Key Takeaways
- The New York Jets and Betty Wold Johnson Foundation are providing a $1 million grant to the ECAC to create the largest collegiate women’s flag football league in the country, launching in spring 2026.
- Fifteen universities across six states have committed to the inaugural season, with each school receiving funding to offset program costs.
- The league builds on the Jets’ 14-year investment in girls’ flag football, which now includes 260 club teams and over 7,500 participants across New York and New Jersey.
- Games will run February through April on campus sites, with a championship at MetLife Stadium (2026 championship will be held at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center due to World Cup scheduling).
- The investment directly connects to flag football’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the NCAA’s February 2024 decision to add the sport to its Emerging Sports for Women program.
via: Jets
Building Infrastructure for Collegiate Competition
The Jets ECAC Women’s Flag Football League will feature 7-on-7 gameplay across 15 participating schools. Ten institutions will begin competition in spring 2026, with five additional programs joining in spring 2027.
The geographic footprint spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Maryland, and Virginia. Schools range from Division I programs like Long Island University to smaller institutions like Sweet Briar College.
Each participating school receives a direct grant from the Jets and Betty Wold Johnson Foundation to cover team operations, equipment, and competitive expenses. The season structure includes a Media Day at MetLife Stadium in February, followed by a USA Football Talent ID Camp. Regular season competition runs February through April on campus sites, culminating in a championship game during the first weekend of May.
“Partnering with the ECAC to launch this league creates a clear pathway for student-athletes to compete, grow, and lead on the field and beyond,” Jets chairman Woody Johnson said in the announcement.
Connecting High School Programs to College Opportunities
The ECAC league represents an extension of the Jets’ existing girls’ flag football infrastructure. The organization began investing in the sport in 2011, starting with the New York City Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL), which has grown to 60 teams.
That initial investment expanded into a regional network. The Jets currently fund 260 girls’ flag club teams across New York and New Jersey, serving more than 7,500 athletes. Flag football became a varsity sport in New York in 2024 and is scheduled to receive varsity designation in New Jersey in 2026.
This year, the Jets launched Jets Flag Elite, a New Jersey-based select team that competes in national tournaments. The organization plans to start a second Jets Flag Elite team in the United Kingdom in 2026.
“The New York Jets are proud to have played a role in this growth and can’t wait to see where it goes from here,” said Jesse Linder, Jets Vice President of Community Relations. “From high school sanctioning to elite club play to collegiate flag football, a pathway to the Olympics and professional flag football is being forged.”
Aligning with Olympic and Professional Development
Flag football will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The collegiate league provides a competitive bridge between high school programs and potential Olympic or professional opportunities.
In February 2024, the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics recommended adding girls’ flag football to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program across Divisions I, II, and III. This designation helps schools establish programs and work toward championship status.
NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent Sr. acknowledged the timing in the league announcement: “By establishing the largest collegiate women’s flag football league, we are collectively building a future where young women can dream bigger and continue playing the sport they love in a competitive setting.”
The Jets’ investment addresses a specific gap in competitive structure. High school flag football participation has increased significantly in states with varsity programs, but collegiate opportunities have remained limited. The ECAC league creates 15 roster spots per school, providing immediate playing opportunities for hundreds of athletes.
Amanda Ruller, head flag football coach at Eastern University, described the league’s impact: “There’s so much visibility that the Jets are providing for the sport that we love and the community loves, and people love watching it.”
Participating Schools and Regional Coverage
The 15 committed institutions provide geographic density in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions:
Pennsylvania: Allegheny College (Meadville), Eastern University (St. David’s), Mercyhurst University (Erie), Penn State Schuylkill (Schuylkill Haven)
New Jersey: Caldwell University (Caldwell), Fairleigh Dickinson University (Teaneck), Kean University (Union), Montclair State University (Montclair)
New York: Dominican University (Orangeburg), Long Island University (Brooklyn), Mercy University (Dobbs Ferry), Union College (Schenectady)
Ohio: Franciscan University (Steubenville)
Maryland: Mount St. Mary’s University (Emmitsburg)
Virginia: Sweet Briar College (Sweet Briar)
Five schools marked for 2027 start dates (Caldwell, Dominican, Fairleigh Dickinson, Union, and Sweet Briar) have additional time to establish program infrastructure and recruit athletes.
Dan Coonan, ECAC Commissioner, emphasized the conference’s operational capacity: “With 88 years of experience sponsoring first-rate intercollegiate athletic competition, we believe we are uniquely suited to bring this bold initiative to life.”
Investment Scale and Funding Model
The $1 million grant from the Jets and Betty Wold Johnson Foundation represents direct funding allocated across multiple operational categories. Individual school grants cover equipment, coaching staff, field preparation, and competitive travel.
The investment also funds centralized league operations, including the February Media Day and USA Football Talent ID Camp at MetLife Stadium. These events provide visibility for participating athletes and create standardized evaluation opportunities ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
The Betty Wold Johnson Foundation’s involvement reflects the Johnson family’s sustained commitment to women’s sports access. Woody Johnson directed the foundation’s investment specifically to create infrastructure that connects existing high school programs to collegiate competition.
Sierra Wishnefsky, an athlete at Penn State Schuylkill, described the league’s credibility: “I couldn’t imagine being a little girl and seeing, ‘they’re playing in a league sponsored by the New York Jets, an NFL team.’ This conference is going to open so many doors.”
Strategic Timing for Competitive Pathways
The 2026 launch positions the league two years ahead of flag football’s Olympic introduction. Athletes competing in the inaugural ECAC season will have two full years of collegiate experience before Olympic trials begin.
The league also anticipates professional flag football development. Multiple professional leagues have announced expansion plans for women’s divisions, though specific launch dates remain unconfirmed. The collegiate infrastructure provides a talent pipeline for future professional opportunities.
Callie Brownson, Jets Flag Football Advisor, connected the league to longer-term athlete development: “From high school programs to the collegiate level, we’re opening doors that didn’t exist before. The Betty Wold Johnson Foundation’s support ensures that young women can compete at the highest level, develop as leaders, and see a clear pathway to their dreams.”
The regular season schedule (February through April) aligns with existing college athletic calendars, avoiding conflicts with fall and winter sports while providing spring competition opportunities.
Establishing Competitive Standards
The league will use 7-on-7 flag football rules, matching the format used in Olympic competition and most high school programs. This consistency allows athletes to develop skills applicable across competitive levels.
The USA Football Talent ID Camp scheduled for February provides standardized evaluation protocols. Participating athletes receive feedback from national-level coaches and scouts, creating visibility for Olympic and professional opportunities.
The championship game location at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center (MetLife Stadium hosts the 2026 World Cup during the scheduled championship weekend) provides a professional venue for the season’s final game. Future championship games are planned for MetLife Stadium once World Cup scheduling concludes.
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