Who is the girl in the NFL commercial?
Decoding the face behind the ad
(By Carmichael Phillip)
Which NFL commercial are we talking about?
When someone asks “Who is the girl in the NFL commercial?”, there isn’t a single definitive answer — the NFL runs many commercials, from season promos to Super Bowl and event tie-ins. But one of the most prominent recent spots features a young woman in a powerful, inspirational narrative around flag football.
That commercial is titled “Run With It” (and also goes by “Diana Flores Tells Her Story”) and was aired around Super Bowl LVII.
In it, the “girl” is Diana Flores, a global flag football star and quarterback for Mexico’s women’s national flag team.
The narrative highlights her journey, determination, and the growth of women’s and girls’ football.
Who is Diana Flores?
Diana Flores is a high-profile athlete in the world of flag football. Her credentials include being a quarterback for Mexico’s women’s national flag football team and a gold medallist at the World Games.
She has become one of the faces of the NFL’s efforts to spotlight girls’ and women’s football in recent years.
In the “Run With It” campaign, she is not just an actor — she is playing herself, using her real reputation and persona to lend authenticity to the message of breaking barriers and pushing forward.
The NFL’s own site describes the behind-the-scenes and promotional tie-ins around that campaign under titles like “Run With It | Behind-the-Scenes.”
Why was she chosen for that spot?
Diana Flores is an ideal fit for such a campaign for several reasons:
Symbolic bridge — She represents the intersection of athletic performance, youth empowerment, and women’s sports, making her an ideal ambassador for growing football inclusivity.
Global recognition — Her international role gives the commercial broader appeal beyond the U.S.
Authenticity — Because she is a real athlete in the sport being referenced, there’s less of a “celebrity cameo” feel and more of a lived experience element.
Narrative strength — The commercial’s story about overcoming boundaries resonates well when grounded in a real person’s journey.
The ad is part of a larger push by the NFL to elevate girls’ and women’s football, especially through flag football campaigns like “NFL Flag 50” and promotional efforts around girls’ varsity status in all 50 states.
One article describes how the commercial opens in an 80s-style high school, then transitions into modern times, with the “new girl” (played by Ki’Lolo Westerlund) and a cameo by Diana Flores as an emblematic athlete in that space.
Other “girls in NFL ads”: Sam Gordon and beyond
It wouldn’t be fair to talk about this without acknowledging earlier commercials that featured girls in NFL spots. A notable example is the NFL 100 commercial, which aired around the centennial celebration of the league.
In that ad, a standout moment shows a young girl catching a pass and challenging Richard Sherman. That girl is Sam Gordon, who first gained viral fame as a 9-year-old playing in boys’ football leagues.
Sam Gordon’s story has since evolved — she became an advocate for girls’ football, and the NFL has recognized her with a Game Changer Award.
So, while Diana Flores is “the girl” in the recent prominent NFL commercial, Sam Gordon remains an important actress in the history of girls in NFL media.
How the commercial is structured and where Diana appears
The “Run With It” / “Diana Flores Tells Her Story” commercial is cinematic and emotive. It intersperses footage of Flores training, playing, and narrating the challenges she’s overcome.
There is a mixture of archival, documentary-style cuts and staged dramatizations. In many parts, the focus shifts from the stadium or field to training scenes and personal moments, reinforcing that her identity is more than just the game.
Visually, she is shown in full action, leadership posture, and in closeups delivering voiceover lines.
The campaign also extends online, with behind-the-scenes content under the “Run With It | Behind-the-Scenes” banner.
Diana’s presence in the ad is central, with her face, name, and story tied directly to the campaign’s messaging.
Public and media reception to her appearance
The ad was widely highlighted in sports media and advertising coverage. The campaign is part of how the NFL is pushing girls’ flag football into the spotlight.
Articles note how her fame in the flag football world and inspiring narrative lift the ad from a standard promo to a moment of representation.
Some criticism arises from confusion — people sometimes see the commercial and ask generically “who is that girl in the NFL ad,” not realizing there are many such ads, and several women have appeared in them over the years.
When people search for “girl in NFL commercial,” many land on articles about Sam Gordon from earlier NFL ads.
But in the latest, most visible NFL ads around Super Bowl campaigns or official league promotions, Diana Flores is the face.
Remaining questions and uncertainties
While we know the “girl” in that specific high-impact NFL commercial is Diana Flores, some extra details remain less public:
Casting vs. athlete role: There’s little public record of whether she was cast as an actress first or approached because of her athlete status. The campaign suggests the latter, but full casting details aren’t broadly publicized.
Alternate versions: Some regional or localized NFL commercials might replace or omit her, or swap in other figures.
Other ads with other girls: Because the NFL sponsors many promotions, there may be other ads featuring female athletes or actors unknown to general audiences.
Recognition over time: How enduring her portrayal will be (i.e. whether she becomes a recurring “face” of NFL promos) is something to watch.
Conclusion: The girl you saw is Diana Flores (in that prominent spot)
To wrap up: when someone asks “Who is the girl in the NFL commercial?”, the most likely answer, especially in the recent flagship campaign, is Diana Flores, the Mexican women’s flag football quarterback featured in the “Run With It / Diana Flores Tells Her Story” spot.
But as with many large brands and sports leagues, multiple commercials over years have featured different girls — and earlier ones, like the NFL 100 ad, showcased Sam Gordon.
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