DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – The Mercy University Athletics Department will be joining the New York Jets ECAC Women's Flag Football League in Spring 2026.
Gameplay will feature the 7-on-7 format of flag football. The season will kickoff with a Media Day at MetLife Stadium in February, followed by a USA Football Talent ID Camp the following day. Regular season games will be played February through April on campus sites, culminating in the championship game at MetLife Stadium during the first weekend in May.
"Mercy is excited to be a part of this initiative by the NY Jets and the ECAC, said Assistant Vice President of Athletics Matt Kilcullen Jr." "It gives another opportunity to showcase our female students in the emerging NCAA sport of Women's Flag Football!"
"Mercy University is proud to be part of this inaugural group helping to launch Women's Flag Football in the Northeast. We are confident this sport will grow exponentially in the next few years, and we will quickly become a model program, on and off the field. Thank you to the Jets organization for their vision and leadership in making this league a reality," stated Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Engagement Adam Castro.
"Empowering young women through football has always been central to our mission," said Woody Johnson, Chairman of the New York Jets. "Partnering with the ECAC to launch this league creates a clear pathway for student-athletes to compete, grow, and lead—on the field and beyond."
"The ECAC is thrilled to be partnering with the New York Jets and the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation to provide a premium intercollegiate flag football league for hundreds of young women athletes interested in pursuing their athletics dreams," said Dan Coonan, ECAC Commissioner. "We couldn't be happier to be selected for this partnership. With 88 years of experience sponsoring first-rate intercollegiate athletic competition, we believe we are uniquely suited to bring this bold initiative to life. Our sincere thanks to Woody Johnson, the Jets, and the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation for their transformative vision and generous commitment to advancing this emerging sport. We can't wait to get started."
As part of the Jets and BWJF commitment, each school will receive a grant to offset costs associated with fielding a flag football team. The following schools have committed to playing in the Jets ECAC Women's Flag Football League:
Allegheny College
Caldwell University
Dominican University
Eastern University
Fairleigh Dickinson
Franciscan University
Kean University
Long Island University
Mercy University
Mercyhurst University
Montclair State University
Mount St. Mary's University
Union College
Penn State Schuylkill
Sweet Briar College
