Flag Football Grows as Parents Rethink Tackle Risks
New research linking three out of four deceased NFL players to brain disease is driving a surge in non-contact football participation among youth.
By Leila Reynolds ·
The debate over youth football is intensifying as new data on brain injuries reshapes how families approach the sport. Researchers have released findings that link chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, to a large portion of former NFL players who have died.
A study published on Wednesday estimated that three out of four players who died between 2008 and 2023 most likely had CTE. The research team analyzed 396 donated brains and cross-referenced national death records for 1,966 other deceased former players. This estimate surpasses previous figures, which suggested that at least one in four players who died between 2016 and 2021 had the disease.
Parents are responding to these findings by shifting their children toward flag football. Sandeep Basran, an assistant coach in Chicago, has moved his 9-year-old son from tackle to a flag league. He cites the risk of repetitive minor hits as a primary concern, noting that these impacts accumulate over time and affect the brain even without major concussions.
Basran also considers the broader impact on his son’s athletic life. His child plays basketball, tennis, and golf, and Basran wants to avoid a football injury that could sideline him in those other sports. In San Diego, Tim Lewis, a coach and parent, observes a similar trend. He notes that flag football is growing rapidly, particularly among girls, who are finding a new outlet for the sport.
Joe Becker, owner of i9 Sports in Chicago, highlights the structural changes in the sport. Flag football is now an official Illinois high school sport for girls and is set to debut in the Olympics in 2028. Becker points out that unlike boys, who often have access to tackle leagues, girls frequently use flag as their main form of football.
Participation numbers support the shift. A report from the Aspen Institute found that flag football was the only team sport to grow among children ages 6 to 17 between 2019 and 2024. During that period, flag participation rose by 14 percent, while tackle football dropped by 7 percent. Among kids ages 6 to 12, flag became more common than tackle in 2017.
Medical experts emphasize that CTE is a progressive disease caused by repeated head impacts. Robert Stern, co-founder of the Boston University CTE Center, explained that the human brain is not designed to absorb repeated hits like a battering ram. The disease involves a buildup of an abnormal protein called tau and can only be definitively diagnosed after death. There is currently no cure, and the condition can begin decades after the initial injuries.
The NFL stated in an emailed statement that it continues to strive to make the game safer by implementing strategies to reduce concussions and head impacts. As flag football prepares for its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028, coaches like Rashad Crawford in Chicago see the sport gaining visibility. Crawford notes that the camaraderie and celebration culture of tackle football are present in flag, with players planning celebrations in the huddle.
