KANSAS — Donovan spoke with Ari Wolfe and Trent Green during a recent preseason game visit to the KSHB booth. He discussed the collaborative effort required to bring the sport to the state's high schools.

"Yeah, it's exciting. So many people worked so hard in Kansas to get it sanctioned. There are a ton of girls playing flag football in high school this year in the state of Kansas because of the work everyone did together. It's really exciting to be a part of this program and watch it grow from the beginning. It's another example of how the Chiefs, as an organization, work so closely with the NFL," Donovan said.

The Kansas City Chiefs released the 'Let Her Play' video campaign to promote the cause. The campaign featured famous fans and current players, including head coach Andy Reid.

The 'Let Her Play' video campaign called on the public to support a petition. More than 11,000 individuals signed the petition urging Kansas leaders to expand access and opportunity for girls.

Donovan outlined the broader strategy behind the local push. "The NFL has a very focused effort to grow flag football. It's a great opportunity to grow internationally. It's a great opportunity for the fan base, girls and boys, and families. We follow that lead, and we got really aggressive with it in the state of Kansas. We are all working in Missouri, and we're about a year away from getting it sanctioned there, hopefully. It's just been great to be a part of it and watch it grow," he said.

Why It Matters

Kansas is the 18th state in the United States to sanction girls' flag football at the high school level. The decision follows a coordinated effort by the Kansas City Chiefs, a National Football League franchise in Kansas City, Missouri, to align with league-wide growth initiatives. The organization utilized its platform to gather public support through digital campaigns and petitions.

The implementation of the sport involves multiple educational institutions across the region. Maize South High School is a high school in Kansas, United States, that hosted early competitive events. The schedule includes a full slate of games beginning next week, reflecting the immediate adoption of the new sanctioning status by local schools.

Timeline

Eleven teams convened at Maize South High School on Wednesday night for a jamboree. The teams participating in the exhibition included Maize South, Maize, Wichita North, Wichita Southeast, Wichita Northwest, Wichita East, Wichita Heights, Bishop Carroll, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Derby and Campus high schools.

What's New

Additional reporting confirms specific details regarding the governance and scheduling of the new sport. The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) voted 61-1 to sanction girls flag football as an official high school sport on April 23, 2026.

Recent activity shows the rapid transition from approval to competition. Eleven teams convened at Maize South High School on Wednesday night for a jamboree. The first day of the regular season kicks off next Wednesday with 29 games.