Former NFL Player Bringing Flag Football League To Green Country

A former NFL player has brought his flag football league to Green Country.

Tulsa is the first city to have Donald Driver's Flag Football league and he says it's a chance for kids to play football and get to know the city's first responders.

"This is a game that we've been playing our entire lives, unfortunately sometimes we don't get that opportunity because a lot of kids from the inner city just can't afford to play this game," Driver said.

Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver says the league is to make sure all kids get the chance to play youth sports.

About 130 kids from Tulsa signed up for the league, which has first responders from Tulsa Police and the Tulsa Fire Department coaching the teams.

"I truly want kids to see us as protectors and as just part of the community, and a person they can connect with so when they see us in a uniform, they aren't afraid of us," said Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin.

Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin and Tulsa Fire Department Chief Michael Baker both say this is a great way for their officers and firefighters to connect with kids, and make an impact in their lives.

"We have to show them that every day we care about them we care about what's happening in the community, this gives us an opportunity to build that future for Tulsa," Chief Baker said.

Driver says he picked Tulsa as the first spot for the league because he has friends and family in the area and wanted to give back to the community.

He hopes someday the kids who are playing today will do the same.

"If we can pour into these kids, and these kids come back in 20 years and do the same thing, then we've done our job," he said.

Driver says signs ups are complete for the fall, but he hopes to have the program offered in the spring as well.