PEANUT RAISING FLAG IN RETIREMENT

The perception of flag football has changed massively over the last few years, from a version of the game played mostly by children to a sport heavily backed by the NFL itself. And, with the future of the game set to include the Olympic Games, Chicago Bears legend Charles ‘Peanut’ Tilman believes the sky is the limit.

Tillman, who played 13 seasons in the NFL, with the first 12 as a member of the Bears, was the latest Windy City alum to visit the UK as part of the team’s NFL Girls Flag Football League, the third year in a row that the Bears have brought the competition to the UK, and the second that Tillman has been involved. The league is a continuation of the Bears’ expansion across the United Kingdom, where they have marketing rights through the NFL’s Global Markets Programme.

“Flag football has really taken off in the US in the last few years” Tillman told Gridiron during the competition “And the UK has been really receptive towards the Bears in allowing us to come back for a number of years.”

Tillman was in Birmingham on Friday, where approximately 200 girls aged between 12-14 took part in clinics, learning all about the game of American football. The participants came with varied levels of experience, and Tillman, fellow host Phoebe Schecter and the coaches involved passed on their knowledge of the game to teach the fundamentals and more.

“The clinics give the ladies a different perspective on what they know, or think they know, about American football,” Tillman continued. “We were out there today, explaining plays, running routes… all the little things (Americans) do that we take for granted, but that these ladies have never heard before. But, as the day goes on, they get better and better and better. That transformation is really nice to see.”

Tillman credits the NFL for their role in the growth of flag football, giving the game the support it needs to become mainstream globally, and notes the excellent partnership between the NFL and the UK in helping the game of football, both flag and tackle, flourish.

“Brits really like American football!” he laughed. “They may not like it as much as Americans, but they sign up (for the UK games) and they look forward to us coming over here. I think that’s really cool.”

Flag football is scheduled to be included as an event at the 2028 Olympic Games, hosted by Los Angeles, and Tillman thinks its inclusion is ‘beautiful’.

“Men can play; women can play — it’s another avenue for people to play the game,” he reasoned. “And now they can take that talent and play for a gold medal.”

This year saw the Bears relaunch the league in new boroughs in South London, with 250 girls aged 12-14 taking part across ten weeks. In a thrilling Championship game, Lilian Baylis defeated Dunraven with a walk-off touchdown in overtime to claim the title, with Tillman and Schecter leading a trophy presentation during which the winning team receiving Chicago Bears NFL Girls Flag Football Championship Rings.

“It has been wonderful watching the young girls grow over the last eight weeks, both in terms of their prowess on the pitch and the community they’ve formed,” Schecter noted. “They have developed skills and confidence across the competition, and today has been a perfect celebration of all the girls’ efforts.”

Tillman’s time in the UK culminated with a stop in Liverpool, where the Bears hosted their second series of ‘Mini Monsters Clinics’, this time in partnership with Everton Football Club’s official charity, Everton in the Community.

The clinics, which are designed to provide children aged 7-12 with their first experience of American football, were hosted over two days at Jeffrey Humble Leisure United with over 600 children from 14 local schools in attendance, and Tillman leading four 90-minute sessions alongside Everton in the Community staff and Chicago Bears coaches. The clinics were followed by evening coaching sessions for local PE teachers and sports coaches, who were offered practical experience on how to coach American football drills and ensure the initiative’s lasting impact.

The Bears used these sessions to highlight the importance of community sport in promoting youth development and healthy lifestyles. The programme stresses the importance of healthy eating, physical activity and proper hydration through fun, non-contact football drills.

This was the second time the Mini Monsters Clinics have touched down in Liverpool following a successful visit in 2023 while, earlier in the year, the Bears strengthened their ties in the North West region by expanding their Manchester Girls Flag Football League – the first ever girls-only league of its kind in the North West of England – to accommodate over 250 participants.

“As we return to Liverpool, we’re proud to celebrate the meaningful relationships we’ve built across local communities — a commitment we’re now deepening through our new partnership with Everton in the Community,” Tanya Dressen, SVP of Strategy and Global Affairs for the Bears, said. “Together we are inspiring young people to play, watch and become members of the Bears family.

“These programmes are about more than just football. With each event, we’re offering young people the chance to create lasting memories, form new friendships and develop valuable skills. Whether through our Mini Monsters clinics, or in our ever-growing flag football leagues, we are committed to growing American football at a grassroots level. And, by welcoming as many new UK-based fans into the Bears family as possible, we look forward to reflecting our core values of community in all our initiatives.”

As part of the trip, Tillman spent time with Everton legend Peter Reid, touring both Goodison Park and the brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium, as well as meeting fans and staff from the club. Everton’s links with Chicago will also see The Toffees play at the Bears’ iconic Soldier Field Stadium this July, when they face West Ham United as part of the Premier League Summer Series.