With nine cities producing at least five former high school football players on Kickoff Weekend rosters, Texas, with 199 players, produced the most players of any state, followed by Florida (179), California (165) and Georgia (143).<\/p>\n
There were 20 players from Bradenton (Fla.) high schools on Kickoff Weekend rosters, the most of any city. Atlanta (Ga.) and Miami (Fla.) tied for the second-most players (18) followed by Detroit (Mich.) with 16 players in 2025. IMG Academy in Bradenton (Fla.) produced the most NFL players on 2025 NFL Kickoff Weekend rosters. South Florida continues to produce a plethora of NFL talent, as the top three high schools with the most NFL players hail from the region.<\/p>\n
Overall, NFL players represent high schools in 46 states and the District of Columbia, four countries \u2013 Australia, Canada, Germany and the United States \u2013 and a U.S. territory (American Samoa). The totals are based on the 1,730 players on Kickoff Weekend rosters (charts available at the bottom of this release).<\/p>\n
Additionally, the National Football League today celebrated record-breaking growth in football participation at every level of the game. From youth flag leagues to high school and college programs, the sport is experiencing a powerful resurgence in the United States, fueled by collaboration between the NFL, its 32 clubs, and leading partners.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great to see all football partners working together to drive their respective areas of growth of the game of football across youth tackle, high school, flag, and college,\u201d said Roman Oben, NFL Vice President of Football Development.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Youth & NFL FLAG<\/p>\n
According to the Sports\u00a0&\u00a0Fitness\u00a0Industry Association\u2019s\u00a0(SFIA<\/a>)\u00a0participation\u00a0data, youth flag football has seen strong growth, with participation among youth ages 6\u201317 increasing by 40% since 2019. Over that same period, flag football recorded one of the highest\u00a0five-year average annual growth rates among both 6\u201312 and 13\u201317 age groups for a team sport. Notably, participation among girls ages 6\u201317 surged by 89% since 2019, making it one of the fastest-growing sports for girls.<\/p>\n SFIA is the leading trade association for the sports and fitness industry, with a\u00a0mission\u00a0is\u00a0to\u00a0increase\u00a0sports\u00a0and fitness participation and\u00a0promote\u00a0industry\u00a0vitality.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSFIA\u2019s 2024 data revealed that flag football gained remarkable traction among\u00a0youth\u00a0players, especially with\u00a0female athletes, who experienced substantial growth in participation,\u201d said Todd Smith, President & CEO, SFIA. \u201cThis momentum is being driven by increased resources and support for the sport,\u00a0which has resulted in expanded access and opportunities for communities across the country. SFIA is encouraged by flag\u2019s growth over the last five years, especially by female\u00a0youth\u00a0athletes, and is excited for its\u00a0continued success.\u201d<\/p>\n NFL FLAG, the youth flag football league for ages 5-17 operated by\u00a0RCX Sports<\/a>, continues its rapid expansion with around 760,000 participants last year, according to data from RCX Sports. Year-to-date participation has surpassed 650,000 players, outpacing last year\u2019s numbers during the same period, with girls participation seeing strong growth following dedicated divisions for girls and the High School Girls division broadcast at the NFL FLAG Championships.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n High School Football<\/p>\n According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS<\/a>), boys\u2019 11-player high school tackle football participation has increased 5.7% since 2021\u201322, topping 1,029,000 participants in 2024. Additionally, schools sponsoring football reached their second-highest total in history, with 14,269 programs nationwide.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, girls\u2019 flag football has exploded, growing 388% since 2021 to nearly 69,000 participants. Over 30 states are offering flag football as a sanctioned or piloting program with more programs expected within the next year.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe rapid growth of flag football for girls is one of the best stories in recent years,\u201d said Karissa Niehoff, CEO of the NFHS. \u201cWith official rules, state championships, and surging participation, this is a sport with unlimited potential.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n College Football<\/p>\n