Indianapolis Colts All-Pro linebacker Zaire Franklin will serve as one of the NFL's Global Flag Football Ambassadors, the NFL and the Colts announced today.
In this role, Franklin will join with NFL players and legends, flag football national team members, coaches, officials and football pioneers, to promote the growth of flag football around the world.
As a flag football advocate and educator, Franklin will represent the NFL and International Federation of American Football (IFAF) at various events, help develop educational content for participants and build relationships with athletes and organizers around the world. He also will help promote flag football in the U.S., including NFL Flag Regional Tournaments, NFL Flag Championships, the Pro Bowl Games, the Super Bowl and more.
Franklin will join other ambassadors including Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET), Osi Umenyiora (NYG Legend), Diana Flores (Mexico Women's National Team) and Phoebe Schecter, (Great Britain Women's National Team, former BUF coach).
"Last year, I had the chance to help coach girls flag football players at Lucas Oil Stadium, and I was so impressed by the skill, tenacity and passion of these young ladies," Franklin said. "I look forward to helping grow flag football in Indiana and around the world and providing more opportunities for girls and boys alike to learn, play and connect through this awesome sport."
Franklin is coming off arguably the most productive season of his seven-year career, all spent with the Colts. He started all 17 games and compiled 173 tackles (93 solo), 11.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six passes defensed, two interceptions and five forced fumbles. He led the NFL in total tackles, tied for third in solo tackles and tied for second in forced fumbles. What's more, Franklin was named an Associated Press Second Team All-Pro and earned his first career Pro Bowl selection.
Flag football at all levels has experienced great growth in the U.S. and globally over the past decade. Currently, more than 20 million people play the sport in more than 100 countries, with women and girls driving some of the fastest development around the world. What's more, flag football will make history with its addition to the 2028 Summer Olympics Games in Los Angeles.
The Colts also have prioritized flag football development to introduce the game to new players and fans, especially girls, who traditionally have not had the same opportunities to learn and play the game as boys. Examples include:
· Colts Girls High School Flag Football League. The Colts created this league in 2023 with eight teams. In 2024, the league expanded to 27 teams with the goal of establishing girls flag football as a sanctioned high school sport in Indiana.
· "Road to 100." To become eligible as a sanctioned high school sport in Indiana, 100 schools must first compete as an "emerging sport." To reach this goal, the Jim Irsay family committed $1 million to support and sustain the launch of 100 high school girls teams in 2025.
· Colts FLAG Football Leagues, presented by Peyton Manning Children's Hospital, a statewide network to grow the game in Indiana and help connect young athletes to NFL FLAG-sanctioned programs.
· Colts Unified FLAG Classic, which provide high school students with and without intellectual disabilities the opportunity to participate together on a team and collectively represent their school in sanctioned activities, providing a quality experience in an inclusive environment.
For more info on Colts FLAG Football programs, visit Colts.com/Flag.
