NEW YORK JETS AND CHICAGO BEARS HOST CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT TO CELEBRATE CULMINATION OF SECOND SUCCESSFUL LONDON NFL FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE FOR GIRLS
Ealing Fields (Jets) and Northwood (Bears) were crowned champions of their respective conferences on the day. The winning teams will be invited to the 2024 NFL London Games
The Jets and Bears once again joined forces to bring Flag Football, the non-contact version of American football, to a new audience of young girls in London
240 girls took part in this year’s league, double the number from year one
21 May 2024 – The New York Jets and the Chicago Bears celebrated the success of the second year of Jets and Bears NFL Girls Flag league in an action-packed Championship Event at AFC Wimbledon’s Cherry Red Records Stadium in London.
The Jets and Bears program, in its second year in the capital, engaged 240 UK girls, aged 12-14, through NFL Flag, the non-contact version of American football that encourages team work on and off the field. Together, the girls plan and execute winning plays, building life-long skills in strategy, communication, and resilience, and can promote healthy mental wellbeing for the future.
The championship event marked the culmination of a six-week league, comprised of two conferences of twelve teams, with the Jets and Bears each running a conference. Throughout the duration of the league, the girls received multiple bespoke coaching sessions from qualified NFL Flag coaches, along with individual branded kits, from league presenting partner Nike.
At the festival event Northwood were crowned champions of the Bears’ conference defeating Beaconsfield 22-8. Meanwhile in the Jets’ conference inaugural winners Ealing Fields defended their title with a 28-6 win over St Mary Magdelene.
Former Bears’ cornerback Jerry Azumah and former Jets’ running back Tony Richardson were in attendance to hand over the trophies to the winning teams and offer words of encouragement throughout the day.
Off-field the girls, their family and friends, were able to experience a traditional American tailgate, enjoying a range of food, DJ, hair braiding and classic garden games such as cornhole and giant Jenga.
The two respective champions from the Girls Flag league will receive an invite as special guests to the 2024 NFL London Games where the Jets and Bears will both play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadum. The Jets play the Vikings on October 6 before the Bears take on the Jaguars the following weekend on October 13.
The Jets and Bears NFL Girls Flag league was launched to introduce and give girls access to a new sport, overcome barriers in physical activity and for the teams to continue to grow their fanbases in the UK, where they have marketing rights through the NFL’s Global Markets Program. The Program awards NFL clubs rights to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the U.S. through fan engagement, events and commercial opportunities.
Jesse Linder, VP of Community Relations for the Jets, said; “Days like today are exactly why we kicked off this fantastic flag football league for these girls. We’ve seen the girls grow as players on the field as well creating a community off of it. Flag football is one of the best sports for young girls, and it’s been a privilege to make this league work again with the Bears.”
Matt Simeone, Chicago Bears’ Director of Community & Alumni Relations, commented: “We want to ensure that girls in the UK have similar accessibility to American Flag Football as girls in the US. This league was another example of the wonderful impact flag football can have on young girls. They gain transferable skills from taking part in Flag Football they will take with them moving forward.”
Following another successful season, both teams are already planning their growth ambitions for 2025 and beyond.
To find out more about the League results, 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.
ENDS
About Chicago Bears
One of the founding franchises of the National Football League, the Chicago Bears were 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 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. These programs are funded by the New York Jets Foundation and look 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.