In what has become an annual tradition, Nike and the NFL have partnered for the second year in a row to host the Nike Football Kickoff Classic for high school teams across the country.
In August, Nike will host two boys and four girls soccer teams at its headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., to kick off the 2023 high school soccer season. The company announced the game schedule Monday, which will be as follows:
August 24
Willowbrook High School vs. Bishop Gorman High School Girls Flag Soccer
Long Beach Poly High School vs. Irvington High School girls flag football
August 25
Long Beach Poly High School vs. Bishop Gorman High School Boys Soccer
Hometown NFL teams will sponsor these football teams participating in the class:
- LA Chargers: Long Beach Poly High School
- LA Rams: Long Beach Poly High School (Girls Flag)
- Las Vegas Raiders: Bishop Gorman High School (Boys & Girls)
- Chicago Bears: Willowbrook High (Girls Flag)
- NY Jets: Irvington High School (Girls Flag)
Nike also said NFL clubs will “reflect the experience by hosting guys
tackle and girls flag games in their home markets.” Last year, 20 NFL teams took part in this inaugural event.
Ahead of the 2022 kickoff, NFL Vice President of Football Development Roman Auben spoke with USA TODAY high school sports about outreach between teams and the community.
“In the seven-plus years that I’ve been at this, I’ve never seen a better time for NFL teams to work together and work toward thematic and targeted alignment.” The work we’ve done with Nike has improved,” he said at the time. “When you listen to people and find out what they really need, it’s not slapping on a logo… It’s something that everybody deals with; includes everyone.’
Last year three-day event at Nike headquarters, athletes participated in sessions with Nike to provide product insights and social and digital insights. They also gained perspective on life in football and off the field from Bo Jackson, Bobby Taylor and Katie Sowers.
A new group of high school football players will get the chance to experience the same this year.
“For the second year, the Nike Football Kickoff Classic will serve as the official kickoff to high school football across the country,” Auben said in a press release. “These games will bring an unimaginable experience for high school football players. Congratulations to all participating NFL markets for giving girls and boys high school soccer the shared kickoff experience they deserve.”