Day 1 Recap: NFL FLAG Championships Presented by Toyota

NFL FLAG Championships: Day 1 (Thursday, July 17)

The wait is over. Teams from across the country checked in and hit the fields for the first round of pool play. The High School Girls Showcase brought serious talent, the NFL FLAG Players of the Year Finalists Presented by Toyota and Coaches of the Year Presented by Visa were celebrated on the main stage while pool play started. The energy is officially on!




 

NFL FLAG Players of the Year Finalists Presented by Toyota

 

Shoutout to our standout finalists who are raising the bar—on and off the field.

HS Girls Finalists: Anna Anderson, Sonya Chalil, Ava Rotondi, Kayla Tacker, Haylee Weatherspoon

14U Boys Finalists: Wrigley Hamrick, Alex Kramer, Kason Turner, Cole Ware, Brysen Wright

These athletes represent the best of NFL FLAG—excelling in competition, the classroom, and living the core values of the NFL: Respect, Integrity, Responsibility to Team, and Resiliency.

Two winners will be named NFL FLAG Players of the Year and receive an all-expenses-paid trip (with a parent/guardian) to the NFL Honors award show in Santa Clara, CA this February. They'll walk the red carpet alongside NFL stars and celebrate their achievements on a national stage. Follow their journey with us in 2026.

 

Coaches of the Year Presented by Visa


A huge congratulations to our 2025 NFL FLAG Coaches of the Year:

HS Girls: Lacey Abell (Lace Up Junior - Broncos)

14U Boys: Nathan Munson (All Out - Chargers)


Congratulations to all of our nominees!

HS Girls:
Thomas Deangelis - (THT - Jets)
Damion Dedmon - (Lady Ghost - Packers)
Kenley Harper - (Texas Fury North Texas - Titans)
Jennifer Largaespada - (SoFlo - Dolphins) 

14u Boys:
Jeffery Jones - (RFP- Bills)
Benjamin Loatman - (JTF Black - Eagles)
Ryan Marquez - (HFFL Empire A - Raiders)
Jimmy Smit - (Timberwolves - Cowboys)

Your leadership, impact, commitment—none of this happens without you. Thank you, Coach.

 

BREAKING NEWS: OHSAA sanctions girls flag football as varsity sport with state championship starting in 2026

 

Ohio has become the 17th state in the nation to officially sanction girls flag football as a varsity sport. Read more HERE.

 

 

Check back soon for more highlights, top plays, and behind-the-scenes moments from the NFL FLAG Championships Presented by Toyota.

Click here to follow the action on our NFL FLAG INSTAGRAM