HOUSTON – Texans Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr. was named an NFL global flag football ambassador along with Texas native Ashlea Klam, a U.S. women’s national flag team standout who was recently recognized for her efforts during a game at NRG Stadium.
“It’s exciting, man,” Anderson said. “You know, coming from playing the game at such a young age, helping to grow the game, and it just means a lot to me to be able to be a part of something special like this. And it touched the lives of the little kids to be able to help them and help them achieve the goals that they want to do. And I’m all for it, so I’m excited about it.”
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#Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and member of the U.S. Women's National Flag Football Team Ashlea Klam announced as global flag football ambassadors today.
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 29, 2024
Anderson on his support of the sport @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/PSqP4BeYr7
Flag football is a rapidly growing sport being played by boys and girls. The Texans are supporting the sport they hope will eventually become an official one at HISD schools.
The flag football ambassadors team supports the combined global efforts of the NFL to increase awareness, interest, and participation in flag football internationally and drives forward the development of the game. Flag football is played by an estimated 20 million people in more than 100 countries across six continents. It is the most inclusive and accessible format of football, played by people of all ages and genders, with women and girls driving some of the sport’s fastest growth.
In 2023, the Texans established a girls flag football program to help create equitable opportunities for young female athletes in Houston. In 2025, the team will expand the program even further by bringing girls flag to all Houston ISD high schools and other schools across Texas. The Texans’ goal is to create access to girls flag football for all girls who want to play the sport and ultimately, make Texas the next state to sanction girls flag.
Texans foundation vice president Hannah McNair’s cause for the annual My Cause, My Cleats celebration is girls flag football.
And flag football is now an Olympic sport, starting in 2028.
“I think that’s going to be huge,” Anderson said. “It’s going to be big. t’s a lot of fun. Everybody that’s a part of it is going to have a good time and to be a part of something that’s the Olympics of the world. It’s going to be big time.”
A former first-round draft pick and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Anderson said he has never played flag football. He likes what he sees, though.
“I’ve seen it,” he said. “When I see it. It’s exciting. It’s fun. It’s still football at the end of the day.”
Anderson didn’t agree with the suggestion that flag football is more difficult than flag football, though.
“I disagree, but I think it’s good for the kids,” he said. “It’s good to save the head, save the brain cells.”
Meanwhile, Anderson is nominated for the NFL’s annual Art Rooney sportsmanship award.
“I pride myself on doing what’s right and playing between the lines the right way and not doing all the extra stuff and just being a really solid player when it comes to integrity and things like that,” Anderson said. “And it’s a blessing, man. I really just I can’t speak enough about myself is just the people that’s instilled everything to me how to play the game.”
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Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
