NFL Pays Tribute to the Evolution of Girls’ High School Sports in Big Game Ad

The NFL has debuted its new campaign for Super Bowl LIX, “NFL Flag 50,” a fun, inspiring tribute to the evolution of girls’ high school sports and the momentum girls’ flag football is gaining as an official high school varsity sport throughout the country. The two-minute brand campaign immediately following the Apple Music Halftime Show celebrates the universal power of flag and how the NFL is helping to create an accessible participation pathway for girls in football.​

Paying homage to classic Americana movies, the tongue-in-cheek campaign opens at a high school in the 1980s, ripe with big perms, varsity jackets, football jocks, band geeks and class clowns. The spot follows the “new girl,” played by girls’ high school flag star Ki'Lolo Westerlund, as the principal, Pat McAfee (NFL Legend), is excited that girls’ flag football has become a varsity sport. Everything gets turned upside down, as the ‘80s high school is catapulted into the present. With more comedic cameos from Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings), Myles Garrett (Cleveland Browns) and Marshawn Lynch (NFL Legend), “NFL Flag 50” compares the old with the new, ultimately spotlighting the high intensity, fast pace and fun nature of girls’ flag football in today’s world.

The full cast highlights can be found below.

NFL Players and Legends

• Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings, IFAF x NFL Global Flag Football Ambassador)
• Myles Garrett (Cleveland Browns)
• Pat McAfee (NFL Legend)
• Marshawn Lynch (NFL Legend)

Female Flag Players

• Ki'Lolo Westerlund (Girls’ Varsity Flag, Liberty High School, U.S. Girls’ Junior National Team)
• Serenity Simon (Girls’ Varsity Flag, Palmetto High School)
• Ashlea Klam (Women’s Varsity Flag, Keiser University; U.S. Women's National Team)
• Vanita Krouch (U.S. Women's National Team, IFAF x NFL Global Flag Ambassador)
• Gabi Bankhardt (Brazil Women’s National Team, IFAF x NFL Global Flag Ambassador)
• Elisa De Santis (France Women’s National Team, IFAF x NFL Global Flag Ambassador)
• Kodie Fuller (Australia Women’s National Team, IFAF x NFL Global Flag Ambassador)
• Mona Stevens (German Women’s National Team, IFAF x NFL Global Flag Ambassador)
• Tania Rincon (Mexico Women’s National Team)

“Girls’ flag football is growing at an unprecedented rate, and we’re using our biggest platform and family-viewing moment of the year not just to celebrate the growth of flag, but to drive positive change when it comes to creating accessible participation pathways for girls in football,” said Tim Ellis, NFL chief marketing officer. “With some of the most influential players in the NFL featured alongside real-life female flag stars, ‘NFL Flag 50’ is a fun, yet powerful call-to-action that we hope will inspire young girls and their communities, while making a meaningful impact on the youth sports landscape across the country.” 

The commercial was created by 72andSunny Los Angeles and directed by Peter Berg, a renowned director and film producer who worked on the Emmy-Award winning 'NFL 100' Super Bowl commercial celebrating 100 years of the league during Super Bowl LIII.

Growing flag football both nationally and globally is a priority for the NFL. Currently, there are already 15 U.S. states that offer flag as a high school varsity sport, with an additional 18 states running pilot programs. Mississippi became a sanctioned state in January and Louisiana conditionally approved girls flag as an official high school sport earlier this week, with a formal vote scheduled in April. Participation in girls’ high school flag grew by over 100% last school year, according to the National Federation of High Schools.

From a global standpoint, the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), supported by the NFL, led efforts for flag football’s successful inclusion in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.  Seeing explosive growth around the world at both the grassroots and elite levels, with women and girls driving some of the fastest growth, flag football is the most accessible and inclusive football format. 

For more information on how to make flag football an official girls’ high school varsity sport, visit NFLFlag50.com

Additionally, the NFL launched a cause campaign for Super Bowl LIX titled “Somebody,” a heartfelt tribute to the league’s ongoing commitment to uplifting youth from all backgrounds. The campaign underscores the NFL's dedication to fostering leadership, recognizing the positive impact of strong leaders, and inspiring today’s youth to see themselves as tomorrow’s leaders.

Through initiatives like PLAY 60, the NFL’s youth health and wellness platform, and Character Playbook, the league’s education initiative focused on character development, the NFL is committed to helping youth across the country grow into the next generation of leaders.

The spot, which features an interpretation by Reverend Jesse Jackson inspired by Rev. William Holmes Borders’ acclaimed "I Am Somebody" poem, showcases children from various organizations the NFL partners with, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, InsideOut and Special Olympics. Filmed in New Orleans, the campaign also includes cameos from Adam Thielen (Carolina Panthers), Arik Armstead (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Demario Davis (New Orleans Saints), all players who are actively involved in their local communities through their work to empower youth. The commercial was created by 72andSunny Los Angeles and directed by Savanah Leaf of Park Pictures.