Sam Gordon American Football
03.02.2022

A New Force in American Football

Sam Gordon Joins Under Armour in its Commitment to Make Sports More Accessible for Female Athletes

“I started playing football because my brother’s coach thought I’d be good at it," said Gordon. "I stayed in football because I want girls to know they can have a future in the sport. Under Armour and I are ready to make a difference. This is going to be a game-changer for women in football, and I feel inspired and ready for what’s next.” 

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Determined, gritty, tough. These are words that come to mind when you think of an American football athlete. Champion for equality, game changer, advocate. These are words that often describe Gen Z.

 

What do you get when you put all these words together? American football athlete and women’s sport’s advocate, Sam Gordon.

 

Over the past decade, 19-year-old Sam Gordon has been a voice for women’s football and served as a symbol of what is possible for women in the sport. In 2015, at the age of 12, Gordon founded the nation's first all-girl tackle football league: Utah Girls Tackle Football. Before her 18th birthday, Gordon won the NFL Honors’ Game Changer Award.

 

This spring, Gordon will add mentor to her already impressive career as she joins Under Armour in their commitment to break down barriers for those who strive for more by creating more opportunities for youth to engage in sports.

“The cleat options now don’t always fit,” explains Gordon. “It’s massive that women will finally have a cleat made just for us. The world of female athletics could always use some help, and I'm excited to continue in this mission with Under Armour.”

 

To help reinforce Gordon’s legacy, Under Armour will serve as an official sponsor of the Utah Girls Tackle Football league. In addition to providing apparel and gear for the league’s 600 players, Under Armour is helping give the league’s 36 teams the chance to play under the big lights at the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium.

 

“At Under Armour, we believe everyone should have the access and ability to play sports at every level,” explains Sean Eggert, the Senior Vice President of Global Sports Marketing at Under Armour. “We are proud to team up with Sam Gordon who has been a pioneer in the cause of women’s equity in sport. By providing access to young girls at the community level, she is paving the way for future generations.”

 

Gordon imagines a future of women receiving college sports scholarships, playing in tackle football leagues, like the NFL, working as professional coaches or refs, and having the same high-quality athletic facilities and resources as their male athlete counterparts. Together with Under Armour, Gordon hopes to make that journey to compete just a bit more accessible for girls who see their brothers on the gridiron and think, I can do that too.

 

For more information on how Under Armour, with the help of advocates like Sam Gordon, is breaking down barriers for those who strive for more by creating opportunities for millions of youth to engage in sport by 2030, click HERE.