Philly Leader

In September, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) officially recognized Girls Flag Football as a sport in Pennsylvania. The sport has been expanding, with significant contributions from the Philadelphia Eagles, who have played a key role in advancing women's sports.

The Eagles launched their Girls Flag Football League in 2022 in collaboration with Gatorade, The Bellwether District, and Planet Fitness. Initially starting with 16 teams from Philadelphia's Public and Catholic Leagues, the league now includes 92 teams in Pennsylvania and an additional 32 teams from New Jersey.

Ahead of the 88th Maxwell Football Club Awards, Abington Senior High School player Maya Johnson has been nominated by the Eagles for the National Girls Flag Player of the Year award. This is the first year this award will be presented at the Maxwell Awards on March 14, 2025, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

The Maxwell Football Club is known for prestigious awards such as the Maxwell, Chuck Bednarik, and Bert Bell Awards. These awards recognize players based on performance on-field, academic achievements, and community service.

Abington Flag Football Coach Melissa Brizzell praised Johnson: "Anybody who watches her is extremely impressed. Maya is complimented by everyone, including the referees. They're impressed with her ability." Brizzell added that Johnson's leadership skills are remarkable: "She's not just a phenomenal athlete. She's a phenomenal leader."

Johnson encourages others to try new things: "Just go for it. You never know how far it could take you," she said. Her leadership helped guide Abington High School to win the Eagles Girls Flag Football League of Pennsylvania Championship in 2023.

The Eagles' commitment to supporting girls' sports extends beyond their league initiatives. They partnered with Operation Warm to provide sports bras to girls in Philadelphia and donated sports bras to Girls on the Run in New Orleans during Super Bowl LIX week.

Coach Brizzell expressed gratitude towards the Eagles: "I appreciate everything they have done to help create the league." She emphasized providing positive experiences for players: "You only get to be in high school once."

Currently, nearly 2,250 girls participate in Eastern Pennsylvania's league while about 3,000 play across Pennsylvania.

For Johnson, being recognized by her hometown team holds special significance: "My parents are huge Eagles fans... It's really nice to kind of be recognized by people I used to look up to," she shared.

As Girls Flag Football continues its growth nationwide, both Johnson and Coach Brizzell are eager participants in its evolution. Brizzell commented on its future prospects: "It's exciting... it's going to be at club level but then soon it will go into Division II schools."