An NFL owner’s foundation has committed to investing in one of Alabama’s fastest-growing high school sports.

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has provided grants to 10 Alabama high schools to start a flag football program, the organization announced Friday.

Arthur Blank has partnered with the Atlanta Falcons, which he serves as owner, to provide grants to the 10 Alabama high schools across the state.

In addition, the Atlanta Falcons will host a free girls flag football clinic on Saturday at Legion Field from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Birmingham. Registraion can be found on atlantafalcons.com/girls-flag-football.

Schools being given grants to start flag football programs include:

Alabama Christian Academy (Montgomery)

American Christian Academy (Tuscaloosa)

Athens High School (Athens)

Chickasaw High School (Chickasaw)

Elmore County High School (Eclectic)

I3 Academy High School (Birmingham)

Linden High School (Linden)

Saraland High School (Saraland)

St. John Paul II High School (Huntsville)

Talladega High School (Talladega)

This marks another donation from the Atlanta Falcons, which aided in growing flag football from the start in Alabama.

The 2024-25 championship season marked the first that flag football was an AHSAA fully sanctioned sport. Central-Phenix City claimed the Class 6A-7A title, while Montgomery Catholic won in Class 1A-5A.

Central-Phenix City was also named the consensus flag football national champion last season, according to NFL Flag.

Flag football launched in Alabama high schools for the 2021 season, with Hewitt-Trussville winning the first championship.