The New York Jets have announced the expansion of the Jets NFL Girls Flag League in Dublin, with participation doubling for the 2026 edition following a successful inaugural year.
The initiative, the first organised girls’ flag football league of its kind in Ireland, aims to increase girls’ access to sport through NFL Flag, the official flag football programme of the NFL. The format offers a fast-paced and accessible introduction to the sport while helping participants develop skills such as strategy, communication and teamwork.
To mark the start of the second year of the programme, the Jets welcomed 160 girls aged between 12 and 15 from 16 schools across Dublin to the Sport Ireland Campus yesterday for a full-day launch event.
Participants were formally welcomed into the Jets programme and presented with their official Nike kits for the 2026 season before taking part in a Q&A session with visiting guests from the NFL. Jets linebackers Jamien Sherwood and Marcelino McCrary-Ball joined Mickey McDermott to discuss their experiences in the sport, the global growth of flag football and the impact participation can have for young athletes.
The event then moved onto the field for a quarterback camp led by McDermott, head coach of the U.S.-based Jets Flag Elite travel team. The camp featured a series of skills and drills stations designed to introduce many of the girls to the sport for the first time. Alongside the on-field activity, participants also enjoyed a number of off-field elements including yard games, a 360-degree photo booth and giveaways.
The Jets have been active supporters of girls’ participation in football for more than a decade and have committed more than $2.5 million to the development of Girls Flag programmes since 2011. In 2025 alone, the organisation supported more than 6,000 participants across over 250 Girls Flag programmes both in the United States and internationally.
“It’s fantastic to be back in Dublin for the second year of our Jets NFL Girls Flag league,” said Jesse Linder, Vice President of Community Relations with the New York Jets.
“We are building good momentum in Ireland, and we’re thrilled to see participation double in 2026. The Jets truly believe in the power of flag football, and we’re committed to ensuring that all girls have the opportunity to try the sport. We’re looking forward to several exciting weeks of competition and wish all our teams the very best of luck.”
Dr Chris Long, Lead Manager for Youth and Grassroots Football Development for the UK and Ireland at the National Football League, highlighted the broader growth in participation.
“We’re seeing incredible momentum for girls’ participation across Ireland,” he said. “Initiatives like the Jets NFL Girls Flag league are vital in creating welcoming, high-quality pathways into the sport. It’s inspiring to watch these young athletes develop confidence, skill and a sense of belonging through flag football.”
The programme represents the latest activation by the Jets in Ireland since the franchise was awarded international marketing rights in the country in 2024 through the NFL’s Global Markets Program. The initiative enables NFL teams to build brand awareness and grow fan engagement internationally through events, commercial partnerships and grassroots development programmes such as NFL Flag.
Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports globally, with more than 20 million players across over 100 countries. Women and girls are currently driving the fastest growth in participation.
The sport is also set to receive a further boost when flag football makes its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics, following a successful campaign led by the International Federation of American Football and supported by the NFL.
In Ireland, American Football Ireland is continuing to work with the NFL and its partner clubs to develop the sport and expand opportunities for participation at grassroots level.
Image Credit: New York Jets
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