NFL stars touchdown in Loughborough

A cast of stars from the NFL descended on campus as the University and Loughborough College kick-started a new partnership with the American football giant.

As part of an exciting new agreement to host the NFL Academy in the region, both the NFL Academy trial day and the NFL Flag National Championships were held during two action-packed days of sport.

The NFL Flag National Championship was attended by a host of NFL icons including NFL Flag ambassador Russell Wilson, quarterback for the Denver Broncos.  

Russell Wilson was joined by the UK’s Efe Obada, the ‘Scottish Hammer’, Inverness-born New York Giants punter Jamie Gillan, Minnesota Vikings K.J. Osborn, Houston Texans players Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Adedayo Odeleye (a current Loughborough student) and BBC Pundit and former NFL player Jason Bell.  

Flag Football, a non-contact version of American Football, is one of the fastest-growing sports in the US and is enjoying a boom across the Atlantic. It is now played by 20,000 children in the UK across 300 primary schools, who have all been competing in year-round nationwide tournaments.

The University also held the NFL Academy’s trial day – three years in the making – which sets out to unearth the next generation of American football talent.

Little Ealing Primary School from West London were crowned champions of the NFL Flag National Championships, winning a tense final 7-6 in overtime against St. Mary’s Hall Stonyhurst from Manchester.

Little Ealing will now claim the ultimate prize – a trip to Las Vegas to represent the UK at the Flag Pro Bowl against other international teams.

The sport is also in contention for inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and engages people of all ages, genders, and abilities. 

, Principal & CEO of Loughborough College and a self-confessed NFL superfan, said: “The NFL Flag Championship was an incredible event and gave us a real flavour of the exciting times that lie ahead for the NFL academy students and our staff.

“Having someone of Russell Wilson’s stature there to support the event was a real coup for Loughborough and shows the just how important it is to the NFL to develop the next generation of NFL talent.

“Bringing so many schools together and seeing the enthusiasm for the game was amazing and encapsulates the passion for sport that makes Loughborough so special. It demonstrated that American Football is growing massively in the UK and we are so proud and privileged to be a part of that story.”

Jo Simpson, Commercial and Facilities Director for Loughborough Sport, said: “I am so proud. This is a fantastic event and to see all these young primary school children playing competitive sport and having so much fun is exactly what Loughborough is all about.

“The key thing for us is getting young people involved in sport, as it changes lives. Whether that be participating, or officiating, there’s lots of opportunities and I think if they see it here on Loughborough campus, that also makes attending university achievable.

“Some of the players who have come – like Russell Wilson– it’s unbelievable. These kids are getting coaching from iconic NFL players who have flown over especially from the US, and they’re here in Loughborough.

“That’s the benefit of events like this – young kids that might not even think about coming to university experience Loughborough and think “I want to be here”.

From September 2022, all football and academic operations for the NFL Academy will move to Loughborough, where a partnership between the College and the University will provide an opportunity for young players to become part of a world-renowned centre of sporting excellence.