New York Jets and Palace for Life Join Forces to Grow Girls' Sport in South London

$100,000 grant from the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation will provide equipment and training for eight new schools growing the league to include 40 schools and over 450 participants.

New York Jets are expanding their NFL Jets Girls Flag League London through a partnership with Palace for Life.

Flag football is the non-contact version of American football, it is exciting and accessible, and the League aims to increase access and participation to sport.

To view photos and video from the event, please click here.

LONDON, Oct. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York Jets and Palace for Life, the official charity of Crystal Palace Football Club, today announced a new partnership which sees the Jets NFL Girls Flag League expand in London. At the direction of Woody Johnson and supported by a $100,000 grant from the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation, the Girls Flag League will expand to eight schools in the Crystal Palace area.

Woody Johnson, New York Jets Chairman, and Partner and Director of the Crystal Palace FC Club, said: "Sports have the power to bring people together, build confidence and create opportunities for young people. Through the Jets, Crystal Palace and Palace for Life, we can make sure more girls have the opportunity to participate, compete and be part of a team. We've seen how quickly girls flag football has grown, and we're proud to continue expanding our efforts internationally and creating new pathways for young women in South London and beyond."

To kick off the partnership, 90 representatives from the eight schools visited the Crystal Palace Academy for a special clinic hosted by the New York Jets. They all tried flag football for the first time and experienced the exciting, fun and accessible nature of the sport.

The attendees and their teachers will use their training to prepare for the wider league kick-off in the Spring 2027, growing the Jets London League to over 40 schools and 450+ girls. The League is the first of its kind in London and is designed to increase girls' access to and participation in sports through flag football.

Working with its existing network, Palace for Life identified eight local schools to join the league: Orchard Park, Langley Park School for Girls, Sedgehill Academy, Orion Eden Park, Hayes Park, Carshalton High School for Girls, Orion Ravensbourne, and La Retraite. Each school will receive Jets NFL Girls Flag League uniforms, practice jerseys and flag football equipment, as well as travel support to help pupils take part in games.

Mike Summers, Palace for Life CEO, said, "At Palace for Life, we use the power of sport to engage young people and help them find new opportunities. I'm delighted we're working with the New York Jets over the next year to introduce girls across south London schools to flag football, a non-contact version of American football. Offering something different from our usual football activities (soccer, as our new partners would say!) could inspire girls we might otherwise miss, helping them develop teamwork, leadership and resilience. With its Olympic debut at LA 2028 ahead, it's an exciting time to get involved. The partnership also celebrates the link between Crystal Palace FC and the Jets through our shared owner, Woody Johnson. A huge thank you to the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation for making this possible."

The initiative is of huge importance to the Jets, with the organisation's collective investment in Girls Flag football activities in London and Dublin now surpassing $1.5 million. The event was overseen by the Jets Flag Elite Team, the official girls flag football club travel team, another initiative brought from the US to the UK to provide a pathway for girls in London to elite level sport.

Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with over 20 million players across 100 countries, where women and girls are driving the fastest growth. The sport will officially be included in the LA 2028 Olympic Games, led by the efforts of the International Federation of American Football and supported by the NFL.

U.K. fans can stay updated on the latest news about the New York Jets and hear about their upcoming activities by visiting www.nyjetsinternational.com. Follow them on social platforms, @NYJetsinUKandIE on X and @newyorkjetsinuk on Instagram for more information.

About Betty Wold Johnson Foundation

The Betty Wold Johnson Foundation is dedicated to honoring the enduring legacy of Betty Wold Johnson — a visionary philanthropist and beloved matriarch of the Johnson family. Guided by her deep compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the dignity of every individual, the Foundation supports initiatives that uplift communities and foster lasting impact across education, public service, arts and sports.

Rooted in Betty Wold Johnson's lifelong commitment to civic responsibility and the American experience, the Foundation champions access to essential resources such as food, shelter, education, and employment. It invests in innovative programs, scientific research, and cultural institutions that enrich the spirit and strengthen the fabric of society.

From her historic $11 million gift to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center — the largest individual donation in its history — to her steadfast support of the Liberty Science Center, McCarter Theatre, Princeton Hospital, and the Lupus Research Alliance, Ms. Johnson's philanthropy was as bold as it was personal. Her legacy is one of generosity, grace, and a belief that every life is worthy of dignity and opportunity. 

The Foundation continues her work with thoughtful stewardship, cost-effective giving, and a commitment to reaching the greatest number of people with every dollar donated.

About New York Jets

The New York Jets were founded in 1959 as the New York Titans and served as a charter member of the American Football League. Following the 1968 season, the team made history by becoming the first AFL franchise to win a world championship, defeating the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III - a victory widely credited with validating the AFL ahead of its 1970 merger with the NFL. Today, as one of the league's flagship franchises in the nation's largest media market, the Jets represent the sport on one of its biggest global stages.

The Jets enhance the fan experience through innovation and storytelling, including 1JD Entertainment, a digital content platform that connects fans across social and digital channels. The organization is also committed to community impact, supporting youth football, girls' and women's flag football, and programs serving disadvantaged communities throughout the tri-state area.

The Jets play at MetLife Stadium, one of the world's most successful multi use venues, and are headquartered at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, New Jersey.

About New York Jets and flag football

The Jets support for Girls Flag Football began in 2011 with the launch of a league with the PSAL in New York City, becoming the first NFL Club to help launch Girls Flag Football at the varsity level. A decade later, in 2021, the Jets and Nike launched the first High School Girls Flag Football League in New Jersey. Launched with the intention of providing girls an equitable opportunity to play football compared to their male counterpart, the long-term goal of the Jets support was to have the sport adopted as an official high school statewide championship sport, which officially came to fruition last spring in New York and is imminent for New Jersey. In 2023, the Jets launched the first-ever NFL supported girls flag football league in the UK. The league started with 12 teams and has since expanded to 40 for the upcoming Spring season throughout the greater London area. Since 2011, the Jets have committed over $3.5 million to support Girls Flag and create opportunities for girls in football. In total, the Jets will support over 250 Girls Flag Football programs, both domestically and internationally, and over 7,000 participants in 2025.

About Palace for Life

Palace for Life is the official charity of Crystal Palace Football Club and has worked across South London for over 30 years. We use the power and pull of Crystal Palace F.C. to improve lives and strengthen communities, focusing on young people who need us most.

Each year, our coaches and mentors support more than 18,000 young people through education, employability, mentoring and physical activity programs. We focus on areas of deprivation, delivering free sport and community sessions alongside pastoral support that builds confidence, resilience and essential life skills.

We provide specialist one-to-one mentoring for those facing mental health challenges, and for young people in or at risk of entering the justice system and our employability programs create clear pathways into education, training and work.

Through our programs in and outside of football, we aim to strengthen ties between the club and its community, help grow its supporter base and offer talented footballers a path to the Crystal Palace boys' or girls' academies.

Palace for Life is a registered charity (No. 1125878).

SOURCE New York Jets