Flag Football is the Future
Anwar Stetson
The Jacksonville Jaguars have finally won a championship, though not the one you might think.
The 2025 NFL FLAG Championships showcased a full display of incredible athleticism and competition this past weekend at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With events like these, prep athletes are helping to shine a light on the future of football.
According to the NFL, flag football participation internationally is expected to overtake tackle football “in the next few years.” As parents remain concerned about the effects of head injuries on athletes, flag football has opened up as a safer alternative to the traditional tackle sport, and its growing popularity among youth is a positive sign for the sport’s future.
Girls’ flag football, in particular, is gaining massive popularity, with 17 states now sanctioning the sport at the high school level.
Other non-tackle formats, like 7-on-7, are also becoming popular mechanisms in the offseason to supplement skills for tackle players on the gridiron.
The 2025 NFL FLAG Championships took place in Canton, Ohio, this past weekend with 32 teams competing, one represented by each NFL team. Eight international teams also took part, representing Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Great Britain, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Both boys and girls teams in multiple age groups competed.
The 14U Boys tournament created the most buzz, exemplified by an insane one-handed catch by tournament MVP Brysen Wright (video below).
Snatching the pigskin right out of the sky while draped by two defenders, Wright’s magnificent catch caught the attention of the NFL world, including stars like Patrick Mahomes.
Wright is a 6’2”, 185 lb athlete in the class of 2028. He attends Jacksonville’s Mandarin High School (Fla.), and with that skill he could one day be playing on Sundays.
Flag football made headlines in 2023 when it was approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, making it the first time that flag football will be played for gold on the world’s biggest stage.
The NFL will also encourage its athletes to participate in flag football at the Olympics, allowing players the opportunity to represent their country internationally for the first time with streaming flags on their sides.