Future NFL Hall of Famer Drew Brees continues his mission to grow the game through flag football, and now he’s got the financial backing to do it. Football ‘N’ America, the youth league Brees launched in 2017, is being bought by Unrivaled Sports.
Football ‘N’ America is the fourth flag football league to be acquired by Unrivaled Sports, a youth sports holding company with more than 20 businesses in its portfolio. Private-equity veterans Josh Harris, owner of the Washington Commanders, and David Blitzer founded the parent company in March 2024.
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Unrivaled Sports CEO Jim Reynolds said in a statement that Brees will remain involved with FNA.
“We’re proud to work with Drew and the FNA team to create amazing athlete experiences and define the standard for the sport as flag continues to grow and gain popularity with girls and boys across the country,” Reynolds said. “We’re inspired by the momentum surrounding flag football as it heads to the global stage in 2028, and proud to help lead the charge in the youth space.”
Why did Drew Brees get into flag football?
Brees, the New Orleans Saints legend who is eligible for the Hall of Fame next year, cofounded his league in order to grow the game for boys and girls through a safer, non-tackle version of the sport.
“Back in the day, you might say the first thing you put your kids in was soccer,” Brees told Fox Business. “But I think in so many cases now, I see young kids playing flag football for the first time at five, six, seven years old, and that’s really their introduction to sports,” Breese said. “I see a ton of girls doing it as well, which has never been the case.”
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According to the International Federation of American Football, 2.4 million kids under age 17 play organized flag football in the U.S., while millions more play the sport globally.
Brees believes flag football is becoming a “gateway” to other sports and often talks about his football journey starting with flag at a young age.
“I didn’t even put on my first set of pads or play tackle football until ninth grade,” Brees said. “Up until then, it was flag football, and it was through flag football that I learned the fundamentals of the game and the skill set to play at the next level. I gained so much confidence and self-esteem while developing my passion and love for the game, and it helped me quickly transition into the tackle football game when I chose to make that switch in high school.”
Where is flag football headed?
The Olympics and the NFL are all-in as well. Flag football will be a featured sport at the 2028 games in Los Angeles and will include NFL players. Commissioner Roger Goodell also announced that the NFL will launch professional flag football leagues for both men and women after the Olympics.
“I think I am more excited about the young women who are finally getting a chance to participate in our sport,” Goodell said at the Super Bowl. “And they are able to do it in a way that’s empowering to them. When you talk to these young players and you see what it does for them, to feel more confidence, the opportunity to play a game that was considered a male sport, they are now out there competing, and that will be a big part of the Olympics in a few years.”
According to the International Federation of American Football, 2.4 million kids under 17 are playing organized flag football in the U.S., with millions more participating around the world.
Football ‘N’ America runs 24 flag football leagues centered mostly in California, Louisiana and Texas. Unrivaled Sports adds those leagues to its large stable of youth sports companies, which also include baseball, soccer and lacrosse organizations.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but both Brees and Unrivaled said they are excited about the resources that will be poured into the sport, creating new events and leagues in communities across the country.
