Athletic Club and Chicago Bears link up for flag football clinics at Lezama

Athletic Club and NFL side Chicago Bears have partnered up to arrange a series of flag football (a version of American football without contact) clinics at Lezama on October Monday 26 and Tuesday 27.

Part of Athletic Club’s internationalisation strategy, this collaboration with Chicago Bears and the NFL, the most widely followed sports competition in the United States, will help to strengthen the club's global profile and promote our unique philosophy whilst creating new sporting, cultural and commercial opportunities.

Students from various Bizkaia schools and younger members of Athletic’s academy will take part in the sessions at the Lions' training facilities.

Flag football is a version of American football in which, instead of tackling an opponent, players must remove a small flag attached to the waist of the player carrying the ball.

The clinic will be overseen by Chicago Bears legend Roberto Garza, a former offensive linesman who spent nine years with the Illinois team from 2005 until 2014. Gustavo Silva, the NFL outfit’s director of football development, and Kenny Bello, a flag football consultant based in London, will join Roberto at Lezama.

Furthermore, the Bears delegation will watch Athletic's LaLiga clash with Getafe CF from San Mames' Presidential Box on Sunday October 25.

Chicago Bears are one of NFL’s most iconic teams. Now based at the 61,500 capacity Soldier Field, they are one two still-existing franchises that founded the competition in 1920 (along with the Arizona Cardinals) and they have won nine NFL championships and one Superbowl. 

This collaboration further cements the growing relationship between Athletic Club and the NFL. The two entities have already linked up on a couple of occasions over the last few years, such as Cam Jordan’s visit to the city in 2023 and a Thanksgiving fixture watch party at the Cathedral last year, and there are plans for more collaborations in the future.