Updates

The NFL and IFAF announced that Drew Brees will headline the most recent list of NFL Legends to become Global Flag Football Ambassadors. LeCharles Bentley, Tony Richardson, Elisa De Santis and Bobby Taylor are also among the latest to be added to the team of men and women, including current American and flag football players, Legends, coaches and officials, as ambassadors who will work together to further raise the profile and promote the unique values of one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.

“I am excited about the opportunity to help the NFL grow the great game of flag football throughout the world,” said Brees. “Flag football prioritizes a way to learn, practice and play the game, while also emphasizing the values of hard work, character and sportsmanship. The many positives that come out of flag football are why I have become heavily involved in starting my own youth co-ed league nationwide.”

The Flag Football Ambassadors team – first announced ahead of the NFL’s 2022 season – supports the combined global efforts of the NFL and IFAF to increase awareness, interest and participation in flag football internationally.

Earlier this year, the NFL announced the transformation of the Pro Bowl, renaming the event as the Pro Bowl Games. Coming up, USA Football and IFAF will hold the 2023 IFAF Americas Continental Flag Football Championship in Charlotte from July 5-7.

Flag football is poised for even greater expansion as the cornerstone of the NFL’s domestic and international participation and development strategies. Momentum is growing behind the sport following its debut at the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama last year. The IFAF is preparing to launch the biggest-ever cycle of elite international flag competition, including full continental representation for the first time in 2023.

The newest members of the Global Flag Football Ambassador team are:

• LeCharles Bentley – NFL Legend who played for the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns, two-time Pro Bowler, currently a senior advisor of player performance and development.
• Drew Brees – NFL Legend, 13-time Pro Bowler, and Super Bowl XLIV MVP for the New Orleans Saints.  
• Tony Richardson – 16-year NFL Legend and three-time Pro Bowler.
• Bobby Taylor – 10-year NFL Legend and Pro Bowler.
• Elisa De Santis – Team France flag football player.

The global appeal of these international athletes highlights the scope and ambition of the group to grow the game worldwide but also points to the impact international players have on the game.

Among the previously announced ambassadors with international ties:

• Osi Umenyiora, the first British-born player to win a Super Bowl. Umenyiora was born in London to Nigerian parents and now works to raise the profile of the game in Europe and Africa. 
• Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions wide receiver who is a German national who speaks fluent German and French, thanks to his German-born mother. His brother, Equanimeous, plays for the Chicago Bears, and is also a global flag football ambassador.
• Desiree Abrams, founded the National Women’s Football Officials Association that seeks to accelerate opportunities for female football officials.
• Diana Flores, the starting quarterback for the Mexico women's team who won the gold at the 2022 World Games. 
• Liz Sowers, the head coach of the women's flag football team at Ottawa University, where she won the NAIA championship in her first year in 2021.
• Andrea Castillo, won the bronze medal at the 2022 World Games for the Panama women's flag football team.
• Sebastian Vollmer, NFL Legend and former New England Patriots tackle, born in Germany, who helped the Patriots to two Super Bowl titles.
• Luke Zahradka, the quarterback of the Italian national flag football team. 
• Fouzia Madhouni, Morocco native and NFL Global Sports Mentoring Program mentee.

“NFL Flag is a tremendous opportunity for young athletes to fall in love with the game while building transferable life skills like teamwork, communication, and goal setting that they will carry with them throughout life,” said Bentley.