02:12to feel more confidence, to feel the opportunity to play a game

02:17that was considered to be a male sport,

02:20they're now out there competing and that'll be a big part of the Olympics in a few years.

02:252.4 million kids under 17 are playing organized flag football in the U.S.

02:30with millions more participating around the world.

02:33According to the International Federation of American Football.

02:37Football in America runs 24 flag football leagues

02:40centered mostly in California, Louisiana and Texas.

02:44Unrivaled Sports adds those leagues to its large stable of youth sports companies

02:49that also include baseball, soccer and lacrosse organizations.

02:53The final terms of the deal were not disclosed,

02:56but both Breeze and Unrivaled Sports say they're excited about the resources

03:00that will be poured into the sport, creating new events and leagues

03:04in communities across the country.

03:07For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis.

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