Who is the girl in the NFL shop commercial?
A look at the women and girls who’ve turned heads — and football — through NFL ads
(By Carmichael Phillip)
Diana Flores — the face of the most recent high-profile NFL commercial push
If the “girl in the NFL Shop commercial” you’re remembering is from the 2023–2024 era, chances are you’re thinking of Diana Flores. The 2023 campaign Run With It — a major promotion by NFL to spotlight the rise of women’s and flag‑football — features Diana center stage. Flores is a world‑class flag‑football quarterback, captain of the Mexico women’s national team, and helped lead them to a gold medal at the 2022 World Games.
The “Run With It” ad isn’t just a highlight reel; it’s cinematic, emotive storytelling. It opens with a candid interview‑style moment, then shifts into dynamic footage of training, gameplay, and intimate, real‑life moments — all tied to a broader message about inclusion, opportunity, and shifting perceptions of what (and who) belongs on the football field. Diana appears not as a background figure, but as the embodiment of that message: confident, athletic, and historically significant.
Because the campaign was widely publicized — including via the NFL’s own “Play Football” platform — media outlets quickly identified her as the “girl in the ad.”
Sam Gordon — the girl from the 2019 NFL 100 commercial
But if the commercial you remember is older — especially from 2019 — the “girl” in question is likely Sam Gordon. In the Super Bowl LIII ad marking the NFL’s 100th season, Sam Gordon caught the football in a now‑iconic moment: she intercepts a pass, turns and runs — then tosses the ball to Saquon Barkley.
Sam’s backstory helped make that moment resonate. By age 9 she had already gained national attention playing in boys’ youth leagues; she ran for 1,911 yards and scored 35 touchdowns in one season, despite being one of the few girls on the field.
By 2019 she was a teenager — representative of a new generation of athletes challenging gender norms. The “NFL 100” commercial cast her as a symbol: young, talented, fearless. As one outlet put it, “That girl is Sam Gordon.”
Why there isn’t a single answer — and why “the girl” often changes
One thing that complicates the question: the NFL has run many different commercials over the years — some tied to fan apparel (like those from NFL Shop), some tied to league campaigns, some tied to the Super Bowl or major events. That means “the girl in the commercial” will depend heavily on which commercial you saw, and when. As one recent examination puts it:
“When someone asks ‘Who is the girl in the NFL commercial?’, there isn’t a single definitive answer — the NFL runs many commercials … But one of the most prominent recent spots features a young woman in a powerful, inspirational narrative around flag football.”
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In some cases, the “girl” is a real athlete playing herself (like Flores or Gordon). In others it could be a model, actor, or fan — sometimes not publicly credited at all (as seen with a 2025 “Face of Fandom: Special Offer” spot from NFL Shop where actors remain unlisted).
That helps explain why so many people over time have asked this question — and gotten different answers.
What it all means: representation, evolution, and visibility
The shifting identity of “the girl in the NFL commercial” says as much about culture as it does about marketing.
Representation at the forefront. With athletes like Diana Flores and Sam Gordon starring, the NFL has elevated female (and female‑identifying) players and fans — not as background extras, but as central figures. That sends a message: football isn’t just for men.
Impact beyond the screen. Sam Gordon didn’t just appear in a commercial — she helped inspire the creation of the Utah Girls Tackle Football League, expanding access for girls across her region.
Diana Flores’s commercial helped spotlight flag football globally, feeding into the NFL’s push to expand inclusivity and grow the sport.
Marketing meets social change. Where once ads featured only male fans, players, and legends, modern NFL commercials are embracing diversity — in gender, age, background, nationality, and fan identity. That reflects shifting cultural values, and signals an evolving vision for the league’s audience.
In short: the “girl” in an NFL (or NFL Shop) commercial depends on which ad you saw.
If you recall a 2023–2024 feel, or a flag‑football theme — that’s probably Diana Flores.
If you’re thinking back to 2019’s centennial‑era “NFL 100” ad — that’s likely Sam Gordon.
Both embody more than just a moment on screen. They represent change: for the sport, for representation, and for young fans everywhere.
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