NFL and Nex Bring Flag Football Into the Living Room With New Interactive Game
Flag football is moving from the schoolyard and backyard to the living room.
The NFL and Nex, the company behind Nex Playground, announced a new partnership Sept. 3 that will bring NFL FLAG to the motion-powered gaming platform through the launch of NFL FLAG Heroes, an interactive football experience featuring all 32 NFL clubs.
The new game arrives just ahead of the NFL regular season and gives children and families another way to engage with football without simply watching it on a screen.
Instead, players become part of the action.
NFL FLAG Heroes uses Nex Playground’s motion technology to turn a player's body into the controller. Players can step into the role of quarterback and team captain, select plays, line up behind the center, snap the ball and control their player through natural movements.
The game is built around fast-paced five-on-five flag football, with two-minute halves designed to create four- to five-minute sessions.
That format is intentional. Rather than requiring players to commit to a traditional full-length game, NFL FLAG Heroes is designed around quick drives, big plays and repeated opportunities to become the “Hero of the Drive.”
Every NFL team is part of the experience
One of the game's biggest features is its inclusion of all 32 NFL clubs.
Players can create their own team while choosing official NFL club logos and jerseys, giving young fans the opportunity to represent their favorite franchise as they work through the game.
Players also create and develop their own quarterback, build a roster and lead their team through multiple stages of competition.
The progression begins at the School Field before moving into NFL FLAG Regionals and eventually NFL FLAG Champs. As players advance, the game introduces new challenges, expanded playbooks and additional football concepts.
For newcomers, a coach-led tutorial provides an introduction to the fundamentals of the sport. Training Days can then help players develop a deeper understanding of concepts such as reading defenses, finding space, selecting plays and running the football.
Players can also earn cosmetics, quarterback upgrade cards, collectible teammates and other rewards by completing games and objectives.
“NFL FLAG Heroes enhances discovery and engagement with younger fans by immersing them in the sport through motion-powered gameplay with their favorite NFL clubs,” said Ed Kiang, the NFL's vice president of interactive and experiential licensing. “We’re thrilled to bring the energy and excitement of NFL FLAG to the Nex Playground.”
Flag football's growth creates new opportunities
The partnership comes as flag football continues to expand across youth, high school, college and international sports.
According to the NFL and Nex, the United States now has 4.1 million youth flag football athletes, representing an increase of more than 50% since 2020.
The sport is also offered at the high school level in 40 states and jurisdictions, while more than 250 colleges and universities have women's flag football programs.
The NCAA has taken steps toward establishing flag football as a national championship sport, further reflecting the sport's growth within the American collegiate landscape.
Internationally, more than 20 million people play flag football across 100 countries.
The sport is also scheduled to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, giving flag football another opportunity to reach a global audience.
For Nex, the partnership provides an opportunity to connect that growing interest with interactive technology.
“Sports have an incredible ability to bring families together, whether you’re watching a game, playing in the backyard, or cheering for your favorite team,” said David Lee, CEO and co-founder of Nex. “Working with the NFL gives us an opportunity to bring that same connection to Nex Playground and lets kids experience football in a way where they’re actually part of the action.”
Football beyond the screen
The NFL has increasingly looked for ways to introduce younger audiences to the sport through entertainment, technology and interactive experiences.
NFL FLAG Heroes fits into that broader approach by combining one of the league's fastest-growing forms of football with a gaming experience designed around physical movement.
Rather than putting kids in front of a controller, Nex Playground asks them to move, throw, run and react.
And with every NFL club represented, the game gives young fans a chance to bring their football fandom into the living room while learning some of the fundamentals of the sport.
As flag football continues its expansion toward the 2028 Olympics, partnerships such as this one could provide another entry point for the next generation of players and fans.
