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NFL Way to Play Youth Awards

The weekly NFL Way to Play awards celebrate the best examples of playing technique from high school and NFL FLAG players.

Get in the Running

Know a high school player who uses exceptional technique to make impactful plays? Nominate them for the NFL Way to Play High School Award. You can find links for the NFL FLAG and NFL Canada awards below.

Nominate a Player

The NFL Way to Play youth awards recognize the excellence demonstrated by youth players who exemplify proper technique to make impactful plays.

Through this initiative, and in partnership with Hudl and NFL FLAG, players will be honored each week during the regular NFL season for demonstrating exceptional in-game playing technique.

Beginning in the 2021 season, the NFL Way to Play High School Award expanded to include the NFL Canada Way to Play Award and an NFL FLAG Player of the Week

NFL Way to Play High School Award

The NFL Way to Play High School Award is featured nationally on Thursdays on NFL Network's Good Morning Football, and the school of each honoree will receive a $3,000 equipment grant through USA Football or MVP Robotics’ Mobile Virtual Player.

A panel of representatives from the NFL Football Operations Department selects the player who most positively impacted the game through proper technique:

  • Phil Bogle – 2-year NFL guard, Director of Game Operations
  • Kevin Boothe – 9-year NFL offensive lineman, Director of Labor Operations, Management Council
  • Jay Manahan – Director of Player Communications
  • Jon Runyan – 14-year NFL offensive tackle, Vice President of Policy and Rules Administration
  • Bobby Taylor – 10-year NFL cornerback, Strategic Advisor for Football Development
  • Troy Vincent – 15-year NFL cornerback, Executive Vice President of Football Operations

Click here to nominate a player for the NFL Way to Play High School Award.

High School Award Recipients

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2022 Way to Play High School Award Week 18 – Colton Moore

2022 Way to Play High School Award Week 16 – Byron Hatch

2022 Way to Play High School Award Week 15 – Augustin Nyembo

NFL FLAG Player of the Week

As an introduction to the NFL Way to Play, the NFL is recognizing one NFL FLAG player each week for demonstrating proper playing technique. Developing proper playing technique and good habits at the NFL FLAG level prepares players to excel in FLAG or make the transition to tackle. Players are evaluated on flag pulling, rushing, footwork, discipline and vision. 

The NFL FLAG Player of the Week will be featured nationally on Thursdays on NFL Network's Good Morning Football in tandem with the High School Award. The NFL FLAG organization of each honoree will receive a $3,000 equipment grant.

A panel of representatives from the NFL and NFL FLAG selects the weekly award winner:

  • Izell Reese – NFL FLAG Executive Director and NFL Legend
  • Bobby Taylor – 10-year NFL cornerback, Strategic Advisor for Football Development
  • Phoebe Schecter – NFL FLAG Ambassador, Former Buffalo Bills Assistant Coach
  • Matt Reimel – NFL FLAG Tournament Director
  • Desiree Abrams – NFL FLAG Ambassador, Football Official

Click here to nominate a player for the NFL FLAG Player of the Week award.

NFL FLAG Player of the Week Recipients

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2022 NFL FLAG Player of the Week – Luke Bayro

2022 NFL FLAG Player of the Week – Nigel Vincente

2022 NFL FLAG Player of the Week – Zhamar Pie

NFL Canada Way to Play High School Award

NFL Canada will recognize an NFL Way to Play High School Award winner every Sunday for 10 weeks (Sept. 18-Nov. 20). The award recipient will be announced on CTV via Bell Media, and the school of each honoree will receive a $3,000 equipment grant. 

A panel of representatives from the NFL Canada Football Development Committee selects the player who most positively impacted the game through proper technique:

  • Aaron Geisler – Executive Director, Ontario Football 
  • Davis Sanchez – NFL and CFL game analyst on TSN, three-time Grey Cup champion
  • Gord Grace – President, OUA
  • Mark Harrison – High school football coach
  • Karen Ouellette – Executive Director, Football Nova Scotia
  • Mike Thomas – Director of Operations, Football Saskatchewan and League Convenor, RYFFL
  • Saadia Ashraf – QB Coach, Team Canada

Click here to nominate a player for the NFL Canada Way to Play High School Award.

NFL Canada Award Recipients

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2022 NFL Canada Way to Play Award Week 9 – Teigan Sattler

2022 NFL Canada Way to Play Award Week 8 – Kareem Mohammed

2022 NFL Canada Way to Play Award Week 7 – Damian Chmielinski

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