The NFL is planting its flag with a new ad for youth flag football.
Today, ahead of the NFL Flag Championships this weekend, the NFL rolled out a new youth flag football campaign, “Chase Something,” complete with a 60-second ad featuring Olympian Jordan Chiles, NFL star Jayden Daniels, and real flag football athletes, such as Team Australia Global Flag Ambassador Kodie Fuller and Janasia Wilson, the first Nike NIL Flag Football athlete.
“Flag is a major priority for the NFL. We really believe it’s part of the future of our sport, and we want to invite everyone in to participate and engage,” Marissa Solis, svp, global brand and consumer marketing, NFL, told ADWEEK.
Created with the NFL’s internal creative team, agency Zambezi, and FIN Studios—and set against the backdrop of flag football’s continued success—the sports marketing ad is all about athletes chasing their dreams. Solis said flag football participation has grown 40% since 2019, and the ad helps continue that momentum as the sport marches to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where NFL athletes will participate in the game.
“No matter your gender, your ability level, it is such an inclusive sport, and I think the participation builds the fandom, and the participation builds the excitement for the overall sport of football, and that’s why we’re so excited about it,” Solis said. “It symbolizes that football is for everyone, and we’re going to continue to grow.”
Likewise, Chiles noted the “life-changing” impact of sports.
“That opportunity should be accessible to every young athlete, especially girls, who dream big and work hard,” Chiles said in a statement. “Flag football sends such a powerful message that there is a path, and I’m proud to be part of a campaign that helps open those doors for the next generation.”
The NFL first prominently showcased its flag football efforts at the 2023 Super Bowl with a spot featuring Mexican flag football player Diana Flores. Then, two years later, the league and its creative partners at 72andSunny again placed girls and women’s flag football at the center of its Super Bowl ad with “NFL Flag 50,” a spot that traveled back in time to 1985 and featured U.S. Girls’ Junior National Team flag football player Ki’Lolo Westerlund and celebs like NFL punter and current ESPN personality Pat McAfee.
Now, the latest installment of the NFL’s flag initiative, which comes out at a time of year when participants start signing up for flag football, is about getting momentum and participation across the entire sport, with Jordan Chiles being a big get to give a nod to the women’s side of the sport and NFL star Jayden Daniels giving weight to flag being a strong part of the NFL’s future, too.
“We’ve been on a journey to ensure that flag becomes an officially sanctioned sport in all high schools across all 50 states, so it is part of that—making sure that the sport becomes official, that the sport becomes embraced, and that young people, both boys and girls, start to really participate and be part of something that could get them an NCAA scholarship, get them to the Olympics, or get them to the flag championships that are going to be broadcast on live TV in a major partner like ESPN,” Solis said. “Those things are why it was important to showcase both [men’s and women’s], and for it to come from our internal creative team as well.”
Alex Cohn, partner at Zambezi and head of content at FIN Studios, echoed that sentiment in a statement, noting that inclusivity was a theme.
“We believe deeply in the power of sport to inspire, and as flag football opens doors for more young athletes, it’s incredible to watch them showcase their skills and chase their goals—on and off the field,” Cohn said.
Moving forward, the NFL will continue to “elevate the narrative,” Solis said, telling unique stories across everything from linear to digital and social.
“You’re going to see very unique storytelling around the personal stories of all these athletes, because every one of these young people has a personal story to tell, and they’re all chasing something,” Solis said. “You’ll start to see these stories go through social media, on digital as we continue to build it, and then that journey to [the L.A. Olympics] just gets more and more exciting.”
2025 “CHASE SOMETHING” CREDIT LIST
CLIENT – NFL
Tim Ellis Chief Marketing Officer
Ian Trombetta SVP, Social & Influencer Marketing
Marissa Solis SVP, Global Brand & Consumer Marketing
Sarah Bishop VP, Global Brand & Consumer Marketing
Tony Isetta VP, Head of Content Marketing
Chris Hill Executive Producer, Creative Marketing
Nate Steele Sr. Creative Director, Creative Marketing
Paul Andraos Creative Director, Creative Marketing
Alison Maddern Senior Producer, Creative Marketing
Carla Lopez Producer, Creative Marketing
Alyse Brehm Director, Global Brand & Consumer Marketing
Claire Egerter Manager, Global Brand & Consumer Marketing
Max Blank Global Brand & Consumer Marketing Associate
Kylie Callura Senior Manager, Social & Influencer Marketing
Natalie Leist Manager, Social & Influencer Marketing
AGENCY – ZAMBEZI
Jean Freeman Principal & CEO
Chris Raih Founder
Laura Stayt President
Gavin Lester Chief Creative Officer
Matt Babazadeh Head of Strategy
Jay Morrison Creative Director
Simon Roseblade Creative Director
Amanda Cosindas Director of Communications
PRODUCTION – FIN STUDIOS
Travis Hanour Director
Alex Cohn Executive Producer/Head of Content
Tabitha Onofri Head of Studio
Corey Waters Director of Photography
Katelyn Pippy Line Producer
Angela Wells Producer
Shawn Janoski Production Supervisor
Erick “CK” Andalon Production Coordinator
Jason Slaughter 1st AD
Yoona Kwak Wardrobe Stylist
Jack Meltzer Production Designer
POST PRODUCTION – FIN STUDIOS
Morgan Menco Senior Producer (Post)
Angela Wells Producer (Post)
Alex Morrison Editor
Anne Goldberg Post Production Supervisor
Kolby Jameison Assistant Video Editor
Cody Pomeroy Assistant Video Editor
Damien Nemire-Pepe Director of Motion Design/VFX
Maribeth Emigh VFX Artist
Dan Edwards Colorist
Ben Freer Sound Mix/Design
STARS
NFL player Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders)
Jordan Chiles (Team USA Olympic Gymnast)
Sophie Guitron (2024 17u Jr. National Team Member and winner of 2024 NFL Latino Youth Honors)
Trishelle Tucay (2025 17u Jr. National Team)
Mahden Meyers and Isaiah Flores (Team All Out)
Ashlea Klam (2025 US National Team)
Kodie Fuller (Team Australia Global Flag Ambassador)
Janasia Wilson (the first Nike NIL Flag Football athlete)