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NFL & Father's Day 2022

NFL HOSTS THE ANNUAL OZZIE NEWSOME GENERAL MANAGER FORUM AND THE QUARTERBACK COACHING SUMMIT

​Both programs aim to continue building a diverse pipeline of front office and coaching candidates In partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football League (NFL) today announced the second annual OZZIE NEWSOME GENERAL MANAGER FORUM and the fifth annual QUARTERBACK COACHING SUMMIT. From June 21-23, front office personnel and coaches from the NFL will take part in the programs both at the NFL Los Angeles office and virtually to experience professional development and networking opportunities with NFL club executives.  "The Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum and Quarterback Coaching Summit are part of our ongoing efforts to establish a cultural norm of opportunity for all, and a steadfast commitment to developing a diverse and inclusive workforce," said NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations TROY VINCENT SR. "With the in-person engagement participants will be exposed to the experienced coach and seasoned football personnel. They will have the opportunity to gain insight from these leaders in the football community." Participants will gain insights and knowledge directly from quarterback coaches, offensive coordinators, head coaches and general managers. The programming will provide a platform to help prepare, educate, and identify quality minority candidates across the league. Both the Forum and the Summit will feature a variety of sessions, including how to build a coaching staff, position coach roles, analytics and how to prepare for interview sessions. There will also be sessions hosted by club ownership, including priorities and the process of selecting a head coach and general manager. "We want to continue to create opportunities for some of the best and brightest football minds around the country to display their knowledge to NFL club leadership and media," Black College Football Hall of Fame Co-Founder DOUG WILLIAMS. "There are many quality diverse coaching candidates and front office executives that deserve to be considered for open positions in the league."  The June 21 Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum will feature sessions and panels led by NFL owners and front office personnel including: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Senior Director of Football Research JACQUELINE DAVIDSON Black College Football Hall of Fame co-founder JAMES "SHACK" HARRIS San Francisco 49ers General Manager JOHN LYNCH Dallas Cowboys Vice President of Player Personnel WILL MCCLAY Baltimore Ravens Executive Vice President OZZIE NEWSOME   The June 22-23 Quarterback Coaching Summit will feature sessions and panels led by NFL owners, current and former coaches, and front office personnel including: Indianapolis Colts Offensive Coordinator MARCUS BRADY Buffalo Bills Defensive Coordinator LESLIE FRAZIER Houston Texans Offensive Coordinator PEP HAMILTON Pittsburgh Steelers President and NFL Workplace Diversity Committee Chair ART ROONEY II San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator DEMECO RYANS *Speakers are subject to change NFL & NFL Films Announce Collaboration With The HistoryMakers, Nation’s Largest African American Video Oral History Archive Agreement brings together the gold standard in sports documentary production to assist the nation's largest African American video oral history archive   NEW YORK, JUNE 15, 2022 – The National Football League along with NFL Films today announced they have agreed to donate footage to The HistoryMakers, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Chicago. Under terms of the agreement, in addition to two years of funding the NFL will provide The HistoryMakers with hundreds of hours of footage from interviews with NFL African American legends from the past and present, including dozens of Pro Football Hall of Fame players.  They will also donate their production services to interview prominent African American football players for inclusion to The HistoryMakers archives which our housed permanently at the Library of Congress. "We feel a deep debt of gratitude to the NFL and NFL Films for this incredible gift as this level of commitment will help move The HistoryMakers sports initiative forward in ways that we need and previously could not have imagined," says Julieanna Richardson, Founder & President of The HistoryMakers. "Our goal since our inception has always been to document the African American experience across a variety of disciplines and this commitment will ensure that the stories of African American football legends and African Americans who have played a critical role in NFL history will now become part of this nation's patrimony." "We are thrilled to team up with The HistoryMakers and contribute to their rich video archives of African American history" said Ross Ketover, Senior Executive of NFL Films. "This will truly be a mutually beneficial relationship as our NFL Films interviews will be seen by a whole new audience, while The HistoryMakers will be able to add much needed history to its national archives to educate millions for years to come." ABOUT THE HISTORYMAKERS Since its inception, The HistoryMakers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Chicago, has grown to become the nation's largest African American video oral history archive. With education as its mission, this one-of-a-kind collection is housed permanently at the Library of Congress and provides an unprecedented and irreplaceable physical and online record of African American lives, accomplishments, and contributions through unique first-person testimony. Over the past twenty-two years, almost 3,400 video oral history interviews (11,000 hours) have been recorded in 413 cities and towns, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Norway across a variety of disciplines. The interviews, each lasting two to fifteen hours in length, include recollections referencing people and events dating back to the 1700s and thousands of subjects. The HistoryMakers Digital Archive now and well into the future will provide a more complete understanding of who we are as Americans, where we have come from, and where we are going as a nation.  ABOUT NFL FILMS Winner of 136 Sports Emmy® Awards, NFL Films remains a gold standard in sports television, providing unprecedented access to and legendary storytelling about the sport of professional football. NFL Films is a part of NFL Media, the owned and operated media division of the National Football League, which is comprised of NFL Network, NFL Films, the NFL App, NFL.com and NFL RedZone. LITTLE CAESARS® IS THE NEW OFFICIAL PIZZA SPONSOR OF THE NFL ​Fastest-Growing Pizza Chain Enters High-Profile Partnership with National Football League DETROIT – Little Caesars, the third largest pizza chain in the world and home of the famous HOT-N-READY® pizza, and the NFL today announced a multi-year partnership that names Little Caesars as the Official Pizza Sponsor of the National Football League.  As one of Little Caesars highest-profile partnerships to date, the collaboration will continue to build on Little Caesars momentum of incredible growth over the past several years. Eating delicious pizza and cheering on the home team combine to make the perfect weekend social activity, and Little Caesars plans to be a special part of those game-time meal occasions.  The brand, which revolutionized the pizza industry with HOT-N-READY pizzas for convenient pickup and launched the pizza industry's lowest priced delivery at the 2020 Super Bowl, is a perfect match for the over 100 million NFL fans who regularly watch football games and want their gametime meals quickly and easily -- whether they choose delivery, exclusive Pizza Portal® pickup, or carry-out.  Little Caesars is known for unique product offerings and promotions like the Pretzel Pizza, Detroit-Style Deep Dish Pizza, the Batman Calzony, and now offers 33% more pepperoni on its Classic pizza. "We're thrilled to welcome Little Caesars to the NFL family," said Renie Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Vice President of NFL Partnerships.  "With a focus on quality and convenience, Little Caesars offers unmatched value for our fans, and we look forward to working together to positively impact communities across the United States." The deal comes about a month before the start of team training camps, the annual unofficial kickoff of the NFL season. The agreement will offer Little Caesars a set of exclusive marketing rights designed to connect the pizza brand with the NFL, its events, and fans. Exciting new components like social media games, new products, new packaging, and unique promotions will be revealed before the start of the 2022 season and continue throughout the course of the sponsorship. "This partnership aims to enhance the fun of game day by bringing the quality and convenience Little Caesars is known for to NFL fans across the country," said Dave Scrivano, president and CEO of Little Caesars, "And because we're the value leader in the pizza industry, hungry fans can enjoy weekly gametime meals at a very affordable price during a time when food prices are on the rise." Both organizations have a long history of giving back to the community, and the partnership also includes a charitable giving component.  The Little Caesars Love Kitchen®, a big rig pizza kitchen on wheels, will visit key NFL event cities throughout the year.  The Little Caesars Love Kitchen has been serving the homeless and hungry since 1985 and has served nearly 4 million people in North America.  Little Caesars will partner with the NFL to bring this already highly impactful charitable giving program to key National Football League event cities and provide ongoing post-event community support, including around the 2024 NFL Draft which will take place in Detroit, where Little Caesars is headquartered. ABOUT LITTLE CAESARS® Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, Little Caesars was founded by Mike and Marian Ilitch in 1959 as a single, family-owned restaurant. Today, Little Caesars is the third largest pizza chain in the world, with stores in each of the 50 U.S. states and 27 countries and territories. Known for its HOT-N-READY® pizza and famed Crazy Bread®, Little Caesars products are made with quality ingredients, like fresh, never frozen, mozzarella and Muenster cheese and sauce made from fresh-packed, vine-ripened California crushed tomatoes.  Little Caesars is known for unique product offerings and promotions like the Pretzel Pizza, Detroit-Style Deep Dish Pizza, the Batman Calzony, and now offers 33% more pepperoni on its Classic pizza. An exceptionally high growth company with over 60 years of experience in the $145 billion worldwide pizza industry, Little Caesars is continually looking for franchisee candidates to join our team in markets around the world. In addition to providing the opportunity for entrepreneurial independence in a franchise system, Little Caesars offers strong brand awareness with one of the most recognized and appealing characters in the country, Little Caesars.  NFL Network to Carry 22 Live Preseason Games ​ Live Preseason Games on NFL Network Include Super Bowl LVI Rematch, Plus Russell Wilson & Matt Ryan Debuts with New Teams Quadruple-Header of Week 1 & Week 2 Preseason Games Triple-Header of Week 3 Preseason Games Only Network to Show Every Preseason Game   NFL Network is the only network to show the entire slate of 2022 NFL preseason games, highlighted by 22 live games including a rematch of Super Bowl LVI. NFL Network's live preseason schedule kicks off with eight Week 1 games starting Thursday, August 11 at 7:00 PM ET with the New England Patriots hosting the New York Giants. Week 1 preseason coverage continues Friday, August 12 with rookie defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and the Detroit Lions hosting the Atlanta Falcons at 6:00 PM ET, followed by the Green Bay Packers at the San Francisco 49ers at 8:30 PM ET. On Saturday, August 13, NFL Network carries a quadruple-header of live Week 1 preseason games, starting at 1:00 PM ET with the Chicago Bears hosting the Kansas City Chiefs. Saturday's schedule continues at 4:00 PM ET with the Buffalo Bills hosting quarterback Matt Ryan and the Indianapolis Colts in his debut with his new team, followed by the Seattle Seahawks traveling to face rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett and the Pittsburgh Steelers at 7:00 PM ET. The final game airs at 9:00 PM ET with quarterback Russell Wilson's Denver Broncos debut against the Dallas Cowboys. NFL Network's Week 1 preseason live schedule concludes Sunday, August 14 at 4:25 PM ET with the Minnesota Vikings visiting the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL Network's live preseason schedule continues with eight Week 2 games, starting Friday, August 19 with the New England Patriots hosting the Carolina Panthers at 7:00 PM ET, followed by the Super Bowl LVI champion Los Angeles Rams hosting the Houston Texans at 10:00 PM ET. On Saturday, August 20, NFL Network carries a quadruple-header of Week 2 preseason games, starting at 1:00 PM ET with the Buffalo Bills hosting the Denver Broncos. Saturday's quadruple-header continues with the Washington Commanders at the Kansas City Chiefs at 4:00 PM ET, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Tennessee Titans at 7:00 PM ET and the Dallas Cowboys at the Los Angeles Chargers at 10:00 PM ET. NFL Network's Week 2 preseason live schedule concludes Sunday, August 21 with a double-header starting at 1:00 PM ET with the Cleveland Browns hosting the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants hosting the Cincinnati Bengals at 7:00 PM ET. NFL Network's live preseason schedule concludes with six Week 3 games, starting Thursday, August 25 at 8:00 PM ET with the Green Bay Packers traveling to face the Kansas City Chiefs, and continuing Friday, August 26 at 8:00 PM ET with the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Seattle Seahawks. On Saturday, August 27, NFL Network carries a triple-header starting at 3:00 PM ET with the Atlanta Falcons hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars. NFL Network's triple-header continues at 6:00 PM ET with a rematch of Super Bowl LVI when the Cincinnati Bengals host the Los Angeles Rams, and concludes at 9:00 PM ET when the Denver Broncos host the Minnesota Vikings. NFL Network's live Week 3 preseason schedule concludes Sunday, August 28 with the New York Jets hosting the New York Giants at 1:00 PM ET. Live preseason games on NFL Network are subject to blackouts in the local markets of the participating teams. Live streaming of NFL Network is available across multiple devices (smartphone, PC, tablet and connected TVs) through the NFL app or NFL.com/watch for subscribers of participating NFL Network providers. NFL Network's 2022 Live Preseason Schedule Week 1   Thursday, August 11 7:00 PM ET – New York Giants vs. New England Patriots   Friday, August 12 6:00 PM ET – Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions 8:30 PM ET – Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers   Saturday, August 13 1:00 PM ET – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Chicago Bears 4:00 PM ET – Indianapolis Colts vs. Buffalo Bills 7:00 PM ET – Seattle Seahawks vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 9:00 PM ET – Dallas Cowboys vs. Denver Broncos   Sunday, August 14 4:25 PM ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. Las Vegas Raiders   Week 2   Friday, August 19 7:00 PM ET – Carolina Panthers vs. New England Patriots 10:00 PM ET – Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Rams   Saturday, August 20 1:00 PM ET – Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills 4:00 PM ET – Washington Commanders vs. Kansas City Chiefs 7:00 PM ET – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Tennessee Titans 10:00 PM ET – Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Chargers   Sunday, August 21 1:00 PM ET – Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns 7:00 PM ET – Cincinnati Bengals vs. New York Giants   Week 3   Thursday, August 25 8:00 PM ET – Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs   Friday, August 26 8:00 PM ET – Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys   Saturday, August 27 3:00 PM ET – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Atlanta Falcons 6:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals 9:00 PM ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. Denver Broncos Sunday, August 29 1:00 PM ET – New York Giants vs. New York Jets   *Live games on NFL Network will be blacked out in the participating teams' over-the-air station markets. E. & J. GALLO WINERY ANNOUNCED AS OFFICIAL WINE SPONSOR OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE ​Today, the National Football League (NFL) and E. & J. Gallo Winery (Gallo) announced that Gallo will be the Official Wine Sponsor of the NFL. The multi-branded, multi-year agreement makes Gallo the official wine sponsor of the NFL. The partnership is uniquely structured to engage NFL fans and will include opportunities for local team activation, player imagery and appearances, on-site presence at premiere events, and broadcast, digital, and social content from NFL Kickoff through the Super Bowl. Barefoot, America's most loved winery, will kick-off the partnership. Barefoot brings more consumers into the wine category than any other brand thanks to its long-standing efforts to demystify wine and make it accessible to everyone through inclusivity and celebration. "Gallo is thrilled to be uniting America's most loved winery with America's most popular sport," said E. & J. Gallo Chief Marketing Officer, Stephanie Gallo. She added, "As an industry leader our role is to welcome new consumers to the wine category in unique and relevant ways. This partnership will do just that by bringing our avid fan bases together. The notion of togetherness seems more relevant now more than ever." "We are excited to partner with E. & J. Gallo to bring more choices for our fans," said Tracie Rodburg, NFL Senior Vice President, Sponsorship Management.  "We look forward to pairing E. & J. Gallo's extensive portfolio of wines, including its iconic brand Barefoot, with our fans, clubs and premiere events for memorable NFL experiences."  Through this partnership, Gallo will implement 360-degree programming, creating surround sound for its brands all the way throughout the consumer purchase journey. Over the years, through acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and new brand innovations, Gallo has continued to expand and diversify its portfolio across all price points to meet growing consumer demand and evolving preferences. This tradition continues with Gallo as the Official Wine Sponsor of the NFL. Full activation and consumer-facing materials will launch in August 2022.  About E. & J. Gallo Winery: Founded in 1933 by brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo, E. & J. Gallo Winery is a family-owned company and global wine and spirits industry leader. The hallmark of E. & J. Gallo Winery is their lasting commitment to sustainability and quality, and consistently providing wine and spirits for every occasion. Gallo's range of offerings includes Apothic, Barefoot Wine, Black Box, J Vineyards and Winery, La Marca Prosecco, Orin Swift, New Amsterdam Vodka, RumChata, High Noon, along with partnerships with esteemed family-owned brands such as Allegrini, Argiano, The Dalmore, Diplomatico, Don Fulano, and Gruppo Montenegro. 2022 NFL Preseason Dates and Times Announced ​NATIONAL TELEVISION SCHEDULE (All times Eastern) DATE GAME NETWORK (TIME)       Thursday, August 4 NFL/Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Las Vegas Raiders NBC (8:00 PM)       Preseason Week 2       Thursday, August 18 Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks ESPN (8:00 PM) Sunday, August 21 Baltimore Ravens at Arizona Cardinals FOX (8:00 PM) Monday, August 22 Atlanta Falcons at New York Jets ESPN (8:00 PM)       Preseason Week 3       Thursday, August 25 San Francisco 49ers at Houston Texans Prime Video (8:15 PM) Sunday, August 28 Detroit Lions at Pittsburgh Steelers CBS (4:30 PM)   2022 PRESEASON WEEK-BY-WEEK SCHEDULE (All times Eastern/PM) NFL/HALL OF FAME GAME – AUGUST 4 Jacksonville vs. Las Vegas (NBC) WEEK 1 Thursday, August 11 N.Y. Giants at New England, 7:00 Tennessee at Baltimore, 7:30 Friday, August 12 Atlanta at Detroit, 6:00 Cleveland at Jacksonville, 7:00 Arizona at Cincinnati, 7:30 N.Y. Jets at Philadelphia, 7:30 Green Bay at San Francisco, 8:30 Saturday, August 13 Kansas City at Chicago, 1:00 Carolina at Washington, 1:00 Indianapolis at Buffalo, 4:00 Seattle at Pittsburgh, 7:00 Miami at Tampa Bay, 7:30 New Orleans at Houston, 8:00 Dallas at Denver, 9:00 L.A. Rams at L.A. Chargers, 10:00 Sunday, August 14 Minnesota at Las Vegas, 4:25 WEEK 2 Thursday, August 18 Chicago at Seattle (ESPN), 8:00 Friday, August 19 Carolina at New England, 7:00 New Orleans at Green Bay, 8:00 Houston at L.A. Rams, 10:00 Saturday, August 20 Denver at Buffalo, 1:00 Detroit at Indianapolis, 1:00 Washington at Kansas City, 4:00 Pittsburgh at Jacksonville, 7:00 Las Vegas at Miami, 7:00 San Francisco at Minnesota, 7:00 Tampa Bay at Tennessee, 7:00 Dallas at L.A. Chargers, 10:00 Sunday, August 21 Philadelphia at Cleveland, 1:00 Cincinnati at N.Y. Giants, 7:00 Baltimore at Arizona (FOX), 8:00 Monday, August 22 Atlanta at N.Y. Jets (ESPN), 8:00 WEEK 3 Thursday, August 25 Green Bay at Kansas City, 8:00 San Francisco at Houston (Prime Video), 8:15 Friday, August 26 Buffalo at Carolina, 7:00 Seattle at Dallas, 8:00 L.A. Chargers at New Orleans, 8:00 New England at Las Vegas, 8:15 Saturday, August 27 Jacksonville at Atlanta, 3:00 L.A. Rams at Cincinnati, 6:00 Washington at Baltimore, 7:00 Chicago at Cleveland, 7:00 Philadelphia at Miami, 7:00 Arizona at Tennessee, 7:00 Tampa Bay at Indianapolis, 7:30 Minnesota at Denver, 9:00 Sunday, August 28 N.Y. Giants at N.Y. Jets, 1:00 Detroit at Pittsburgh (CBS), 4:30 2022 PRESEASON TEAM-BY-TEAM SCHEDULE (All times Eastern/PM) AFC Buffalo Miami New England N.Y. Jets 8/13 Indianapolis, 4:00 8/13 at Tampa Bay, 7:30 8/11 N.Y. Giants, 7:00 8/12 at Philadelphia, 7:30 8/20 Denver, 1:00 8/20 Las Vegas, 7:00 8/19 Carolina, 7:00 8/22 Atlanta, 8:00 8/26 at Carolina, 7:00 8/27 Philadelphia, 7:00 8/26 at Las Vegas, 8:15 8/28 N.Y. Giants, 1:00         Baltimore Cincinnati Cleveland Pittsburgh 8/11 Tennessee, 7:30 8/12 Arizona, 7:30 8/12 at Jacksonville, 7:00 8/13 Seattle, 7:00 8/21 at Arizona, 8:00 8/21 at N.Y. Giants, 7:00 8/21 Philadelphia, 1:00 8/20 at Jacksonville, 7:00 8/27 Washington, 7:00 8/27 L.A. Rams, 6:00 8/27 Chicago, 7:00 8/28 Detroit, 4:30         Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Tennessee 8/13 New Orleans, 8:00 8/13 at Buffalo, 4:00 8/4 vs. Las Vegas*, 8:00 8/11 at Baltimore, 7:30 8/19 at L.A. Rams, 10:00 8/20 Detroit, 1:00 8/12 Cleveland, 7:00 8/20 Tampa Bay, 7:00 8/25 San Francisco, 8:15 8/27 Tampa Bay, 7:30 8/20 Pittsburgh, 7:00 8/27 Arizona, 7:00     8/27 at Atlanta, 3:00           Denver Kansas City Las Vegas L.A. Chargers 8/13 Dallas, 9:00 8/13 at Chicago, 1:00 8/4 vs. Jacksonville*, 8:00 8/13 L.A. Rams, 10:00 8/20 at Buffalo, 1:00 8/20 Washington, 4:00 8/14 Minnesota, 4:25 8/20 Dallas, 10:00 8/27 Minnesota, 9:00 8/25 Green Bay, 8:00 8/20 at Miami, 7:00 8/26 at New Orleans, 8:00     8/26 New England, 8:15   NFC         Dallas N.Y. Giants Philadelphia Washington 8/13 at Denver, 9:00 8/11 at New England, 7:00 8/12 N.Y. Jets, 7:30 8/13 Carolina, 1:00 8/20 at L.A. Chargers, 10:00 8/21 Cincinnati, 7:00 8/21 at Cleveland, 1:00 8/20 at Kansas City, 4:00 8/26 Seattle, 8:00 8/28 at N.Y. Jets, 1:00 8/27 at Miami, 7:00 8/27 at Baltimore, 7:00         Chicago Detroit Green Bay Minnesota 8/13 Kansas City, 1:00 8/12 Atlanta, 6:00 8/12 at San Francisco, 8:30 8/14 at Las Vegas, 4:25 8/18 at Seattle, 8:00 8/20 at Indianapolis, 1:00 8/19 New Orleans, 8:00 8/20 San Francisco, 7:00 8/27 at Cleveland, 7:00 8/28 at Pittsburgh, 4:30 8/25 at Kansas City, 8:00 8/27 at Denver, 9:00 Atlanta Carolina New Orleans Tampa Bay 8/12 at Detroit, 6:00 8/13 at Washington, 1:00 8/13 at Houston, 8:00 8/13 Miami, 7:30 8/22 at N.Y. Jets, 8:00 8/19 at New England, 7:00 8/19 at Green Bay, 8:00 8/20 at Tennessee, 7:00 8/27 Jacksonville, 3:00 8/26 Buffalo, 7:00 8/26 L.A. Chargers, 8:00 8/27 at Indianapolis, 7:30       Arizona L.A. Rams San Francisco Seattle 8/12 at Cincinnati, 7:30 8/13 at L.A. Chargers, 10:00 8/12 Green Bay, 8:30 8/13 at Pittsburgh, 7:00 8/21 Baltimore, 8:00 8/19 Houston, 10:00 8/20 at Minnesota, 7:00 8/18 Chicago, 8:00 8/27 at Tennessee, 7:00 8/27 at Cincinnati, 6:00 8/25 at Houston, 8:15 8/26 at Dallas, 8:00 *NFL/Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio For more from NFL Communication​s, visit NFLCommunications.com and follow @NFL345. NFL TO HOST FIRST OFFICIAL EVENTS IN AFRICA ​NFL AFRICA CAMP LAUNCHES TO DISCOVER NEW TALENT  NFL FAN ZONE AND NFL FLAG TOUCH DOWN IN GHANA  The NFL will host its first official events to take place in Africa beginning June 21 in Ghana.  The week of activities – NFL Africa: The Touchdown – includes a talent identification camp, a fan event and a flag football clinic, and underscores the NFL's commitment to develop more ways to serve its growing fan base across the continent.   With more than 100 players of African descent (born in Africa or first generation born in the U.S.), the League will highlight the contributions of its African players, introduce the sport to the next generation of fans and look to activate in other African countries in the future.     Current NFL players will take part on-site including Seattle Seahawks Uchenna Nwosu (Nigeria), Houston Texans Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (Nigeria), Cleveland Browns Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Ghana), and Indianapolis Colts Kwity Paye (Liberia), as well as NFL Legends Mathias Kiwanuka (Uganda), Roman Oben (Cameroon), and Osi Umenyiora (Nigeria).   As the League looks to further identify and develop more talent in Africa, the NFL will host its first NFL Africa Camp, featuring 40 players from across Africa.  The camp will take place on June 21 and 22 with players that were selected after participating in regional camps led by Osi Umenyiora, NFL Legend and two-time Super Bowl winning defensive end with the New York Giants.   "This is a truly remarkable initiative," said Umenyiora.  "This camp is not only giving opportunities to great African athletes, it is also highlighting the incredible African athletes already in the NFL. The positive impact of this cannot be overstated."  Umenyiora established The Uprise, a football program in Nigeria that has held regional camps in Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa in recent months.  Players that stood out were invited to the NFL's upcoming camp, which will be held in Ghana.  "We look forward to hosting our first camp in Ghana and will look to activate in Nigeria and other African countries in the future," said Damani Leech, NFL Chief Operating Officer of International. "We want to provide an opportunity for the next generation of African prospects to showcase and further develop their talent.  As we continue to look for ways to strengthen the pipeline of international players, we hope this camp, and future camps, provide a path for aspiring players from across the continent.  Top talent from the camp could be invited to participate in International Combines, the International Player Pathway program, and for those athletes ages 16 to 19, there's the opportunity to attend the NFL Academy in London."   This year, three players that were discovered through The Uprise, and went on to participate in the International Combine and IPP Pro Day, have signed with NFL teams – Chigbo Roy Mbaeteka (New York Giants), Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi, (Arizona Cardinals), and Kehinde Hassan Oginni (Kansas City Chiefs).   Events in Ghana continue on Saturday, June 25, when the NFL will host an NFL FLAG Day at the Ghana International School in conjunction with the Ghana American Football Federation (GAFF).  Students from 10 local schools, ages 12 to 14, will participate.  NFL FLAG is a fun and accessible non-contact program.  Participants will have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals from current and former NFL players, as well as lessons in teamwork and sportsmanship.   On Sunday, June 26, NFL Fan Zone will bring attendees up close to the NFL from 11:00am to 6:00pm at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City Accra in Ghana.  The free event will offer fans the opportunity to interact with current NFL players and legends while participating in interactive games and activations by NFL partners including EA Madden, Mitchell & Ness and Wilson Football.  NFL Fan Zone will also feature a display showcasing Super Bowl rings and the Vince Lombardi Trophy.  The NFL FLAG Day and NFL Fan Zone will also feature Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders, as well as prizes and giveaways from the team.  The club's Senior Vice President of Media & Marketing, Jen Kavanaugh, will also be in attendance as the Eagles are the first NFL club to enter a market in Africa through the International HMA* initiative and can activate in Ghana as of June 1.   NFL Network will follow the journey of NFL players and legends as they participate in events in Ghana, as well as in cultural experiences across Accra and the Cape Coast, for an upcoming feature.   The NFL strives to provide a positive impact on local communities following its events in cities around the world.  Details of a project in Accra will be announced during the week's events.    For the latest information on the NFL in Africa, follow @NFLAfrica social media channels on Twitter and Instagram.  NFL FOUNDATION, DALLAS COWBOYS Y HOUSTON TEXANS APOYAN A LA COMUNIDAD DE UVALDE ​La NFL Foundation junto a los Dallas Cowboys y Houston Texans comparten su duelo junto al resto del país y las familias directamente afectadas por la tragedia reciente en la escuela primaria Robb Elementary School en Uvalde, Texas. Como gesto de solidaridad y apoyo, los Cowboys y la NFL Foundation donarán un total de $400,000, con $200,000 de ese monto dirigidos al Robb School Memorial Fund y los otros $200,000 al fondo Uvalde Strong Fund. La organización de Houston Texans anunció previamente que igualará donativos provenientes de sus jugadores para contribuir $400,000 de forma combinada entre el equipo y sus jugadores al fondo Robb School Memorial Fund.  El total de $800,000 apoyará a las familias de las víctimas, los sobrevivientes y a la comunidad de Uvalde que busca recuperarse de esta tragedia sin sentido. El fondo Robb School Memorial Fund nace en colaboración con la Fundación OneStar Foundation y es apoyado por el distrito escolar Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, entre otras organizaciones y oficiales de esa área. El fondo abrió una cuenta en el banco First State Bank of Uvalde en Uvalde, Texas para apoyar a las familias de la escuela Robb Elementary School y 100% de los donativos serán destinados a obras caritativas y se destinarán a las víctimas y sobrevivientes de este incidente.  Cualquier persona interesada en contribuir al fondo de apoyo de las víctimas puede visitar la página web https://onestarfoundation.org/donate/  El fondo Uvalde Strong Fund, coordinado a través de la fundación Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, es un fondo de alivio fundado para apoyar a residentes de Uvalde – individuos, familias, y organizaciones comunitarias que buscan recuperarse y lidiar con la tragedia sucedida en la escuela primaria Robb Elementary School. El apoyo de NFL Foundation y los Cowboys se destinará a la recuperación de la comunidad en el área de la salud mental y traumas. Aquellas personas que desean donar al fondo Uvalde Strong Fund lo pueden hacer en esta página web: https://cftexashillcountry.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create?funit_id=2452  NFL EXTENDS SUPPORT FOR 21 SOCIAL JUSTICE GRANT PARTNERS IN ONGOING MISSION TO ‘INSPIRE CHANGE’ ​League contributes $6.5 million to more than 20 organizations who are driving measurable change in their communities, renews grants for all 32 NFL Clubs to further combat the 'digital divide' NFL nears $250 million commitment with more than $244 million in contributions since 2017 NEW YORK (June 1, 2022) – As part of the NFL's Inspire Change social justice initiative, the league today announced renewals of 21 national grant partners, totaling $6.5 million in donations. Inspire Change showcases the collaborative efforts of players, clubs, and the League to create positive change in communities across the country. Since 2017, the NFL family has provided more than $244 million to 37 national grant partners and hundreds of grassroots organizations across the country, nearing its 10-year, $250 million commitment to social justice efforts. This includes more than 1,800 Inspire Change matching grants provided by the NFL Foundation to current NFL players and Legends for nonprofits of their choice to help reduce barriers to opportunity. The 21 renewed grants were recently approved by the Player-Owner Social Justice Working Group, which is comprised of a 10-member panel of players, Legends and team owners. Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations creating measurable change across the four pillars of Inspire Change, which include education, economic advancement, police-community relations and criminal justice reform. "The NFL is proud to renew its commitment to these 21 organizations as they continue to drive positive change in communities nationwide," said Anna Isaacson, NFL Senior Vice President, Social Responsibility. "The greater societal needs that these organizations serve represent the core tenets behind Inspire Change, and their meaningful work and measurable impact continue to inspire the NFL in its ongoing quest for social justice." The specific impact these 21 grant partners have made in their communities include advocacy to end mass incarceration and offering tuition-free educational resources; wraparound services for youth battling homelessness; various mentorship programs and re-entry services; fighting to end cash bail and pre-trial detention; addressing "three-strikes" laws; and financial empowerment services. The Player-Owner Social Justice Working Group also renewed its commitment to address the "digital divide," a longstanding barrier to internet and technology access in the U.S. exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic and disproportionately impacting communities of color. Specifically, the Working Group approved an additional $480,000 in funding allocated to NFL clubs – $15,000 per club – to further their work with local nonprofits to help alleviate the "digital divide" in areas that need it most. Grant Renewals Alabama Appleseed will continue to provide legal services for people sentenced to life imprisonment for non-homicide offenses under Alabama's repeat offender statute, corresponding with hundreds of incarcerated individuals seeking assistance and ultimately investigating at least 50 new cases, as well as advance legislation to reform Alabama's Habitual Felony Offender Act, and grow its new "Fresh Start" re-entry program which has a recidivism rate of zero. Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) will further its credible-messenger based in-prison and reentry programs for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people through its Ride Home Program, Hope and Redemption Team, therapy groups led by mental health professionals, individual therapy with social workers, access to life coaches with lived experience as it relates to reentry and more. As it is communities of color who are overrepresented at all stages of the justice system, funding will also support policy and advocacy focusing on ending extreme sentencing, especially for youth, and ensuring constitutional protections, housing, therapy, family reunification options, and career pathways exist for formerly incarcerated individuals reentering the free world.   One of the most trusted resources for engaging Black and minority-owned businesses, Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) will expand its RESILI™ Program to serve 3,000 entrepreneurs nationally. RESILI™ is a suite of high-impact and high-quality resources developed by AEO in collaboration with PayPal, Deloitte, Guidehouse, Facebook, Mastercard, Qualtrics and other partners. It will now include – among other features – a capital readiness score that 25% of entrepreneurs will use to assess their likelihood of being approved for loans during the grant period.   Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) will enrich the quality and expand the reach of its mentoring programs and their impact on youth by enhancing and innovating program opportunities and increasing mentor recruitment. Key focus areas include supporting youth with incarcerated family members, key localized programming and recruiting more men of color to volunteer as mentors through the Big Draft and other partner engagement opportunities. Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) will expand its Think, Learn, Create Change (TLC) content and social justice programming, delivering relevant, new material to more kids and teens nationwide on issues like voting and racial equality. Additionally, the grant will enhance offerings at the organization's annual, teen-led National Keystone Conference, providing all attendees with leadership workshops, community service experiences and hands-on opportunities including a youth advocacy session and a new teen topic, "Social Justice: Wreck it! Break Down the Barriers of Social Justice." Breakthrough Miami will prepare and position 22 Success Coaches to lead academic advising and out-of-school-time learning to empower 600 students from 5th-12th grade to achieve academically and develop as leaders. Furthering its vision as an Opportunity Generator, and ensuring young people striving for educational opportunity can catch their dreams, Breakthrough is positioning young people as Success Coaches to ensure students can access high-quality critical academic support, build college preparatory non-academic skills leading to high school graduation and enter and thrive in college. Founded upon a signature students-teaching-students model, Breakthrough's work is informed by research that shows academic out-of-school-time programs and near-peer mentoring improve academics, and impact key outcomes including leadership, teamwork, self-efficacy and social responsibility. The Center for Policing Equity (CPE) will advance two interrelated efforts. A series of initiatives that integrate harm reduction into public safety design will draw on the implementation of COMPSTAT for Justice (C4J), use Data Gap Analyses (DGAs), and engage with the National Justice Database (NJD) Initiative, ensuring meaningful change within law enforcement systems, in alignment with CPE's long-term vision of public safety. CPE will also redesign and implement new, community-specific models for public safety that draw on scientific research and on-the-ground community-based advisement to encourage nationwide discourse on public safety narratives and decision-making among legislators, elected officials, law enforcement officials, and community advocates. City Year helps students and schools succeed while preparing the next generation of civically engaged leaders who can work across lines of difference. With the goal of recruiting diverse young adults by making national service opportunities more accessible, City Year will raise awareness about the benefits of service and increase living stipends for City Year AmeriCorps members. The organization also is enhancing coaching and professional development services for City Year AmeriCorps members to help them make the most of their service experience and position themselves for their career path or education after service.    Community Justice Exchange will continue to work with organizers, advocates, and legal providers across the country that are using community bail funds as part of efforts to radically change local bail systems and reduce incarceration, impacting over 90 local community bail/bond funds across 37 states through its National Bail Fund Network by posting bail for thousands of individuals in pretrial and immigration detention per year, reunifying families and allowing people to resolve their cases from a place of freedom to reduce the impact of pretrial incarceration.   Covenant House will support its education and workforce development programs in the U.S., helping them provide more than 2,000 youth experiencing homelessness with the career and education services they need over the next year as their dedicated staff partner with the resilient youth at Covenant House to help them overcome the systemic challenges they face in obtaining an education and launching a career through coaching, mentoring, tutoring, academic support, college application prep, career exploration, and job readiness and placement services.   Just City will continue to operate its Clean Slate Fund, which has sealed the criminal histories of hundreds of people from public view, expanding employment and other economic opportunities. Just City will also continue to place volunteer observers in courtrooms to provide much-needed transparency and accountability to our court system through its Court Watch program. Ladies of Hope Ministries (LOHM) will continue its Faces of Women Imprisoned (FOWI) speakers bureau – created by formerly-incarcerated women – to support a cohort of mothers, sisters, wives and daughters of loved ones who have lost loved ones to police violence as they share their stories to advance, frame, and broaden the conversation around policing, trauma, abuse, poverty and violence, as well as expanding a Pathways 4 Equity (P4E) program to break employment barriers for women and improve DE&I hiring practices.   MENTOR will be able to double down on its investment in racial equity and strengthen MENTOR Affiliate's local field leadership with its Racial Equity Grants Program, an initiative launched in 2021 with the NFL Foundation's support to fund MENTOR Affiliates, as well as fund additional MENTOR National support to MENTOR Affiliates – all of which contribute to individual and collective healing, upskilling, storytelling, and building a national movement dedicated to the complex challenge of dismantling systemic racism and centering long under-invested voices, especially from BIPOC communities. Metropolitan Family Services will expand its Metropolitan Peace Academy (MPA): expanding police training capacity; doubling the number of annual street outreach graduates; hosting quarterly onboarding trainings to support the new organizations entering street outreach; hosting quarterly deep dives for MPA alumni to continue their professional learnings; and, offering wellness services for outreach workers who suffer ongoing trauma as a result of working on communities heavily affected by gun violence The National Urban League will scale the number of affiliate cities and down payment amount of its Down Payment Assistance initiative through increased enrollment in financial literacy and homeownership counseling programs and completion of its counseling program by new homebuying clients; and advance its Urban Re-entry Program through the inclusion of a criminal justice reform partnership with its NUL Equitable Justice Strategic Initiatives (EJSI) Division with the goal of expanded outreach capacity of its Record Expungement Project to reach 1,000 returning citizens nationally and increased 21 Pillars national community collaboration quarterly tour stops.   The Oregon Justice Resource Center (OJRC) will advance legal services and reforms as part of its Women's Justice Project for survivors who are charged with and convicted of crimes that have occurred because of their experiences of being survivors of domestic violence through a variety of research and services including the advancement of litigation that will offer greater protection to survivors in the criminal justice system, legal services to survivor-defendants and research on the experiences of survivor-defendants from arrest through re-entry. Operation HOPE will continue to remove traditional hurdles to Black entrepreneurship by providing them with the critical tools, resources and education needed to start — and scale— their ventures. To help level the playing field, 1,250 new business owners in Atlanta, New York City, and Nashville will have the opportunity to participate in the 1 Million Black Businesses Initiative (1MBB), which offers access to Operation HOPE's award-winning model of community uplift and financial literacy.   Per Scholas will enroll over 6,000 people of color into immersive, cohort-based, tuition-free tech training courses over the next two years. Graduates are equipped with technical and professional skills that prepare them to succeed in high-growth technology careers. Per Scholas connects its graduates to robust employer networks, providing all graduates with access to employment opportunities ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative start-ups. Per Scholas continues to be committed to advancing economic mobility and DEI&B across our communities.   Texas Appleseed will build on its recent work to reform policies and practices that disproportionately harm Black and Latinx Texans and Texans who are low-income. Their four focus areas are: ending license suspensions through OmniBase; eliminating reliance on law enforcement in calls for crisis; expanding criminal record sealing and expunction; and reforming Texas' debt collection practices. The organization will do this through engagement with coalition partners, meetings with key decision makers, and working with media to keep issues front-of-mind.   The US Dream Academy will increase mentoring opportunities for elementary and middle school students impacted by parental incarceration by 62.5%; and pilot a first of its kind virtual support group, led by trained mental health professionals, for teenagers who are struggling with parental incarceration, to reduce the impact of adverse childhood experiences that can have lasting negative outcomes well into adulthood.   The Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) will continue to build a national movement to end mass incarceration and mass criminalization, with a focus on jail incarceration in our nation's smaller cities and rural communities. Vera will collaborate with community leaders, policymakers and law enforcement to ensure that poverty is not treated as a crime, including by eliminating money bail and criminal penalties for social issues that do not merit criminal legal response. Their work is fueled by the production of compelling data, research and evidence that supports local and state-level campaigns to stop jail expansion, reverse rising jail populations, and reduce punitive supervision in small cities and rural communities.  For additional information or to learn more about the NFL's Inspire Change social justice initiative please visit www.nfl.com/inspirechange. Follow @InspireChange on Twitter and Instagram. On Facebook, follow at www.facebook.com/InspireChange/. Polynesian Bowl to be Broadcast Live on NFL Network The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced today that the Polynesian Bowl, presented by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, will be broadcast live in primetime on NFL Network Friday, January 20, 2023, at 9:00 PM ET (4:00 PM HT). The game is played at Kūnuiākea Stadium on the Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus. "This is a significant milestone and recognition for the Polynesian community to have the Polynesian Bowl broadcast live in primetime on NFL Network," said San Francisco 49ers four-time Super Bowl Champion Jesse Sapolu, chairman & co-founder of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. "We thank Commissioner Goodell and the National Football League owners for their commitment to sharing our culture. It's Friday night football in Hawai'i!" "We are excited to broadcast the Polynesian Bowl exclusively on NFL Network," said Mark Quenzel, NFL Senior Vice President, Head of Content. "The impact of the Polynesian community throughout the National Football League is profound and extensive, and we look forward to providing a platform for the next generation of Polynesian talent to showcase their skills and talent." Polynesians represent less than half of 1% of the U.S. population yet continue to make an outsized impact on the NFL. About 70 Polynesian players are currently on NFL rosters such as DeForest Buckner, Talanoa Hufanga, Marcus Mariota, Jordan Mailata, Jordan Poyer, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Penei Sewell, Ronnie Stanley, Tua Tagovailoa, Vita Vea and Zach Wilson. Legends Junior Seau, Kevin Mawae and Troy Polamalu have been enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Polynesian Bowl is a premier all-star game played annually in Honolulu, Hawai'i that features 100 of the nation's top ranked high school seniors of Polynesian and non-Polynesian ancestry alike – many whom have gone on to play in the NFL. The game has become the most sought-after all-star football invitation – a rapid rise from its inaugural game in 2017. This past January, top ranked 2022 player Travis Hunter participated in the game and was named Offensive MVP. Major partners include Microsoft Surface Pro, adidas, BodyArmor, Riddell, CrossCountry Mortgage, Friends of Hawaii Charities, Hawaiian Airlines, HBCTC and Hawaii News Now. "From its inception, Honolulu has been proud and honored to be the host city of this signature event featuring many of the finest high school football players in the country. The Polynesian Bowl signifies the excellence and powerful impact Polynesians continue to contribute to modern day football at every level of play!" said City and County of Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. ABOUT POLYNESIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame honors Polynesia's greatest players, coaches, and contributors. Its permanent home is located at the Polynesian Cultural Center (Laie, Hawaii) and was established in 2013 by Super Bowl Champions Jesse Sapolu and Ma'a Tanuvasa. Other board members include Troy Polamalu, Vai Sikahema, June Jones and Reno Mahe. There are currently 40 inductees. The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame has provided over $300,000 in college scholarships to date. For more information, go to PolynesianFootballHOF.org or PolynesianBowl.com.   ABOUT NFL NETWORK Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, fans turn to NFL Network to receive information and insight straight from the field, team headquarters, league offices and everywhere the NFL is making news. Launched in 2003, NFL Network gives fans unprecedented year-round inside access to all NFL events, including the Super Bowl, Playoffs, regular season, preseason, Pro Bowl, Pro Football Hall of Fame induction weekend, NFL Draft, NFL Scouting Combine, Senior Bowl, HBCU Legacy Bowl, league meetings, minicamps and training camps. For fans on the go, all NFL Network programming can be streamed live through the NFL app and NFL Network app on smartphones, tablets, PCs and connected TV devices (Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, PlayStation 4, Roku and Xbox One). Access is available for NFL Network subscribers of participating TV providers. For more information, go to NFL.com/nflnetwork.  National Football League Wins 8 Sports Emmy Awards ​ 'Good Morning Football' Wins Outstanding Studio Show – Daily 'NFL 360' Takes Home 4 Sports Emmy Awards  Nate Burleson Wins Outstanding Sports Personality – Studio Analyst for Second Consecutive Year Last night, the National Football League won 8 Sports Emmy Awards for its work across NFL Network, NFL Films, NFL.com, the NFL app and the League office. NFL Network's Good Morning Football won in the Outstanding Studio Show – Daily category, the first Sports Emmy Award for the show. NFL Network's series NFL 360 – which had received the most nominations for a single program this year – won a total of four Sports Emmy Awards in the categories of Outstanding Short Documentary (Mark Pattison: Searching for the Summit), Outstanding Editing – Short Form (Ode to South Central), Outstanding Long Feature (Through the Ashes: The Story of Black Wall Street) and The Dick Schaap Outstanding Writing Award – Short Form (Ode to South Central). For the second consecutive year, NFL Network analyst Nate Burleson won in the Outstanding Sports Personality – Studio Analyst category for his work on NFL Network, CBS Sports and Nickelodeon. NFL Films won awards for Good Morning Football, NFL GameDay All-Access: Super Bowl LVI in the Outstanding Edited Sports Event Coverage category (along with YouTube) – the second consecutive Sports Emmy win for the program – and Man in the Arena: Tom Brady in the Outstanding Documentary Series category (along with ESPN+, ESPN, Religion of Sports and 199 Productions), bringing NFL Films' overall Emmys total to 136. Following is a complete list of the NFL's Sports Emmy Awards: OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW – DAILY Good Morning Football (NFL Network/Embassy Row/NFL Films) OUTSTANDING SHORT DOCUMENTARY NFL 360: Mark Pattison: Searching for the Summit (NFL Network) OUTSTANDING LONG FEATURE NFL 360: Through the Ashes: The Story of Black Wall Street (NFL Network) THE DICK SCHAAP OUTSTANDING WRITING AWARD – SHORT FORM NFL 360: Ode to South Central (NFL Network) OUTSTANDING EDITING – SHORT FORM NFL 360: Ode to South Central (NFL Network) OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – STUDIO ANALYST Nate Burleson (CBS/CBS Sports Network/Nickelodeon/NFL Network) OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE NFL Game Day All-Access: Super Bowl LVI (YouTube/NFL Films) OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY SERIES Man in the Arena: Tom Brady (ESPN+/ESPN/Religion of Sports/199 Productions/NFL Films) NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NFLPA AND MYTHICAL TEAM UP FOR UPCOMING NFL PLAY-AND-OWN NFT VIDEO GAME ​First-ever Blockchain-enabled NFL Video Game 'NFL Rivals' to Launch Next Year; Exclusive NFL NFT Pre-Sale to Take Place Before Game Launch NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES - May. 25, 2022 - The National Football League (NFL), NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and next-generation gaming technology studio Mythical Games today announced a partnership to launch NFL Rivals, a new NFL video game that leverages blockchain technology, on the Mythical Platform in early 2023. Delivering on the fantasy of being a team General Manager, this fun, easy to play game will allow NFL fans and gamers alike to compete against other GMs with their assembled player rosters and teams, building, leveling up and improving their lineup. In addition, fans will be able to own, collect and trade non-fungible tokens (NFTs) of their favorite players through this play-and-own game experience.  "With the rise of blockchain technology, we are thrilled to partner with Mythical Games on a blockchain-enabled game that delivers new play-to-own NFT capabilities, creating a new adventure for fans who love to play football games," said Joe Ruggiero, SVP of Consumer Products at the NFL. "The interest in NFTs and video gaming amongst current and prospective fans continues to grow and combined have accelerated the NFL's exploration of new gaming models that can deliver an unmatched experience to fans." Ahead of the NFL Rivals game launch, 32 limited-quantity collections of unique generative 3D NFL franchise-themed NFTs will be released in a series of drops called "Rarity League." This officially licensed collection will provide owners access to special events, in-game rewards and other unique features. "NFTs are revolutionizing the fan experience, and we're excited to collaborate with the imaginative team at Mythical Games to create a whole new blockchain-based world in which NFL players take center stage." said Terése Whitehead, Vice President, Consumer Products & Strategy at NFL Players Inc., the marketing and licensing arm of the NFLPA.  "Partnering with the NFL to drive new fan and player engagement through fresh game design and the benefits of Web3 is an exciting moment for us," said Jamie Jackson, Chief Creative Officer, Mythical Games. "NFTs with utility can add value to players in-game, and we can't wait to bring these concepts to NFL Rivals to evolve the team management genre by adding the advantages of play-and-own games, offering the community new ways to engage with their favorite teams and players both in and outside this virtual world." NFL Rivals will launch globally for web and mobile web in early 2023. Interested players can join the Discord or visit the NFL Rivals website now for more information and to stay updated. About Mythical Games Acknowledged by Forbes' Disruptive Technology Companies To Watch in 2019 and Fast Company's World Changing Ideas 2021, Mythical is a next-generation games technology company creating a web3 gaming ecosystem by leveraging blockchain technology and playable NFTs for tools that enable players, creators, artists, brands and game developers to become stakeholders and owners in new "play and own" game economies. Led by gaming industry veterans, the team specializes in building games around player-owned economies and has helped develop major franchises including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Marvel Strike Force and Skylanders. Mythical Platform protects gamers that may be new to blockchain through a custodial wallet for their digital items, while allowing advanced players the freedom to link their own wallets via bridges between the Mythical Chain and public mainnets. With its "gamers-first" focus, the Mythical Platform ensures players don't need to dive into the intricacies of blockchain to enjoy ownership of their digital collections and have a great game experience. NFL LAUNCHES INITIATIVE TO INCREASE DIVERSITY IN SPORTS MEDICINE Joint program with NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) and Professional Football Athletic Trainer Society (PFATS) aims to diversify the pipeline in sports medicine, within NFL club medical staffs Program recruits medical students from the four HBCU medical schools for clinical rotations with NFL club medical staffs ATLANTA (May 24, 2022) – The NFL, together with the NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) and the Professional Football Athletic Trainer Society (PFATS), today announced the launch of the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative, which will provide medical students at the four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) medical schools with the opportunity to complete a clinical rotation with NFL club medical staff. This initiative aims to increase and diversify the pipeline of students interested in pursuing careers in sports medicine to help make a positive impact in the field and, over time, help to diversify NFL club medical staff. Medical students interested in primary care sports medicine and/or orthopedic surgery from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Howard University College of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Meharry Medical College will be selected by their respective schools to complete one-month clinical rotations with NFL clubs during the 2022 NFL season. A total of 16 total students will participate in this inaugural season, two students each at eight participating NFL clubs: Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans and Washington Commanders. In 2023, the program will expand to recruit students from additional academic institutions and medical disciplines and place those students with medical staffs at more NFL clubs. A study that examines diversity of the medical student population shows Black medical students comprise only 7.3 percent of the total medical school population in the U.S. – a figure that has risen less than 1 percent over the last 40 years and is far lower than the 13.4 percent Black population in the United States. According to the NFLPS, 86 percent of their membership identify as white, 8 percent identify as Asian, 5 percent identify as Black and 1 percent identify as Hispanic. According to PFATS, 65 percent of their membership identify as white, 23 percent identify as Black, 8 percent identify as Hispanic and 4 percent identify as Asian. "Increasing diversity across every role in our league and at our clubs is essential. Diversity makes us stronger," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "We have an opportunity to help increase the pipeline of diverse sports medicine professionals, which is imperative for us as a league. This initiative is an example of how we can lend our platform for a societal benefit. I'm proud that our league can help inspire the next generation of sports medicine professionals." Through this program, the NFL, NFLPS and PFATS are not only working to diversify NFL club medical staffs, but also to increase health equity for athletes across the country. The importance of diversity and representation on medical care teams is well-established: diverse medical staff can facilitate improved patient outcomes. "We have significant work to do to ensure that the NFLPS membership more closely mirrors the player population we treat every day," said NFLPS President and San Francisco 49ers head team physician Dr. Timothy McAdams. "It begins here – by broadening the pipeline and encouraging medical students from diverse backgrounds to consider the possibilities of a career in sports medicine." The expansion of this pipeline initiative in 2023 will broaden to disciplines beyond primary care sports medicine and orthopedic surgery. Some of the roles that may be included are physician assistants, certified athletic trainers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists and behavioral health clinicians. Additionally, while the inaugural season of this program is focused on providing Black medical students with exposure to careers in sports medicine, the NFL, NFLPS and PFATS will also work toward widening the sports medicine pipeline for other people of color and women in the seasons ahead.  "I greatly look forward to welcoming exceptional HBCU medical students to our medical staff this fall," said Reggie Scott, PFATS President and LA Rams Vice President, Sports Medicine and Performance. "The representation that will come from seeing more people of color treating players on NFL sidelines has the potential to inspire people of color from around the country to pursue careers in sports medicine." During their rotations, students will observe and participate in the care of sports medicine patients in NFL club settings. Students will work directly with and under the supervision of the orthopedic team physicians, primary care team physicians and athletic trainers to gain basic medical knowledge and exposure to patient care in sports medicine. Additionally, students will become familiar with return-to-play guidelines and on-field treatment considerations for NFL players. Students may also have the opportunity to attend home games and be present on the sideline for observation. By the end of the rotation, students will understand the basic elements of all facets of care provided to NFL players from an orthopedic, primary care sports medicine and athletic training perspective.    "This unique collaboration between the HBCU Medical Schools, the NFL, NFL Physicians Society and the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society will provide a potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to experience, learn, and develop sports medicine skills in a real environment with world-class sports teams and sports medicine professionals," noted Dr. Lisa Barkley, the Family Medicine Department Chair at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles who also heads up the university's sports medicine program. "Developing medical professionals from traditionally underrepresented communities is an important, valuable, and notably proactive step towards addressing diversity issues across the field of sports medicine." "HBCUs have a long history of serving the nation's health needs and ensuring the vital pipeline of Black doctors," said Dr. Hugh Mighty, MD, MBA, dean of the College of Medicine and senior vice president of health affairs at Howard University. "We welcome the NFL's contributions to advancing this mission and providing new opportunities for our students." "Morehouse School of Medicine is leading the creation and advancement of health equity, and our mission includes increasing the diversity of the health professional and scientific workforce," said Morehouse School of Medicine President and CEO Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG. "This partnership with the NFL not only opens new doors for MSM students to develop hands-on training in sports medicine, but hopefully will inspire others to seek careers as healthcare professionals in athletics." "We are grateful the NFL is taking measurable steps to diversify the league and specifically recognizes the barriers to opportunity many minority students face in sports medicine career paths," said Dr. James E. K. Hildreth, president and CEO of Meharry Medical College. "Through this partnership, our students will be afforded the opportunity for exposure to a unique field of medicine that will create new meaningful experiences beneficial to their career advancement."  These efforts are part of the league's broader commitment to ensure that staff and leaders in the league office and at NFL clubs reflect the racial and gender makeup of America. Among NFL club medical staffs, the initiative builds on existing efforts to recruit and hire diverse medical staff when positions become available across all roles, and to increase diversity across NFL medical committees. NFL Awards NFL Combine to Indianapolis for 2023 and 2024 ​Indy Retains Marquee Event After 35 Years of Hosting INDIANAPOLIS (May 24, 2022) – At the NFL Spring League Meeting today in Atlanta, Indianapolis was awarded the 2023 and 2024 NFL Combine, continuing the city's proven track record of hosting and growing the marquee event since 1987. This was the first time the NFL put the Combine out for bid, a process similar to the one for other League events including Super Bowl and NFL Draft.  The official bid process for Combine started in December 2021, with proposals due in April 2022. "After close review by our internal team, the Fan Engagement & Major Events Advisory Committee, and the National Invitational Camp staff, Indianapolis remains the best city to host and grow the NFL Combine in 2023 and 2024," said Peter O'Reilly, NFL Executive Vice President of Club Business & League Events. "Indy's vision brings together its long legacy of successfully hosting the Combine and executing the evaluation process, with an exciting focus on innovating and further growing the event from a fan and media perspective."   After hosting for the last 35 years (1987-2022), Visit Indy, the Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium, the City of Indianapolis, IU Health and the Indiana Sports Corp collectively submitted the successful proposal alongside the Indianapolis Colts. "Indy is a city built to host major sporting events, and I'm proud the Combine will continue to stay in our city," said Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts. Taking place in Indy for over three decades, the event has grown immensely – the 2022 NFL Combine generated an estimated $9.6 million in economic impact for the city and was attended by the most fans ever in the history of the event.  "We know many cities want to host the NFL Combine, and we're incredibly appreciative the NFL continues to put its faith in Indy," said Leonard Hoops, president & CEO of Visit Indy. "We are proud so many media, agents, scouts, coaches, and athletes organically called to keep the event here. And after more than three decades of hosting the Combine, our excitement has only grown when it comes to continuing our work with the NFL and the National Invitational Camp to make the event better every year for all those stakeholders as well as the growing number of fans who want to experience it in person." A couple of highlights of Indy's bid include: A new Combine fan experience outside Lucas Oil Stadium for fans to enjoy prior to stepping inside Lucas Oil Stadium to watch the on-field workouts. A new legacy program focused on mental health, led by the Irsay Family and their "Kicking the Stigma" program, benefiting Indy residents. The 2023 NFL Combine will take place Tuesday, February 28 – Monday, March 6. The 2024 NFL Combine will take place Tuesday, February 27 – Monday, March 4. NFL ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL INTERNATIONAL HOME MARKETING AREAS ​ Eagles First NFL Club to Enter Africa; Rams Extend to New Zealand Under the leadership of the International Committee, the NFL announced today that four new International Home Marketing Areas (IHMA) have been approved with the Los Angeles Rams adding New Zealand as their fourth IHMA and the Philadelphia Eagles granted access to Australia, New Zealand, and Ghana – the first NFL club to enter a market in Africa.  The expanded program now includes 19 teams granted access to 30 International Home Marketing Areas across 10 different countries.  The International HMA initiative, which launched in January of this year, grants NFL clubs access to international territories for marketing, fan engagement and commercialization as part of an important, long-term, strategic effort to enable clubs to build their global brands while driving NFL fan growth internationally. "We've seen great momentum since teams began entering their markets earlier this year," said Peter O'Reilly, NFL Executive Vice President, Club Business & League Events.  "From launching social media accounts, to hosting in-market events, to announcing Draft picks from locations around the world, clubs are creating moments to really engage and energize our international fanbase.  We look forward to seeing what the Eagles and Rams have planned for their new markets."  Ten clubs leveraged Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft to highlight their international marketing efforts by announcing picks from iconic locations within their International HMAs. These included Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris announcing a selection from Mexico City, the Miami Dolphins announcing a pick from Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue with Brazilian soccer player Filipe Luis, and teams making selections from international stadiums that will host future NFL games -- the Jacksonville Jaguars from London's Wembley Stadium, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Allianz Arena – Home of FC Bayern Munich, and the Carolina Panthers from Eintracht Frankfurt Stadium. Additionally, several other clubs hosted in-market watch parties, youth football activations and influencer events to build excitement for the NFL Draft in their new markets. The Eagles and Rams can begin to activate in their newly awarded market(s) on June 1, 2022. Australia, New Zealand, and Ghana are key emerging markets for the NFL.  The League recently [/Pages/NFL-APPOINTS-NEW-GENERAL-MANAGERS-TO-LEAD-GROWTH-IN-UK-AND-AUSTRALIA.aspx]appointed Charlotte Offord as General Manager, NFL Australia, to drive business in Australia and New Zealand.  In June, the NFL will host its first events in Africa with a developmental camp and fan event in Ghana.  Full details to be announced at a later date.  Clubs may submit future proposals for International Committee review annually each spring. Club International Home Marketing Areas, by Market MARKET TEAM(S) Australia Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles Brazil Miami Dolphins Canada Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks China Los Angeles Rams Germany Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ghana Philadelphia Eagles Mexico Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers New Zealand Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles Spain Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins United Kingdom Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers   For more from NFL Communication​s, visit NFLCommunications.com and follow @NFL345. HBO Sports, NFL Films and the Arizona Cardinals Join Forces for 'Hard Knocks In Season The Arizona Cardinals' ​ Multi-Episode Primetime Edition Returns For A Second Season   Television's most acclaimed sports reality franchise HARD KNOCKS, which expanded its programming platform last fall with the introduction of a multi-episode, in-season edition, will debut a second presentation when HBO Sports and NFL FILMS team up for HARD KNOCKS IN SEASON: THE ARIZONA CARDINALS this fall for an all-access primetime docuseries on the NFC West contender. The 18-time Emmy®-winning weekly series will deliver its signature all access coverage to document an NFL franchise in-season and in real time, following the Cardinals as they navigate the challenges of an NFL season and battle to return to the post-season. The series will be available on HBO and to stream on HBO Max during the 2022 NFL season beginning in November. HARD KNOCKS IN SEASON debuted last fall with the engaging and eventful drama of the Indianapolis Colts' 2021 regular season journey.  "Last season Hard Knocks made an unprecedented leap, documenting an NFL regular season in real time for the first time ever with the Indianapolis Colts," said Keith Cossrow, NFL Films Vice President and Senior Coordinating Producer. "It was a vivid and illuminating look at the life of an NFL team. This season, we are eager to build on that success and go even further with one of the most exciting teams in the NFL. We can't wait to get to work in Arizona, and we thank Michael Bidwill, Steve Keim, Coach Kingsbury and the entire Cardinals organization for this opportunity." "We're excited to feature the Arizona Cardinals on Hard Knocks during the NFL regular season in the upcoming installment of Hard Knocks In Season," said Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller, Co-Heads Of HBO Documentary & Family Programming. "We couldn't be happier to continue to expand our tremendously successful partnership with the NFL and grow the Hard Knocks experience for our viewers. We're thrilled that the Cardinals will be joining the roster of teams that have graciously invited our audiences into their world." This in-season edition of HARD KNOCKS will be the first appearance for the Cardinals as part of the Hard Knocks franchise, which originally launched in 2001. The preseason edition of Hard Knocks is set to resume with the Detroit Lions of the NFC North being featured on the five-episode run of "Hard Knocks Training Camp," debuting TUESDAY, AUGUST 9. INAUGURAL NFL COACH AND FRONT OFFICE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM SLATED FOR SPRING LEAGUE MEETING MAY 23-24 IN ATLANTA  More than 60 diverse head coach and general manager candidates from all 32 clubs and the League office will come together for leadership development and networking opportunities  As part of the NFL's ongoing commitment to promote greater coach and C-suite level diversity among clubs, the League announced plans today to host its inaugural Coach and Front Office Accelerator on May 23-24 at the Spring League Meeting in Atlanta. The Accelerator will convene more than 60 diverse head coach and general manager prospects from all clubs and the League with ownership representation from all 32 clubs.   The program will provide senior women and minority prospects with leadership development sessions with football operations experts and facilitators, as well as time spent networking directly with club owners. The effort is designed to continue building a diverse hiring pipeline for future head coach and general manager positions throughout the League. Each club nominated rising prospects to participate in the two-day Accelerator. In addition to leadership development and sessions on the business of football, attendees will engage in candid discussions on how to take the next step in becoming a coach or front office executive. "The NFL is committed to diversity and inclusion, and this program is the latest in a series of steps designed to improve our hiring practices and create opportunities for advancement," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "The program helps ensure that clubs receive exposure to high-performing, up-and-coming NFL talent and candidates get a chance to learn the business on a working level from team owners and executives." "I think the Accelerator is some of the most important work the League and our committee will do all year because the potential of the program is exponential," said Owner and Chairman, Blank Family of Businesses Arthur Blank. "It's an unprecedented opportunity for emerging leaders, owners and team leadership to get to know each other better over these two days, and the relationships formed in this setting will be integral to future hiring cycles."   2022 COACH AND FRONT OFFICE ACCELERATOR PARTICIPANTS   NFL League Office: PARTICIPANT NAME POSITION Dawn Aponte SVP, Football Operations & Chief Football Administrative Officer Kevin Boothe Director, Management Council / Labor Operations Kimberly Fields SVP, Football Business Strategy / Football Operations   NFL Clubs:   CLUB PARTICIPANT NAME POSITION Arizona Cardinals Quentin Harris Vice President, Player Personnel ​ Vance Joseph Defensive Coordinator Atlanta Falcons Charles London Quarterbacks Coach ​ Anthony Robinson Director of College Scouting Baltimore Ravens Chris Horton Special Teams Coordinator Buffalo Bills Terrance Gray Assistant Director of Player Personnel ​ Eric Washington Senior Defensive Assistant / Defensive Line Coach Carolina Panthers Jeff Nixon Assistant Head Coach, Offense ​ Samir Suleiman Vice President of Football Administration Chicago Bears Ian Cunningham Assistant General Manager ​ Alan Williams Defensive Coordinator Cincinnati Bengals Trey Brown Scout ​ Troy Walters Wide Receivers Coach Cleveland Browns Glenn Cook Vice President, Player Personnel ​ Joe Woods Defensive Coordinator Dallas Cowboys Chris Vaughn Assistant Director of College Scouting ​ Joe Whitt Jr. Defensive Passing Game Coordinator / Secondary Coach Denver Broncos Ejiro Evero Defensive Coordinator ​ Kelly Kleine Executive Director of Football Operations / Special Advisor to the General Manager Detroit Lions Ray Agnew Assistant General Manager ​ Aaron Glenn Defensive Coordinator Green Bay Packers Jerry Gray Defensive Backs Coach / Passing Game Coordinator ​ Richmond Williams Director of Pro Personnel Houston Texans Pep Hamilton Offensive Coordinator ​ Mozique McCurtis National Scout Indianapolis Colts Marcus Brady Offensive Coordinator ​ Morocco Brown Director of College Scouting Jacksonville Jaguars Mike Caldwell Defensive Coordinator ​ Regis Eller Director of Pro Scouting Kansas City Chiefs Eric Bieniemy Offensive Coordinator ​ Tim Terry Senior Director of Pro Scouting Las Vegas Raiders Dwayne Joseph Director of Pro Personnel Los Angeles Chargers Renaldo Hill Defensive Coordinator ​ JoJo Wooden Director of Player Personnel Los Angeles Rams Thomas Brown Assistant Head Coach / Tight Ends Coach ​ Ray Farmer Senior Personnel Executive Miami Dolphins Marvin Allen Assistant General Manager ​ Jon Embree Assistant Head Coach / Tight Ends Coach Minnesota Vikings Chris Blanco Assistant Director of Pro Scouting ​ Chisom Opara National Scout New England Patriots Steve Cargile Pro Scouting Director ​ DeMarcus Covington Defensive Line Coach New Orleans Saints Khai Harley Vice President of Football Administration ​ Kris Richard Co-Defensive Coordinator / Secondary Coach New York Giants Brandon Brown Assistant General Manager ​ Thomas McGaughey Special Teams Coordinator New York Jets Chad Alexander Director, Player Personnel ​ Ron Middleton Tight Ends Coach Philadelphia Eagles Brian Johnson Quarterbacks Coach ​ Jeff Scott Director of Football Operations Pittsburgh Steelers Frisman Jackson Wide Receivers Coach San Francisco 49ers Ran Carthon Director of Player Personnel Seattle Seahawks Alonzo Highsmith Senior Executive Advisor to the General Manager ​ Kerry Joseph Assistant Quarterbacks Coach Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jacqueline Davidson Director of Football Research ​ Byron Leftwich Offensive Coordinator Tennessee Titans Tony Dews Running Backs Coach ​ Brian Gardner Director of Pro Scouting Washington Commanders Randy Jordan Running Backs Coach ​ Eric Stokes Senior Director of Player Personnel *Participants subject to change   ### Buffalo Bills Foundation and NFL Foundation team up to contribute $400,000 to local response efforts ​ The Buffalo Bills Foundation and NFL Foundation are taking initial steps to help the Buffalo's East Side community heal in the wake of Saturday's targeted attack against the Black community. The foundations are combining to donate $400,000 to support the community in the wake of this horrific hate crime. A combined $200,0000 will go to the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund. This new fund is a collaborative philanthropic effort across the region that will address the immediate and long-term needs in our community, including systemic issues that have marginalized communities of color. "On behalf of the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund, we are most grateful for the generous contributions from the Buffalo Bills Foundation and the National Football League Foundation that will allow us to create real change and emerge from the darkness of this heinous act," said Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker, President and CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. "This Fund is a partnership to build upon the collective desire to take action and to work together as a community to address immediate needs, long-term rebuilding and systemic issues that continue to marginalize communities of color." The other $200,000 will be donated directly from the Buffalo Bills Foundation to various nonprofits working on the emergency response efforts to address the immediate needs of Buffalo's East Side residents. As an example of one of these efforts, we have partnered with Buffalo Go Green, African Heritage Food Co-op, the Resource Council of WNY, and UB Food Lab to arrange home food deliveries to those unable to come to a food distribution site. This is just the beginning of the efforts of the Buffalo Bills and we are committed to doing more for the community as the days and weeks go by. To find more ways to get involved and provide support to those in need in our community, click here.