Pittsboro, NC – NFL FLAG Flag Football Elite, a nonprofit youth flag football league founded by former elite and professional athletes Cedric Peerman and Dr. Hagar Elgendy, has been invited to participate in the 2026 NFL FLAG National Championships Presented by Toyota, one of the premier national championship events in youth flag football. The League will be the only League from the state of North Carolina represented at this year’s national championship event.
The 2026 NFL FLAG Championships will bring together top youth flag football teams from across the country, along with international teams representing 12 countries, for a national and global showcase of the sport’s growth, talent, and future. Select championship competition will be televised and streamed across ESPN and Disney+ platforms, giving athletes the opportunity to compete on a national stage and be part of one of the most visible youth flag football events in the country.
For NFL FLAG Flag Football Elite, this invitation represents a major milestone not only for the league, but for the athletes and families it serves across Chatham County, Chapel Hill, Durham, the greater Triangle region, and now the state of North Carolina.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our athletes to see what is possible,” said Cedric Peerman, co-founder of NFL FLAG Flag Football Elite, former 9 year NFL player, NFL 5 year Team Captain, Pro Bowler, and current UNC Football Team Chaplain. “Our goal has always been to create meaningful opportunities for kids in this region — opportunities to compete, grow, be seen, and represent their community with pride. To have our players invited to the national championship stage, and to represent North Carolina as the only team from the state, is a blessing and a reflection of the hard work of our athletes, coaches, and families.”
Founded last year, NFL FLAG Flag Football Elite has quickly grown into one of the region’s most active youth flag football programs, serving approximately 2,000 athletes across seasonal leagues, travel programming, skills development, and community-based initiatives. As a nonprofit, the league remains deeply committed to access and opportunity, with more than 20% scholarship participation to help reduce financial barriers for families and ensure that cost is not the reason a child cannot play.
Beyond competition, NFL FLAG Flag Football Elite is committed to developing the whole athlete. The league integrates mental toughness sessions, nutrition education, leadership development, and guest speakers from professional and elite athletic backgrounds to help young athletes understand what is possible beyond their current environment. Through these experiences, athletes are encouraged to dream bigger, train with purpose, and see themselves as capable of competing at the highest levels.
“Our mission has never been just about football,” said Dr. Hagar Elgendy, co-founder of NFL FLAG Flag Football Elite, former Division I athlete and Team Egypt swimmer. “It is about building confidence, creating safe spaces for children to compete, developing leaders, and opening doors for athletes who may not otherwise have access to these types of opportunities. As former athletes ourselves, we know how powerful sport can be in changing the trajectory of a young person’s life.”
The league’s long-term aim is to help athletes from the Triangle region be seen on a national level, opening doors for future opportunities in high school, college athletics, and potentially one day representing Team USA in flag football as the sport continues to grow nationally and internationally.
The NFL FLAG Championships highlight the rapid growth of flag football across the United States and around the world. With teams from across the country and international markets representing 12 countries, the event serves as one of the largest stages in youth flag football and reflects the sport’s growing global reach.
NFL FLAG Flag Football Elite’s participation underscores the league’s commitment to bringing high-level youth sports opportunities to local athletes while continuing to invest in the communities it serves.
“This is bigger than one tournament,” Peerman added. “It is a chance for our athletes to understand that where they come from belongs on the national stage. Chatham County, Chapel Hill, Durham, the Triangle, and the state of North Carolina have incredible kids, families, and coaches — and we are honored to help represent them.”
Additional details regarding team participation, athlete commitments, travel, and community support opportunities will be shared in the coming days.
About NFL FLAG Flag Football Elite
NFL FLAG Flag Football Elite is a nonprofit youth flag football league serving athletes and families across Chatham County, Chapel Hill, Durham, and the greater Triangle region. Founded by NFL Experience, Cedric Peerman and Dr. Hagar Elgendy, the league is committed to providing safe, accessible, and high-quality youth sports programming that develops the whole athlete — physically, mentally, and personally. Since launching last year, the league has served approximately 2,000 players and continues to prioritize scholarship access, coach development, player safety, mental toughness, nutrition education, leadership, and regional opportunity.