The NFL is taking viewers on a nostalgic trip to the 1980s in its Super Bowl ad, NFL Flag 50, which champions girls’ flag football and challenges outdated gender stereotypes. The two-minute commercial, created by 72andSunny, set to air right after the Apple Music Halftime Show, showcases a fictional high school where a determined girl defies expectations to build her own flag football team.
Starring real-life flag football athlete Ki’Lolo Westerlund, the ad follows her character as she arrives at a new school and faces off against the male football team captain. Despite initial resistance, she persists in forming her own team, proving that girls belong on the field just as much as boys.
The spot features appearances from NFL stars like Justin Jefferson, Myles Garrett, and Marshawn Lynch, along with former player Pat McAfee as the school principal.
The ad’s climax sees the protagonist pulling off an impressive leap—reminiscent of Saquon Barkley’s agility—before transitioning to the present day, symbolizing the progress made in normalizing girls’ flag football. Directed by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights, NFL 100), the commercial was shot at a high school in San Diego after wildfires disrupted its original production schedule. Watch below:
Flag Football’s Growing Popularity
The NFL has prioritized expanding flag football both nationally and globally. Currently, 15 states recognize it as a varsity sport, while 18 more are running pilot programs. Recent additions include Mississippi and Louisiana, and the league aims to bring flag football to all 50 states.
“The big overarching message is that football is for everyone,” said Tim Ellis, the NFL’s chief marketing officer. The league has focused on inclusivity over the past six years, encouraging participation from women, Latinos, and younger audiences. According to Ellis, those who play flag football are four times more likely to become lifelong fans.
Marissa Solis, the NFL’s senior VP of global brand and consumer marketing, emphasized that flag football not only fosters a love for the sport but also creates opportunities for women to play professionally, earn scholarships, and attend college. The ’80s setting of the commercial highlights the outdated stereotypes the league seeks to dismantle.
Participation in girls’ high school flag football has more than doubled in the past year, according to the National Federation of High Schools. Additionally, the NFL collaborated with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) to include flag football in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Beyond NFL Flag 50, the league is also running a 30-second version of its cause-driven campaign Somebody during Super Bowl LIX, continuing its push to inspire and uplift young athletes.
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