NFL Mascots Join Forces with American Heart Association to Promote Youth Physical Activity

The National Football League has launched a new initiative featuring six club mascots as inaugural NFL PLAY 60 Ambassadors to inspire children to achieve at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. This program expansion builds upon the 19-year partnership between the NFL and the American Heart Association, which has consistently worked to reduce sedentary behaviors in youth while supporting both immediate and long-term health benefits.

According to Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, collaborating with NFL mascots brings scientific guidelines to life in an engaging manner that helps children develop healthy habits for reaching their full potential. The program is rooted in evidence-based guidance demonstrating that active students learn better, focus more effectively, think more clearly, manage stress more calmly, and exhibit improved classroom performance and behavior.

The 2025 season NFL PLAY 60 mascot ambassadors include Freddie Falcon (Atlanta Falcons), Gumbo (New Orleans Saints), Rampage (Los Angeles Rams), Rowdy (Dallas Cowboys), Sir Purr (Carolina Panthers), and T-Rac (Tennessee Titans). These recognizable characters will encourage physical activity throughout the school year by providing exercise ideas, promoting healthy habit choices, and building excitement through team spirit. The mascot ambassador program adds a game-day atmosphere to the initiative, making physical activity more appealing to children nationwide.

The NFL PLAY 60 program works alongside the American Heart Association's school programs, including the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge, offering comprehensive resources for children to stay active both at school and at home. The program incorporates educational modules covering individual health improvement, friendship skills, and community support through lessons such as Hands-Only CPR. Additional information on NFL PLAY 60 resources can be found online at https://heart.org/NFLPLAY60.

A significant component of this year's initiative features Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who serves as the Nation of Lifesavers National Ambassador and cardiac arrest survivor. Hamlin appears in an introductory video preceding the Kids Heart Challenge's CPR instruction. Students completing Hands-Only CPR training receive an entry for two tickets to Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The program will award five individual winners, while five participating schools will receive $10,000 fitness equipment makeovers. Entries are currently available through Finn's Mission, with participation details accessible at https://heart.org/schools.

The initiative also includes the NFL PLAY 60 Family Challenge, encouraging families to prioritize wellness together through creative movement activities that combine quality time with physical activity. For days when outdoor play isn't feasible, the https://www.nfl.com/play60/exercise-library features two-to-three minute on-demand exercise videos from all 32 NFL clubs, providing valuable resources for parents, teachers, and caregivers seeking to help children meet daily movement goals regardless of weather conditions or classroom circumstances.