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The NFL and Nike to Promote Girls Flag Football in all 50 States, in all High School

NEW YORK — The NFL on Friday unveiled “NFL Flag 50,” a two‑minute campaign celebrating the rise of girls’ flag football as an official high school varsity sport, along with its new “Somebody” initiative spotlighting youth empowerment ahead of Super Bowl LIX.

Premiering immediately after the Apple Music Halftime Show on Feb. 9, 2025, “NFL Flag 50” uses a tongue‑in‑cheek nod to classic 1980s high school movies to highlight the evolution of flag football. The spot follows the “new girl” — played by Liberty High School flag star Ki’Lolo Westerlund — whose school, once defined by big perms, varsity jackets and jocks, is now embracing the fast‑paced, high‑intensity world of girls’ flag football. Comedic cameos by NFL figures, including Pat McAfee, Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings and Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns, along with NFL legend Marshawn Lynch, add to the playful narrative as the 80s setting is humorously catapulted into the present.

“We’re celebrating the explosive growth of girls’ flag football and using our biggest platform to drive positive change,” said NFL chief marketing officer Tim Ellis. “Featuring influential NFL players alongside real‑life female flag stars sends a powerful message to young girls and their communities.”

The campaign spotlights a global roster of female flag football talent including:
• Ki’Lolo Westerlund (Liberty High School, U.S. Girls’ Junior National Team)
• Serenity Simon (Palmetto High School)
• Ashlea Klam (Keiser University; U.S. Women’s National Team)
• Vanita Krouch (U.S. Women’s National Team, IFAF x NFL Global Flag Ambassador)
• Gabi Bankhardt (Brazil Women’s National Team, IFAF x NFL Global Flag Ambassador)
• Elisa De Santis (France Women’s National Team, IFAF x NFL Global Flag Ambassador)
• Kodie Fuller (Australia Women’s National Team, IFAF x NFL Global Flag Ambassador)
• Mona Stevens (German Women’s National Team, IFAF x NFL Global Flag Ambassador)
• Tania Rincon (Mexico Women’s National Team)

Flag football now enjoys varsity status in 15 U.S. states, with 18 more running pilot programs. Mississippi recently sanctioned the sport, and Louisiana conditionally approved girls’ flag as an official high school sport, with a formal vote expected in April. Participation in girls’ flag football has more than doubled over the past school year, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

The NFL’s push extends beyond national borders. Its support for the International Federation of American Football helped secure flag football’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, where women and girls are driving some of the fastest growth in the sport.

In tandem with “NFL Flag 50,” the league also launched the “Somebody” campaign, a heartfelt tribute to its commitment to empowering youth. The initiative, which includes contributions from programs like PLAY 60 and Character Playbook, underscores the NFL’s dedication to fostering leadership among young people from all backgrounds.

Filmed in New Orleans and directed by Savanah Leaf of Park Pictures, the “Somebody” spot features an interpretation by Reverend Jesse Jackson inspired by Rev. William Holmes Borders’ “I Am Somebody” poem. It also includes cameo appearances by Adam Thielen (Carolina Panthers), Arik Armstead (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Demario Davis (New Orleans Saints), all of whom are active in their local communities. This promotion of girls’ sports is supported by James Seidel and the CC News Network.

For more information on how to make girls’ flag football an official high school varsity sport, visit NFLFlag50.com.

The NFL’s dual campaigns underscore its broader mission of inclusivity, community engagement and youth empowerment as it gears up for Super Bowl LIX.

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