Jonathan Gannon and the Cardinals will start training camp next week with the goal of winning a Super Bowl.
For Toby Bourguet and the Tucson Turf flag football squads, their championships begin Friday in Canton, Ohio. The club will have three different age groups representing the Cardinals at the annual NFL Flag Championships.
"We've been fortunate to be on a very, very long streak of qualifying, and we've always been fortunate enough to have multiple teams," Bourguet said. "We're just a really small group of kids, so it's neat. It's really neat to be able to do this for so long."
Teams qualify by winning regional tournaments and receiving an invitation to compete against organizations from across the country. Other teams repping the Cards include 480 Elite, playing in the boys 9u age division, while Rooted Football will have teams in 11u and 13u for boys. Queen Bees Syndicate will play in the 13u girls tournament. Bad Rabbits will play for the Cardinals in the 15u girls division.
Tucson Turf, the organization with the most teams participating in the event, will represent the Valley in 13u Boys Rec, 15u boys, and 18u girls. The games will be played on July 19-21 and can be watched on ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, and other platforms.
Tucson Turf has taken part in the NFL Flag Championships since 2012. Their 18u girls team has the chance to win it all. Ranked No. 2 in the nation according to Zorts National Power Index, the team has an 86-3 record in the last seven months. They've also won 13 out of the last 15 tournaments they've played in.
Bourguet's daughter, Rylen, is the quarterback and defensive back, while Malaysia Roebuck is a wide receiver and safety. Rylen was a member of the USA U20 Select Team and earned an invite to the 2025 trials.
Flag football has been in the Bourguet family's DNA since the 1990s. Bourguet and his wife played the sport at a high level, competing in the collegiate national championships. With the Olympics around the corner -- flag football will be an Olympic sport in 2028 -- it's an exciting time for the game.
"What's happening now is more and more girls are getting a taste of flag football, and it's just such a fun, fast game," Bourguet said. "It really opens up for a bigger demographic of kids to enjoy the game of football. It's nothing against tackle football. It can actually prepare you for tackle football when done correctly. But it's just a really great sport, and the growth is just going to be amazing the next few years."
The state of Arizona and the Cardinals have embraced the blossoming sport. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray attended the first sanctioned AIA high school girls flag football game.
Before Murray and the Cardinals take the field for the 2024 season, the organization will be watching the next generation of stars take the field in Canton.
While hoisting the trophy isn't the be-all and end-all for Bourguet and his fellow coach/ former NFL defensive back Mo Oliver, they know it's go time.
"We're very consistent within our program with our approach to the game," Bourguet said. "We do this because it's a great platform to go out and perform and have a great time.
"Obviously, we go to tournaments to compete at the highest level and hopefully win the tournament. But success will be that everyone has a great time, great experience, no injuries, and we get home safely."
