The New York Jets and the Eastern College Athletic Conference are teaming up to launch the largest collegiate women’s flag football league in the country.
According to the NFL, 15 universities covering all three divisions in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio and Virginia will participate. These schools include Allegheny College, Eastern University, Penn State Schuykill, and others.
The Jets, particularly linebacker Quincy Williams, noted the recent increase in women’s interest in playing football. While the team has supported girls’ flag football since 2011 and helped create over 260 teams, this latest $1 million investment marks a significant increase.
"There's an opportunity that we can give these girls and the younger generation, also,” said Williams.
The Jets’ $1 million investment in the league will provide each participating university with a grant to purchase equipment and uniforms, as well as pay coaches and travel costs for the 7-on-7 teams.
"It was just the next evolution of everything we've done in girls’ flag football," said Jesse Linder, the Jets' vice president of community relations. "It was like, what's the next step for these girls? How do we provide opportunities for them to play? We also saw there was a little bit of a gap between high school and Olympic or international competition. So, the collegiate space just made the most sense."
While the collegiate league will start with 15 teams, the goal is to have 20 teams within the first four years of competition. It is a goal that Linder believes is attainable, especially given the NCAA’s upcoming vote to make women’s flag football an emerging sport in 2026 and the decision by LA28 organizers to include flag football in the Summer Olympics.
Along with an investment in the league, the Jets also offered to host a playoff tournament at MetLife Stadium for the winningest teams.
