A new all-star team of international ambassadors was announced by the IFAF on Friday

On Friday, The National Football League (NFL) and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) announced the fourth team of Global Flag Football Ambassadors to build momentum behind the quickly growing sport as they continue to shine a worldwide spotlight on it.

The all star team made up of current American and flag football players, legends, coaches and officials will serve as ambassadors to grow the popularity of flag football around the world. The NFL and IFAF are working together to put the spotlight on the sport with the hopes of one day making it an Olympic event.

One of the first steps in increasing popularity came from the NFL at the kickoff of the 2022 season when it was announced the Pro Bowl would be renamed the Pro Bowl Games which will now include Flag Football as one of the main events. The NFL will incorporate Flag Football into the week-long celebration bringing the best youth teams from around the world to Las Vegas to showcase their skills on the field.

The all-star roster of ambassadors includes Demario Davis, a New Orleans Saints All-Pro linebacker; Stefon Diggs, a Buffalo Bills All-Pro wide receiver; Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens quarterback; Taylor Rapp, a Los Angeles Rams defensive back; Liz Sowers, a Women’s Flag Football Coach at Ottawa University; and Charlie Ward, a former Florida State University quarterback and 1993 Heisman Trophy winner.

The new ambassadors join previously named ambassadors including Osi Umenyiora, the first British-born player to win a Super Bowl; Amon-Ra St. Brown, a Detroit Lions wide receiver, who is a German national who speaks fluent German and French; Desiree Abrams, who made a name for herself on the international stage, including as a member of the referee team to oversee flag football at The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama this past summer.

Following the announcement, Demario Davis said, “I’m excited to have the opportunity to represent flag football for the NFL and to use my platform to help make the sport accessible and more popular both in the United States and worldwide. Not only is it a great entry point into tackle football for youth, teaching important basics and fundamentals in a safe fashion, but the pull it has with men, women, boys and girls is impressive.

I also think I really have something to give the sport of flag football from my experience coaching and mentoring teams through our Devoted Dreamers Foundation and Devoted Dreamers Academy in the New Orleans area and my home state of Mississippi. I take being a flag football ambassador as a great opportunity to continue to grow the sport.”

With the growth of Flag Football over the last few years, these new ambassadors add even more potential for growth. Flag Football’s debut at the World Games this past summer allowed the sport to begin picking up momentum and the IFAF plans to build upon that with its collaboration with the NFL and these new ambassadors.