NFL Recognizes Rockford Park District’s Lamont Jones for Inspiring Generations of Youth
NFL Recognizes Rockford Park District’s Lamont Jones for Inspiring Generations of Youth, Advocating for Opportunities, Expanding High-Quality Sports Programs for Area Athletes, and Pioneering Girls' Flag Football.
Before 45 area flag football players and coaches took the field at Soldier Field this past Saturday night in Chicago for a halftime scrimmage, Lamont Jones, General Manager of Rockford Park District’s Youth Sports programs and Clarence Hicks Sports Complex, was surprised by a top NFL leader. National Football League (NFL) commissioner Roger Goodell met with Lamont on the sidelines before the Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers game and presented him with two tickets to Super Bowl LX. Lamont received these tickets as acknowledgment of his significant role in growing the game of football across local, state, and national arenas.
Nearly 24 years ago, Lamont started an NFL Flag Football program at Brown Park after seeing that many local high school athletes were never taught the fundamentals of the sport at a grassroots level. In 2009, he joined the Rockford Park District team and has made it his mission to expand offerings, programs, outreach, and mentor opportunities every year. The NFL Flag Football program alone has grown so much that it outgrew the Brown Park location and now calls the Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Complex home. Today, flag football is the fastest-growing sport, and the Rockford Park District was the first in Illinois to offer Girls Flag Football to high school girls and, most recently, middle school girls. Participation in the sport locally continues to soar, and now, with the newly constructed Clarence Hicks Sports Complex, the Rockford Park District is looking to host more tournaments and make sure more youth have an opportunity to play.
“Lamont believes in instilling core character-building values like good sportsmanship, being polite, and showing respect in every lesson, league, or activity offered through the Rockford Park District. The programs and outreach efforts being led by Lamont engage youth in meaningful ways, filling up their otherwise idle time with empowering experiences, opportunities to develop leisure and leadership skills, and a chance to build lasting relationships with mentors and program leaders with whom they trust,” said Danielle Potter, Superintendent of Operations.
While at the Super Bowl, Lamont will advocate for additional resources for the region, connect with other NFL leads on unique opportunities to continue growing the Rockford Park District’s youth sports programs, and highlight its strong partnership with the Chicago Bears NFL FLAG initiative.
“I was completely surprised to be recognized by Roger Goodell. My focus at the Bears/Packers game was the incredible moment that 45 local NFL Flag Football players were experiencing from being on the sidelines during warm-up, getting swag from the Chicago Bears, and then playing in front of 65,000 people in the stadium. I do what I do because every young person deserves the chance to play, grow, and belong. When all kids have access to sports, our community becomes stronger, healthier, and more united. It’s a pathway to confidence, connection, and lifelong health,” said Lamont Jones, General Manager of Youth Sports and Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Complex.
Bears, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell honor flag football trailblazer with Super Bowl tickets
