Key Takeaways
- Unrivaled Sports has acquired Football ‘N’ America, the youth flag football league co-founded by Drew Brees and Chris Stuart in 2017, bringing 24 leagues nationwide into its Unrivaled Flag portfolio
- The partnership creates direct pathways from local FNA leagues to marquee national events including High School Girls Nationals, The Gold Jacket Classic, and Youth Flag World Championships
- Drew Brees will serve as a long-term partner to co-develop future programming across Unrivaled Flag and potentially other sports in the Unrivaled portfolio
- Flag football’s addition to the 2028 Olympics is driving increased participation and investment across the youth sports sector
- The acquisition consolidates brand presence in a sport seeing rising demand from both boys and girls at the grassroots level
Connecting Local Leagues to National Competition
Unrivaled Sports announced the acquisition of Football ‘N’ America (FNA) on October 21, integrating the 24-league network into its Unrivaled Flag division. The deal creates a clear competitive pathway for young athletes, connecting hometown flag football leagues directly to national championship events.
FNA participants will now have access to Unrivaled Flag’s three signature tournaments: the High School Girls Nationals, The Gold Jacket Classic, and the Youth Flag World Championships. This structure mirrors successful models in youth baseball and hockey, where local league participation feeds into regional and national tournament play.
“We’re proud to work with Drew and the FNA team to create amazing athlete experiences and define the standard for the sport as flag continues to grow and gain popularity with girls and boys across the country,” said Jim Reynolds, CEO of Unrivaled Flag.
The acquisition gives Unrivaled Sports operational control over an established league infrastructure while maintaining the FNA brand that Brees and co-founder Chris Stuart built over eight years.
Expansion Through Operator Model
The partnership announcement emphasizes plans to expand leagues nationwide through new operators and communities. This suggests Unrivaled Sports will leverage its existing infrastructure and relationships to accelerate FNA’s geographic footprint beyond its current 24 markets.
Youth sports operators typically expand through franchise-style models, license agreements, or direct ownership of league operations. The press release indicates FNA will pursue growth through new operator partnerships, allowing local entrepreneurs or organizations to run leagues under the FNA brand while connecting to Unrivaled’s programming.
This approach reduces capital requirements for expansion while maintaining brand consistency and access to centralized resources like insurance, curriculum, and event registration systems.
Drew Brees’ Role Beyond Flag Football
The partnership establishes Drew Brees as a strategic advisor beyond the FNA acquisition. Unrivaled Sports specifically noted the relationship will include “co-development of future events and programming for Unrivaled Flag, and creating opportunities to bring Brees’ leadership and vision to other sports across the Unrivaled portfolio.”
Brees brings experience as both an elite athlete and youth sports operator. Beyond football, he has been involved in youth soccer initiatives. Andy Campion, Chairman and CEO of Unrivaled Sports, cited “Drew’s personal experiences as an elite multi-sport athlete and as a longstanding leader in youth football and soccer” as assets for shaping programming across the company’s portfolio.
“Football ‘N’ America was built to give kids the same energy, teamwork, and joy that made me fall in love with the game in the first place,” Brees said. “Unrivaled Sports shares that same vision—creating environments where young athletes can compete, develop, and dream big.”
The structure positions Brees as more than a brand ambassador, giving him input on event design and programming decisions across multiple sports properties.
Flag Football’s Growth Trajectory
The acquisition comes as flag football gains momentum in youth sports, driven partly by its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The International Olympic Committee approved flag football for the Games in October 2023, creating new incentives for participation at all levels.
Reynolds referenced this timeline in the announcement: “We’re inspired by the momentum surrounding flag football as it heads to the global stage in 2028, and proud to help lead the charge in the youth space.”
Flag football appeals to parents seeking lower-impact alternatives to tackle football while maintaining skill development and team dynamics. The sport has seen particularly strong growth in girls’ participation, leading organizations like Unrivaled Flag to create dedicated girls’ championships.
The sport’s Olympic designation also creates potential pathway opportunities for elite youth athletes, similar to how Olympic inclusion has shaped participation in sports like skateboarding and surfing in recent years.
Unrivaled Sports’ Portfolio Strategy
The FNA acquisition fits within Unrivaled Sports’ broader strategy of consolidating leading brands across youth sports verticals. The company’s portfolio includes Cooperstown All Star Village, Ripken Baseball Experiences, Diamond Nation, and We Are Camp action sports, among others.
This approach combines venue ownership, event production, and league operations under one corporate structure. The model allows cross-promotion between properties and creates economies of scale in areas like marketing, technology, and athlete registration systems.
By acquiring FNA rather than building flag football operations from scratch, Unrivaled Sports gains immediate access to established leagues, operational knowledge, and the Drew Brees brand association. The deal accelerates market entry in a growing segment while maintaining an authentic grassroots connection through the FNA community.
Looking Ahead
The partnership positions Unrivaled Flag as a vertically integrated player in youth flag football, controlling league operations, event production, and now celebrity brand alignment through Drew Brees. The next 12 to 18 months will reveal whether the operator expansion model can significantly grow FNA’s geographic reach beyond its current 24 markets.
Key metrics to watch include new league launches, participation numbers at national championship events, and potential programming developments across Unrivaled’s other sports properties. The 2028 Olympic timeline creates a natural milestone for measuring growth in youth flag football participation and competitive infrastructure.
For youth sports operators and investors, the deal illustrates continued consolidation in the sector and the premium placed on authentic brand partnerships with recognizable athlete founders.
via: Unrivaled
photo: Fox Business
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