North Gwinnett News

A new 30-foot wall display inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium dedicated to trailblazers of high school girls’ flag football, was unveiled by the Atlanta Falcons this week.

Rich McKay, CEO and president of the Atlanta Falcons, said in a May 12 press release, the franchise is saluting the rise of high school girls' football across Georgia.

"Last night's celebration of the evolution of high school girls flag football in Georgia was very special," McKay said in the release. "To be able to see what started in one county cover six counties and then an entire state is remarkable. It's a testament to the coordinated efforts of many. The fact that we can expand the game and give girls the opportunity to play in high school is incredible because football is the ultimate team sport."

The wall was unveiled during a private event that included nearly 200 female flag football players and coaches, as well as representatives from the NFL, the city of Atlanta, the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), the Falcons and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the release stated.

This comes as the franchise and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation have worked in partnership with the GHSA and local high school athletic directors, coaches and players over the past six years to elevate girls' flag football to be a sanctioned sport in the state, according to the release.

The wall unveiling May 11 saw the culmination of efforts by the GHSA and the Blank Family Foundation as Georgia became the fourth state to offer girls’ flag football as an officially sanctioned sport in 2020, the release stated.