NFL Panthers owners’ $2.5M fuels varsity girls flag football expansion across the Carolinas

David and Nicole Tepper, owners of the NFL Carolina Panthers, through their foundation, have awarded $1 million to expand girls’ high school flag football across North and South Carolina, boosting their recent investment in the sport to $2.5 million. The funding, made in partnership with the Panthers, supports the rapid growth of varsity girls’ flag football following its official sanctioning by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Since launching a pilot program in 2022, more than 100 schools have adopted the sport. The investment is intended to increase athletic access for girls, strengthen pathways into collegiate and professional football careers, and broaden female participation in the sport across the region.