The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and the National Football League today announced the addition of three athletes from the global flag football community to the Global Flag Football Ambassador program.
Gabi Bankhardt (Brazil), Kodie Fuller (Australia) and Benjamin Klever (Germany) have officially joined an all-star team of men and women, including current flag football and NFL players, legends, coaches and officials from across the American football eco-system, who work to further raise the global profile and promote the unique values of one of the world's fastest-growing sports.
Global Flag Football Ambassadors — first announced ahead of the NFL's 2022 regular season — support the combined global efforts of IFAF and the NFL to increase awareness, interest and participation in flag football internationally, driving the development of the game forward.
Bankhardt, Fuller and Klever are currently participating in the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Finland, which run from Aug. 27-30, representing their countries alongside more than 600 athletes from 54 international teams competing for world titles.
"We are delighted to announce Gabi Bankhardt, Kodie Fuller and Ben Klever as our newest Global Flag Football Ambassadors, as these athletes take to the field at the biggest ever edition of the IFAF Flag Football World Championships," said Pierre Trochet, president, IFAF. "These incredible athletes, from three different continents, embody flag football's values and demonstrate the worldwide impact flag is creating. Their stories will inspire more fans to get involved with the sport, especially as we continue to build towards our Olympic debut at LA28."
"Gabi Bankhardt, Kodie Fuller and Ben Klever have each dedicated many years to promoting and increasing the awareness of flag football in their home countries while playing at the highest level," added Stephanie Kwok, vice president and head of flag football at the NFL. "They are strong role models for the athletic, fast-paced, competitive and inclusive game globally, and we look forward to working with them to further inspire the next generation of flag football athletes around the world."
From Brazil, Bankhardt has been playing flag football since 2017. She has established herself as one of Brazil's most prominent flag football athletes, becoming a captain of the Brazilian National Flag Football team and a South American champion. Bankhardt is dedicated to the sport and in addition to being an athlete, also helps coach both men's and women's teams across multiple levels.
Fuller, a native of Brisbane, Australia played tackle football for nine years before playing flag. She played across the inaugural Australian Flag Football team, competing in the 2023 Asia Oceania Championship in Kuala Lumpur, winning silver.
From Germany, Klever played flag football via NFL Europe in 2002 while attending high school in Frankfurt. He joined a local club team (Walldorf Wanderers), and since then, has won seven consecutive German Championship titles. He has been a part of the German national team since 2007 and has attended multiple world and European championships.
"It is a privilege to be named a Global Flag Football Ambassador," said Bankhardt. "Flag football is an inclusive and accessible way to play our sport and its extraordinary growth all over the world is testament to this. As we look ahead to the LA 2028 Olympics, I am so excited to use my platform to inspire the next generation of women and girls in Brazil and beyond to pick up this athletic, fast and creative format."
"As soon as I started playing flag football, I fell in love with the game," commented Fuller. "Flag is a great entry point to our sport that creates incredible sporting and social opportunities, and it is an honor to be part of this global movement. The IFAF Asia Oceania Continental Championships in 2023 where Australia won silver injected fresh momentum to support the fantastic international growth of the game and, as a new Global Flag Football Ambassador, I'm excited to showcase the energy and dynamism of flag to the next generation – starting right here at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships."
"My passion for flag football started when I was introduced to the format in 2002, so it is a pleasure to now be named a Global Flag Football Ambassador alongside incredible players from the NFL and American football worldwide," added Klever. "Being part of the growth of the game over the last twenty years has been amazing, especially since flag football's inclusion at LA28, and as an ambassador I am looking forward to championing even more opportunities for fans to get involved and play flag."
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced in October 2023 that flag football would be included on the LA28 Olympic Games program. Its inclusion, led by IFAF and supported by the NFL, showcases an aspirational new pathway to play the game at the elite level and the development of the sport globally.
Played by an estimated 20 million people in more than 100 countries across 6 continents, flag football is a short, fast, non-contact and gender-equal format. It is the most inclusive and accessible format of football, played by people of all ages and genders, with women and girls driving some of the sport's fastest growth.
The full list of Global Flag Football Ambassadors include:
Ambassador
Overview
Desiree Abrams
Served as a replay assistant on the Super Bowl officiating crew.
Gabi Bankhardt
Brazilian Flag Football National team captain.
LeCharles Bentley
NFL Legend who played for the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns, currently a senior advisor of player performance and development.
Drew Brees
NFL Legend and Super Bowl XLIV MVP for the New Orleans Saints, ranks second on the NFL's all-time career lists in both passing yards and touchdown passes.
Derrick Brooks
Pro Football Hall of Famer and NFL Legend.
Andrea Castillo
Panama national women's flag football team athlete.
Chase Claypool
NFL Free Agent wide receiver, born in Abbotsford, B.C., Canada. Played for the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills
Demario Davis
New Orleans Saints All-Pro linebacker.
Nausicaa Dell'Orto
Captain of the Italian women's national flag football team.
Elisa De Santis
Played flag football for Team France since she was 15 years old, travelling the world playing the game.
Stefon Diggs
Houston Texans All-Pro wide receiver.
Fernando Espinoza
Cornerback for the Mexico national men's flag football team.
Kodie Fuller
Australian Flag Football National team member and IFAF Asia Oceania silver medalist 2023.
Diana Flores
Quarterback for the Mexico national women's flag football team and member of the IFAF Athletes' Committee.
Toni Harris
First woman to receive a full college football scholarship.
Torry Holt
NFL Legend and 12-year veteran with the St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots.
Darrell Housh Doucette
Quarterback for the USA national men's flag football team.
Jalen Hurts
Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl quarterback.
Lamar Jackson
Baltimore Ravens quarterback and 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player.
Justin Jefferson
NFL All Pro Wide Receiver for the Minnesota Vikings
Jakob Johnson
NFL free agent full back, born in Stuttgart, Germany.
Ben Klever
German Flag Football National Team Quarterback and IFAF European gold medalist.
Vanita Krouch
Quarterback for the USA national women's flag football team.
Cooper Kupp
Wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams and Super Bowl LVI MVP.
Fouzia Madhouni
Morocco native and NFL mentee in Global Sports Mentoring Program.
Eli Manning
Two-time Super Bowl champion and New York Giants Legend.
Willie McGinest
Three-time Super Bowl winner with the New England Patriots.
Jeremiah
Owusu-Koramoah
Cleveland Browns linebacker, of Ghanaian descent through his father.
Dak Prescott
Dallas Cowboys quarterback and 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year.
Taylor Rapp
Buffalo Bills defensive back.
Izell Reese
NFL Legend and CEO of RCX Sports, the exclusive operator of NFL Flag in the U.S.
Sammis Reyes
NFL free agent tight end, born in Talcahuano, Chile.
Tony Richardson
16-year NFL Legend with multiple NFL franchises and member of the NFL's all-decade team of the 2000s.
Mike Rucker
NFL Legend and 8-year veteran with the Carolina Panthers.
Phoebe Schecter
Former Buffalo Bills assistant coach, captain of the Great Britain women's national team and IFAF Athlete representative for the International Olympic Committee.
Katie Sowers
Assistant Flag Football Coach at Ottawa University. Named the Italian National Women's Flag Football Team head coach in December of 2023.
Liz Sowers
Women's flag football coach, Ottawa University.
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Detroit Lions Pro Bowl wide receiver.
Equanimeous St. Brown
New Orleans Saints wide receiver who, like his brother Amon-Ra, is a German national who speaks fluent German and French, thanks to his German-born mother.
Mona Stevens
Quarterback of the Germany women's national flag football team.
Bobby Taylor
NFL Legend and 10-year veteran with the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks.
Osi Umenyiora
British-Nigerian, two-time Super Bowl champion and New York Giants Legend.
Sebastian Vollmer
NFL Legend and former New England Patriots tackle, born in Germany.
Charlie Ward
Former Florida State quarterback and 1993 Heisman Trophy winner.
Aeneas Williams
Pro Football Hall of Famer and Legend who played for the Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams.
Russell Wilson
Super Bowl champion and quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Luke Zahradka
Quarterback for the Italy men's national flag football team.
