NFL Foundation Expands Impact with More Than 350 Free Youth Football Camps Across the Country
NEW YORK — The NFL Foundation is continuing its commitment to youth development and community engagement, announcing grants to more than 350 current and former NFL players and coaches to host free youth football camps across the country this summer.
The initiative, which has been a cornerstone of the league’s philanthropic efforts for nearly three decades, helps members of the NFL family provide accessible, non-contact football camps designed to keep young athletes active while removing financial barriers for participation.
Through the NFL Foundation’s Youth Football Camp Grant program, thousands of children nationwide will have the opportunity to participate in free summer programming focused on football fundamentals, teamwork, and personal development.
“The Youth Football Camp Grant program empowers NFL players, legends and coaches to use their platforms to make a meaningful impact in the communities that helped shape their football and life journeys,” said Alexia Gallagher, NFL vice president of philanthropy and executive director of the NFL Foundation. “Providing youth with safe spaces to stay active and healthy is core to the NFL Foundation’s mission.”
Several notable NFL stars and legends are among this year’s camp hosts, including Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, Detroit Lions offensive lineman Penei Sewell, Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, and Hall of Famers Larry Fitzgerald Jr. and Ed Reed.
For Simmons, the camps represent much more than football.
“Hosting football camps in a small town in Mississippi means a lot to me,” Simmons said. “It’s about showing young athletes that their dreams are bigger than their circumstances and that hard work, faith, and dedication can take them anywhere.”
Grant recipients also have the opportunity to partner with USA Football, the national governing body for American football, through its First Down Clinic program. The initiative introduces young athletes to the game through age-appropriate instruction centered on basic skills such as running, passing, catching, and movement.
In 2025 alone, NFL players hosted more than 300 First Down Clinics, while USA Football expanded its reach to over 60,000 participants through camps held at major NFL events nationwide.
The Youth Football Camp Grant program is part of the NFL Foundation’s broader mission to invest in the next generation. The foundation also supports initiatives such as PLAY 60, which encourages children to engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and Character Playbook, a program designed to promote healthy relationships and mental wellness among young people.
Over its more than 50-year history, the NFL Foundation has contributed more than $1 billion in philanthropic donations, supporting communities and creating opportunities for young athletes across the nation.
As the summer begins, hundreds of NFL players, legends, and coaches will once again use the game of football as a vehicle to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation.