NFL Stars Boost Flag Football Ahead of Olympic Debut
IslandStats.com
The Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) partnered with professional American footballers for a two-hour flag football programme at the National Sports Center, marking a significant step in developing the sport on the island as it prepares for its Olympic debut.
Flag Football is set to make a historic appearance at the LA28 Olympic Games, highlighting its rapid global growth and increasing prominence.
A group of visiting National Football League (NFL) players, including New York Jets quarterbacks Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor, led the training sessions. They were accompanied by top U.S. quarterback coach Quincy Avery and manager David Leeks, a founding member of Golf Links Golf.
The NFL stars and coaches worked closely with local players, focusing on improving their awareness and skills in the non-contact format of American Football. In flag football, the offense aims to score by advancing the ball down the field through passing and running, while the defense tries to stop their opponent by removing one of three flags hanging from the player's waist – rather than tackling.
This high-profile initiative underscores Bermuda's commitment to supporting emerging sports and leveraging its infrastructure to become a training and competition destination. The presence of NFL talent provides invaluable expertise and inspiration to the local flag football community, fostering growth as the sport builds towards its Olympic moment.
Thursday, June 12, 2025
NFL Quarterbacks Visiting Bermuda for Flag Football Training
Justin Fields
IslandStats.com
The Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) has partnered with professional American footballers for a flag football programme, expanding beyond its traditional focus on sailing, golf, tennis and endurance events.
This weekend, a group of visiting National Football League (NFL) players — including quarterbacks Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor of the New York Jets — will conduct training sessions in Bermuda alongside top U.S. quarterback coach Quincy Avery and manager David Leeks, founding member of the Golf Links Golf.
The group will be on the island for four days.
Members of the public are invited to attend an open training session:
Sunday, June 15th from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m at the National Sports Center – North Field.
The players will offer introductions and brief remarks during the Sunday session.
Youth and families are especially encouraged to attend.
The visit supports the year-round and teams-and-groups pillars of the National Tourism Plan, while also contributing to efforts to attract a broader and more diverse group of visitors through emerging sports sectors.
Bermuda’s established sports infrastructure — including venues that meet international compliance standards — has enabled the island to successfully host major international sporting events.
These capabilities strengthen its positioning as a training and competition destination for emerging global sports such as flag football.
Flag football has experienced significant growth in recent years. According to the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), 2.4 million children under the age of 17 are currently playing organised flag football in the United States, with millions more participating globally. IFAF, the global governing body for the sport, oversees its development, performance and competitive standards across 74 national member federations.
IFAF expects flag football to surpass tackle football in global participation in the coming years. Since 2002, the organisation has hosted men’s and women’s world championships in flag football, now held biennially. In 2022, the NFL and IFAF also launched the Global Flag Football Ambassadors programme, aimed at increasing international awareness and growth of the sport. Capping this rise in global prominence, flag football is set to make its Olympic debut in 2028.
A larger flag football event is currently in development for March 2026, which aims to bring additional international athletes to Bermuda and further integrate the sport into the island’s tourism strategy. Further details about the 2026 event will be shared in due course.
Tuesday, January 07, 2025
Raiders Part Ways with Head Coach Antonio Pierce
IslandStats.com
The Las Vegas Raiders have joined the growing list of NFL teams seeking a new head coach after announcing the dismissal of Antonio Pierce on Tuesday.
Despite initial optimism and a promising end to the 2023 season, Pierce's tenure ultimately fell short of expectations. The Raiders released a statement expressing gratitude for his efforts:
"We appreciate Antonio's leadership, first as an interim head coach and this past season as the head coach. Antonio grew up a Raiders fan and his Silver and Black roots run deep. We are grateful for his ability to reignite what it means to be a Raider throughout the entire organization. We wish nothing but the best for Antonio and his family in the future."
This move marks the third head coaching change for the Raiders in four years, highlighting the ongoing instability within the franchise.
So, why did the Raiders fire Pierce?
While Pierce initially impressed with a 5-4 finish to the 2023 season, including a strong showing against divisional rivals, the team regressed in 2024. A winless record against the AFC West and a dismal overall record of 9-17 across his 26 games in charge sealed his fate.
The Raiders' offensive struggles proved a major contributing factor. Despite midseason coaching changes and the emergence of rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who shattered NFL records for receptions and receiving yards, the offense sputtered. They ranked among the league's worst in scoring, rushing, and turnovers.
The mid-October trade of star wide receiver Davante Adams to the New York Jets further depleted the offensive firepower, leaving the team with limited options.
With the likes of Chicago, New England, the New York Jets, Jacksonville, and New Orleans also searching for new head coaches, the Raiders face stiff competition to attract a top candidate. The pressure is on to find the right leader to steer the franchise back to winning ways.
Sunday, December 29, 2024
Pierce's Squad Controls Clock, in 25-10 Victory Over Saints
IslandStats.com
Antonio Pierce has his Las Vegas Raiders rolling. Riding high after their second consecutive victory, a convincing 25-10 triumph over the New Orleans Saints, the Raiders are embracing an "us against the world" mentality as they close out the 2024 season.
This latest win, fueled by a dominant ground game and stifling defense, showcased the Raiders' commitment to Pierce's vision. They controlled the clock, dominating time of possession by over 15 minutes, and executed efficiently on third down, converting 10 of 18 attempts while holding the Saints to a dismal 1 of 10.
"Did everything we talked about – control the line of scrimmage, time of possession, not turning the ball over," Pierce said after the game. "The running game, I thought we were very efficient, especially on third down."
This marked the second straight game without a turnover for the Raiders, a testament to their focus and discipline. The defense, meanwhile, shut out the Saints in the second half, demonstrating their ability to make adjustments and stifle opposing offenses.
Pierce praised his team's resilience and unwavering belief in one another. "Don't blink, they don't flinch. They just go out there and play. They love one another and you can tell obviously they like playing the game of football."
The Raiders' emphasis on third down and red zone efficiency has been a key factor in their recent success. "Between red zone third down back from OTAs and spring ball, that's all we worked on," Pierce explained. "That's something we work on each and every week. The more and more you keep a defense on the field late in the season, you get the points and scores you were getting, especially offensively."
With their playoff hopes still alive, the Raiders are playing with a renewed sense of purpose and confidence. They're not concerned with proving anything to anyone outside their locker room, focusing instead on their internal goals and the bond that unites them. This "us against the world" mentality, combined with their commitment to Pierce's coaching philosophy, has the Raiders firing on all cylinders as they head into the final stretch of the season.
Sunday, December 22, 2024
Pierce’s Raiders Snap Losing Streak
IslandStats.com
The Las Vegas Raiders finally tasted victory, snapping a brutal 10-game losing streak with a gritty 19-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But while Raiders fans celebrated the end of their misery, a dark cloud hung over the Silver and Black: their draft position. The win dropped Las Vegas from the coveted No. 2 pick to No. 6 in the upcoming NFL Draft. Talk about a bittersweet victory!
"We're here to win games," declared head coach Antonio Pierce after the game. "But yeah, that draft position...it stings a little."
On the field, it was a defensive slugfest with rookie tight end Brock Bowers emerging as the offensive star. Bowers hauled in 11 catches for 99 yards, inching closer to a slew of rookie records.
The Raiders defense, often a punching bag this season, delivered a season-best performance, holding the Jags to a measly 14 points. After clinging to a 13-7 lead for most of the game, they weathered a late surge by Jacksonville, responding with a clutch 10-play, 70-yard touchdown drive to seal the deal.
