Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock Visits NFL Academy

The National Football League was delighted to welcome Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock to the home of the NFL Academy in Loughborough yesterday to learn more about the elite football development program and the growth in Flag Football throughout the UK.

Upon arrival, the Minister was introduced to the sport of Flag Football and invited to participate in a short drill alongside local children from Wrenn School and Nottingham Girls Academy. Both schools have embedded the sport into their curriculums in recent years through the NFL Flag Schools Programme, with over 120,00 young people now playing NFL Flag in the UK.

Fast-paced and accessible for all, Flag Football is one of the fastest growing sports globally with women and girls driving some of the largest growth in participation. Flag football will also officially be included in the LA 2028 Olympic Games program, led by efforts of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and supported by the NFL.

Following the Flag Football activity, the Minister was introduced to members of the NFL Academy 2024-25 roster. Observing the team’s practice from the sidelines, the Minister spoke to each player about their unique journey to discovering American football, life at the NFL Academy and their ambitions for the future before being presented with an official NFL Academy helmet by the players. 

The NFL Academy program offers talented student athletes a pathway to combine their full-time education with intensive training in American football, under the guidance of a professional coaching team. The program was first launched in the UK in 2019 with a second facility opened in Australia in 2024.

In the UK, the NFL Academy is based at Loughborough’s world-renowned center of sporting excellence and in partnership with Loughborough College and Loughborough University. The program primarily supports athletes from Europe and Africa aged 16-19. It welcomed 68 players from 19 different countries and territories to its 2024-25 roster in the UK and there will be 24 NFL Academy alumni playing NCAA Division I college football in the 2025 season.

The NFL Academy in Australia, located on the Gold Coast, opened in September 2024 as the latest growth development for the major global initiative. Opened in partnership with A.B. Paterson College and supported by the City of Gold Coast and the Queensland State Government, it supports athletes from the APAC region aged 12-18.

Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said: “Having witnessed my first ever Flag Football drill by Wrenn School and Nottingham Girls Academy, it is clear why this fast-paced, accessible game is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, especially for women and girls. It was also great to see the work the NFL is continuing to do with the NFL Academy in Loughborough, and how they are striving to support the development of British talent for future success.”

Lamonte Winston, Head of the NFL Academy program in the UK commented: “It was a pleasure to have the Minister join us at our home in Loughborough yesterday. I am immensely proud of our coaches and team here at the NFL Academy and everything our incredible players and alumni have achieved to date. Thanks to the continued support of our partners at Loughborough College and Loughborough University, we provide our student athletes with the best tools and facilities to grow as individuals and achieve success both on the field and in the classroom.”

Corrie Harris, Principal and CEO at Loughborough College added: “Our partnership with the NFL Academy allows us to offer young athletes a world-class education alongside elite training in a globally recognised environment and we were delighted to welcome Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock to our campus to showcase the incredible work being done. With a strong track record of developing elite athletes through exceptional pastoral care and top-tier teaching, this partnership is making a real difference in helping to shape the next generation of NFL stars.”

Follow the NFL Academy @nflacademy across X, Instagram, and TikTok to keep up with the latest news and announcements. While applications for the 2024-25 school year are now closed, young athletes can register their interest in applying for subsequent years here.