USA FOOTBALL ADDS PRO & GLOBAL FOOTBALL EXPERTISE WITH SENIOR ADVISOR SAM RAPOPORT
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. – USA Football, the National Governing Body of American football in the United States and the organization responsible for selecting, training and leading the U.S. National Teams that represent the U.S. in international competition, including when flag football makes its debut in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, has named Sam Rapoport as Senior Advisor.
Rapoport, a long-time NFL league office executive known for her work behind the league’s gender equity movement, brings her expertise to USA Football at a critical time with flag football’s Olympic debut on the horizon and the game’s popularity exploding both domestically and across the globe, especially for girls and women.
High school girls’ flag football is now sanctioned as a varsity sport in 15 states, and many more states have pilot programs progressing toward the goal of becoming a varsity sport. College scholarship opportunities and a women’s flag football national championship already exist for National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) programs. The NCAA is exploring flag football as part of its “Emerging Sports for Women” program. In the past 10 years (2015-24), flag participation among girls ages 6-17 increased 57%, with more than 267,000 girls in that age range playing the sport in 2024.
With more than 20 years of experience in football – both as a player and executive – Rapoport has been instrumental in defining the future of football for girls and women. She created the groundbreaking NFL Women’s Forum, a forward-thinking movement that has transformed the NFL’s hiring landscape. In just a few short years, the NFL has gone from zero to 15 full-time female coaches and scouting roles for women across all 32 teams—a groundbreaking shift that has sparked replication across Major League Baseball, the Canadian Football League and beyond. The NFL now has more women in coaching roles than any other male professional sports league in the world.
“Sam joining our team couldn’t come at a better time for USA Football. She will be critical to our efforts as we bring Team USA Flag Football to the Olympics in 2028,” said USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck. “Sam’s impact on the game and efforts to create more opportunities for girls and women are unquestionable. Her expertise and leadership will be essential as we work to lead, strengthen and grow the sport for everyone. We’re thrilled to have Sam join us for this exciting journey.”
Rapoport’s trailblazing work has earned her a place among Sports Illustrated’s Most Powerful Women in Sports, Fortune’s 40 Under 40, and People Magazine’s 25 Women Changing the World. She is a recipient of the Sports Business Journal Game Changer Award and has appeared on major media platforms like The TODAY Show, Good Morning America, CNN and The Pat McAfee Show.
Prior to spending the last decade with the NFL (2016-2025), Rapoport spent nearly six years (2010-2016) with USA Football, leading the NFL FLAG program and U.S. National Teams. She created the USA Football-NFL Girls Flag Program as well as the Women's World Football Games – an annual event that brought the world of women's tackle football together on one field for a week-long competition and celebration.
Rapoport is a former football quarterback, playing flag and tackle disciplines her whole life. She previously led Team Canada to an international championship.
“I know first-hand the impact that football can have on and off the field and have dedicated my entire life to sharing that with others,” said Rapoport. “I’m thrilled to be working with USA Football again at such a critical time for the sport’s growth, especially with the increasing opportunities for girls and women. As the National Governing Body, USA Football has an incredibly rare opportunity to shape the game’s future, and I’m honored to play a part in those efforts.”
A graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Rapoport began her professional career with the NFL in 2003, serving roles focused on player personnel, football operations and youth football.
About USA Football: USA Football is the National Governing Body (NGB) for American Football in the United States and the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the international governing body for the sport of American football. USA Football selects, trains and leads Team USA in tackle and flag football disciplines, while delivering world-class football development resources, sport standards and competitive opportunities to empower athletes at every level. USA Football is committed to ensuring every athlete has access to develop and compete in the game through safer, inclusive and innovative pathways. For more information, visit usafootball.com.