The Sport Ireland Indoor Arena had green jerseys of a different kind yesterday when the New York Jets were in town to announce the launch of their new Jets NFL Girls Flag league in Dublin.

Eighty girls aged 12-15 from eight schools across Dublin joined stars from the NFL team for the league’s all-day launch event.

The league is the first of its kind to be established in the country and aims to increase access to and participation in a different sport by girls across the city.

The launch kicked off with a panel discussion hosted by Her Sport Founder, Niamh Tallon.

Featuring the colours and sounds of a game day at MetLife Stadium, the panel introduced the girls to the unique Jets fan culture before discussing the global popularity of flag football and the positive impact of taking part.

Eli Hodges, the Jets Director of Community Relations and Youth Football was joined on the panel by Pro Footballer Quincy Williams, Afia Law from NFL International’s Flag Football Development team, and Megan Howe and Helen Smyth from the Irish Wolfhounds Flag Football Team.

Jets Running Back Isaiah Davis then joined the girls in some fun skill-based activity stations before the girls were presented with their official Nike league kits.

In the afternoon, they took to the field to participate in a host of NFL Flag related drills and skills before the competitive action got underway with the first round of league fixtures.

Flag football is the non-contact version of American Football and is inclusive and accessible for all. The sport will officially be included in the LA 2028 Olympic Games programme.

All 80 girls will participate across five weeks of league matches, before going head-to-head in a final Championship Event on Tuesday, April 8th.

“We are delighted to be announcing the launch of our new Jets NFL Girls Flag league here in Dublin and welcoming 80 new girls into our growing family in Ireland,” said Jesse Linder, Jets Vice President of Community Relations.

“Creating opportunities to grow girls’ participation in sport is a key priority for the Jets, both at home and in our international markets.”

“NFL Flag provides the perfect platform to support this ambition, teaching skills and providing benefits both on and off the field. Spending time in Dublin this week, we can see and feel the excitement around our sport and hope the league can play a part in engaging a new generation of girls with the Jets and the NFL.”

“Female participation in flag football is growing around the world and initiatives such as these run by the Jets are a key component of the sports success,” added Afia Law from NFL International.

“The passion and enthusiasm on display was infectious and I wish the girls the best of luck in the league’s inaugural year.”

“The positive impacts of female participation in sport at a young age are powerful and lasting and this is why, as Lord Mayor, I have prioritised the promotion and participation of women and girls in sport,” said Emma Blain, Lord Mayor of Dublin.

“The league launched by the Jets is a fantastic moment to be part of and will provide an inclusive and safe environment for girls to enjoy sport across Dublin.”

The launch of the league represents the latest activation by the Jets in Ireland since April 2024 when the franchise was awarded the right to expand its brand and activities in the country as part of the NFL’s ‘Global Markets Program’ (GMP).

We spoke to the Jets VP of Finance yesterday about the way in which this might be executed including the potential of a Regular season game in Dublin. Join us tomorrow morning for that interview in full.

In 2024, the team enlisted Love Island star and former Irish rugby union player Greg O’Shea to announce the first-ever New York Jets live NFL Draft pick from Dublin and hosted their first-ever official Ireland watch party at Buskers on the Ball for the team’s Week 14 clash against the Miami Dolphins in December.

Further Reading for Sport for Business members: Dublin confirmed for Pittsburgh Steelers NFL game in 2025

SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE

With College Football tickets on sale this week and the clock ticking down to our first NFL Regular Season game on Irish soil, this doubling down of interest from the New York Jets only adds to the sense that Ireland is going to be a long term part of the future of American Football.

WHAT’S UP NEXT?

Our Interview with Jets Vice President John MacCarter will be published tomorrow.

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