Panthers owner David Tepper makes another generous donation to continue growing the game of football after major N.C. decision
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper make another donation to help grow girls flag football in the state of North Carolina after a major announcement made by the state on Wednesday.
The state of North Carolina made a major announcement on Wednesday and the big news was followed up by another massive donation by Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper.
North Carolina High School Athletic Association officially sanctioned women’s flag football as an official varsity sport this week. Soon after, the David and Nicole Tepper Foundation donated $1 million to support the programs across the state.
Tepper has now contributed over $2.5 million since 2022 in grant funding directly to schools to support the continued growth and development of the sport in both North and South Carolina.
Adam Schefter
ESPN
Carolina Panthers continue to show their support for the development of women’s flag football
North Carolina became the 22nd state in the country to recognize women’s flag football as a varsity sport at the high school level, a historic moment for the entire state. South Carolina has not officially sanctioned the sport as of May 2026.
“Today’s decision represents a meaningful investment in the future of our student-athletes and the continued evolution of school-based athletics in North Carolina,” NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker said. “Girls flag football offers an inclusive, fast-paced and highly engaging opportunity for students to compete, connect and grow through sport.”
Even though the sport just became officially sanctioned, the Panthers and the team’s owner have long been supporters of the sport. In 2021, the Panthers hosted the inaugural Girls High School Flag Football Jamboree and hosted the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ Girls Flag Football championship at Bank of American Stadium in 2023. The team even provided $60,000 in program funding plus uniforms and other resources.
“This is more than the introduction of a new sport — it’s a legacy change that will open doors for generations of young women to compete, grow and thrive,” David Tepper and Nicole Tepper wrote in a joint statement Thursday. “We’re deeply grateful for the dedication and partnerships with school districts that made this milestone possible.
“And we remain committed to expanding the same opportunity in South Carolina, so young women across both states can experience the access and transformative power of flag football for years to come.”
Flag football is quickly on the rise, both men’s and women’s, across the nation and the NFL continues to be an avid supporter of growing the sport. This is a big moment for the state of North Carolina and it’s great to see the Panthers and Tepper family show such strong support.