From the Field to the Future: How Football Builds Leaders On and Off the Turf
By Dr. Jacqueline Mohair
Football has always been more than a sport. It’s a classroom without walls, a proving ground for resilience, teamwork, and leadership. The NFL’s recent report — “State of Texas, Three South Florida High Schools Produce Most NFL Players On Kickoff Weekend Rosters” (September 12, 2025) — is more than a collection of statistics. It is a roadmap of how communities, schools, and organizations can come together to build opportunities for young people, on and off the field.
The Power of Place: Texas and South Florida Lead the Way
The data shows Texas remains the dominant state for NFL talent with 199 players, while Florida, California, and Georgia follow close behind. In South Florida, powerhouse high schools like IMG Academy (Bradenton), American Heritage (Plantation), and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) continue to produce professional-level athletes year after year.
What excites me most is not just the numbers, but what they represent: systems of excellence. These schools prove that when communities invest in coaching, mentorship, and facilities, young people thrive.
The Youth Revolution: Flag Football Opens Doors
One of the most inspiring findings is the growth of youth flag football, especially among girls. Since 2019, participation among girls ages 6–17 has soared by 89%. This is not just a sports story; it’s a leadership story.
Every flag football program started in a school or community center is another space where young women are learning to lead, collaborate, and compete. These are skills that will serve them whether they wear a jersey or a business suit.
High School and College: A Pipeline of Opportunity
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) reports that boys’ 11-player tackle football now includes over 1 million participants, while girls’ flag football has grown nearly 400% in just three years. Colleges are responding as well, with over 100 institutions sponsoring women’s flag football and more joining each season.
As an educator and chancellor, I see football not only as an athletic pipeline but also as an educational pipeline. Each program added creates pathways to scholarships, degrees, and lifelong community connections.
Football as a Global Classroom
The report highlights international representation, with players hailing from Australia, Germany, and Canada, alongside U.S. states and territories. Football is becoming a global classroom, teaching resilience, strategy, and teamwork to diverse communities.
For organizations like Trinity International University of Ambassadors and the Trinity Girls Network, this global reach echoes our mission: empowering leaders who will bridge cultures, influence nations, and inspire change.
Why This Matters
When I read the NFL’s press release, I don’t just see rosters. I see potential. Football is not merely producing athletes — it is producing future CEOs, community leaders, educators, and innovators. The same young man who learns discipline on a Texas field may one day lead a company. The young woman who finds her voice on a Florida flag team may one day stand on a global stage advocating for change.
A Call to Action
The numbers are proof: when we invest in sports, we invest in people. Communities, schools, and leaders must continue supporting access, safety, and opportunity. Whether through flag, tackle, or college expansion, football is shaping not just the future of the game but the future of society.
Let us keep building bridges from the field to the classroom, from the classroom to the community, and from the community to the world.
Football isn’t just a sport — it’s a movement. And together, we are shaping leaders who will carry the game, and its lessons, far beyond the turf.
