Maya Johnson, a senior (and founding) member of the Abington Senior High School girls’ flag football team, has been nominated by the Philadelphia Eagles for the 88th Maxwell Football Club Awards on March 14 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
The Maxwell Awards are presented each year to an outstanding player based on on-field performance, academic achievement, and community service. According to the Eagles’ organization, this will be the first year the National Girls Flag Player of the Year will be presented at the ceremony.
“Anybody who watches her is extremely impressed. Maya is complimented by everyone, including the referees. They’re impressed with her ability. It’s not only her athletic ability in regard to playing. She came to us our first year and she was like, ‘I’m going to be your quarterback,’ and we were like, ‘OK, let’s see what you got.’ She earned that spot very quickly,” Abington Flag Football Coach Melissa Brizzell said.
Johnson was honored by the Maxwell Football Club with a Mini Max Award in February 2024.
“What makes her stand out as to why she earns this, in my opinion, is she’s not just a phenomenal athlete. She’s a phenomenal leader,” Brizzell said. “I’ve always been impressed with how she works with the other players on the team. She’s extremely good at making them feel that they’re great and can be successful. She always takes responsibility, and she has a very humble aura around her that I think brings a lot of calmness. But the girls know she can always do what she needs to get it done and we as coaches trust her 100 percent.”
Abington captured their second straight Suburban One League title in May. In their inaugural 2023 season, the Lady Ghosts went a perfect 9-0.
“Just go for it. You never know how far it could take you. You never know who’s watching. You never know how good you could be at something until you really put yourself in that position to do well and actually play whatever sport or whatever you want to do,” said Johnson, who guided Abington High School to the Eagles Girls Flag Football League of Pennsylvania Championship in 2023.
The Eagles created and sponsored the league—which currently has 2,250 girls playing throughout the Eastern side of Pennsylvania and close to 3,000 girls playing across the state—and have supported its players with equipment, clinics, and opportunities to showcase their sport at the Lincoln Financial Field and the NovaCare Complex, among other venues.
“I appreciate everything the Eagles have done to help create the league, to help support us. I mean, they have gone above and beyond to support us in many ways. We did a clinic and they had SWOOP and the Eagles Cheerleaders there. They are definitely 100 percent behind supporting Girls Flag Football,” Brizzell said.
“My biggest thing as a coach is, I love winning, but I love giving these girls positive experiences. You only get to be in high school once,” Brizell said. “So, the fact that they have been able to go down to Lincoln Financial Field and play there, that they have played at the NovaCare Complex and play or won a state championship, and got these awesome ranks – they will hold onto these memories and be telling their grandkids these stories. It’s been awesome to be a part of and I’m so grateful of the Eagles.”
For Johnson, the honor from her hometown team is one that will last a lifetime.
“I think it’s great, honestly. My parents are huge Eagles fans, so when we went for a game, they loved it. I’m loving it, I grew up an Eagles fan. So, it’s really nice to kind of be recognized by people I used to look up to,” Johnson said. “It’s (flag football) kind of given me freedom, like the freedom that you have with it. You can really do anything that you’re good at. Luckily, I can run, I’m good at running, I’m able to throw the ball around and catch. Really whatever I choose to do, which is why I really enjoy it.”
As of September 2024, girls’ flag football is a PIAA state-sanctioned sport. The sport will begin in the 2025-26 school year with more than 100 high schools across the state planning to field a team.
“I think it’s exciting to see how it’s starting to move from high school to now starting to go into the collegiate sport. Over the next couple of years, it’s going to be at the club level, but then soon it will go into Division II schools, and then hopefully Division III schools. I think that’s really a phenomenal aspect of how it’s continuing to grow. Just seeing that happen gives more opportunities for girls to play,” Brizzell said.
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Photos: Philadelphia Eagles