This October, the dramatic cliffs of the Aegean will echo with a very different kind of game. From October 10 to 12, the Los Angeles Chargers will bring their first NFL Flag Football event to Santorini, turning the island into a showcase for a sport that is set to make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028.
For the Chargers’ owners, the Spanos family, the trip is more than an international sports promotion. It is a return to their roots. Dean Spanos, the team’s owner and chairman of the board, and his brother Michael, vice chairman, are grandsons of immigrants from the island of Symi. Nearly a century after their grandparents left for the United States, the family is back in Greece, not just to visit but to share the sport that defines their American story. Last April, the Chargers even announced their fifth-round pick of the 2025 NFL Draft from Athens, underlining their growing connection with Greece.
The Santorini weekend will introduce flag football, a non-contact version of American football, to young athletes across Greece.
The schedule:
- Friday, October 10, 10:00–12:00: Camp for children ages 11–13
- Saturday, October 11, 12:00–14:00: Camp for teens 13 and older
- Friday, October 10, 12:30: An exhibition game featuring NFL legends and active players
- Sunday, October 12, 19:30: Chargers–Dolphins watch party
Among the special guests are former Chargers running back Melvin Gordon, Niko Koutouvides, the Greek American linebacker who played in Super Bowl XL with the Seattle Seahawks, and Melina Malaxos, a Greek-Swedish-American player and coach. Members of Greece’s own Aegean Elite team will join coaches from the Chargers to guide the camps.
Flag football relies on speed and strategy rather than tackling. Players wear flags on their belts, and a play ends when a defender pulls a flag. The game has been growing internationally and will appear as an official sport at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, a milestone the Chargers hope to celebrate by inspiring a new generation of players far from the American gridiron.
Please confirm event details with the organizers before attending, as dates, times, locations, and registration information may change.