Daiyan Henley, Linebacker, Los Angeles Chargers (far left), and Kimberly Guilfoyle with officials at the event in Athens. Credit: Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers have significantly strengthened their presence in Greece through two dynamic NFL initiatives in Athens and Thessaloniki. The mission: to cultivate the growth of Flag Football ahead of its historic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
After Thessaloniki, the second phase of the tour brought the NFL experience to the American College of Greece (Deree) in Athens.
Over 200 students participated in a camp that transformed the college’s athletic facilities into a professional NFL training environment.
The tour culminated on Sunday, February 8, with a spectacular Super Bowl Night Watch Party at the COSMOTE TV studios—the official broadcaster of the NFL in Greece.
The event was attended by U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle, Deputy Foreign Minister Harry Theoharis, and General Secretary for Sports George Mavrotas.
Guests experienced Greece’s first-ever NFL Live pre-game show featuring Chargers Chief of Staff Fred Maas, Senior Director of Football Development Zac Emde, and Daiyan Henley.
Kimberly Guilfoyle at the event. Credit: Los Angeles Chargers
A “homecoming” for the Spanos family, owners of the Chargers
For the Chargers, this initiative is more than international expansion; it is a “return to roots.” The Spanos family, owners of the Chargers, possesses deep Greek heritage and a vision to create a lasting legacy in the country.
“Greece’s greatest asset is its intense passion for sports,” said Fred Maas, Chief of Staff for the Chargers. “With the 2028 Olympics approaching, our ambition is to introduce official NFL American Football to Greece and potentially even host a game here in the future.”
Through the expansion of NFL Flag, the Chargers are creating sustainable opportunities for Greek youth. By fostering local talent and building infrastructure, the organization is ensuring that Greece becomes a natural hub for the sport as it prepares for its Olympic premiere in Los Angeles in 2028.