Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Falcons Expand Girls Flag Football Access Across Georgia

Girls flag football in Georgia continues to gain momentum — and now, every high school in the state will have an opportunity to be part of it.

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, in partnership with the Atlanta Falcons, announced today that every high school in Georgia will be eligible to receive a grant in 2026 to either support an existing girls flag football program or launch a new one. The initiative marks another major step in the sport’s rapid growth across the state and reinforces Georgia’s position as a national leader in girls flag football.

The commitment builds on a strong foundation laid over the past year. In 2025, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation provided grant funding to 305 Georgia high schools, including 45 schools that launched brand-new girls flag football programs for student-athletes. What started as a pilot has quickly turned into a movement.

The Falcons have been at the forefront of that growth for the past eight years, beginning with a 19-school pilot program in Gwinnett County in 2018. Georgia became the fourth state in the nation to sanction girls flag football as an official high school sport in 2020, and the impact has been undeniable. Last year alone, approximately 8,500 girls participated in girls flag football at more than 300 high schools statewide.

“The growth, energy and support for girls flag football in Georgia has been outstanding over the past several years and has provided a model to extend our support across the nation,” said Atlanta Falcons President and CEO Greg Beadles. “Arthur Blank, his Family Foundation and the Falcons recognize the importance of providing girls the opportunity to play the game.”

Beadles emphasized that the commitment extends beyond funding, highlighting year-round support through camps, clinics, the Falcons’ annual college showcase at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and now expanded grant access.

“We are honored to continue our support for girls flag football through camps and clinics, our annual college showcase at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and this grant opportunity,” he said. “We are also fortunate to have a tremendous partnership with the Georgia High School Association and our elected officials in the Georgia House of Representatives who unanimously passed HR 347, encouraging all schools to establish girls flag football programs.”

The Georgia High School Association echoed that sentiment, pointing to the collaborative effort behind the sport’s success.

“We are deeply grateful to the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and the Atlanta Falcons for their continued support of flag football,” said GHSA Executive Director Dr. Tim Scott. “The Georgia High School Association is thankful for the strong working relationship and partnership we share with these outstanding organizations. We look forward to another year of continued growth and success in flag football.”

Georgia high schools interested in applying for grant funding — whether to start a girls flag football program or enhance an existing one — can find more information and apply by visiting AtlantaFalcons.com/girls-flag-football.

As girls flag football continues its upward trajectory, this latest announcement makes one thing clear: opportunity, access and investment are expanding statewide — and the future of the game in Georgia is only getting stronger.